The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-07-18

memorable and almost supCThuman dOcu-
mont, tho Declaration Of American Inde.
peudonce. put forth and promul lgated by
that august assembly known as tho Repro
sontativos of tho Unitod Colonies Of Ameri.
ca in Congress assem- bled, on this, our Ma
tons great historic day, 1916, 86 years ago,
pre-. omincntly glorious shines forth this son
timcn.
1--WE hold these truths to DO solfevidcni,
that all men arc created equal that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
inulienablo rights; that among these are
lifo, iiborty and tho opursuit Of happiness (;
that, TO secure these rights, governments
are Instituted among mon. deriving their
just powers from the consent Of the gov.
ernod."
! These sentiments tho Northern wing Of
this Republic baso over heartily adopted,
and assiduously held in their moral and
political faith. not alono or solely because
promulgated by the great apostle of
American liberty. but because, in thoir inner
souls. tbcy belevo them solf. f.eyident, self.
existent, independent, eternal, uncreated
truths, that would exist, though man were
not, and that no power could abridge or
annul. Heuce tho strong Snti.slavory souti.
ment Of the North, while tho South, who
J
of slaves. have practically denied these fun
damontal iruths, saying that these sentiments
are rhetorical flourish, having no foundation
whatever In moral or political ethics. but
that tho relation Of master and slave is tho
normal condition of society; that the slave
has no rights that the master is bound to
respect that the con jitoD of master and
servant is rendered happier and better by
| hat rnIo hat ha ,of
bears the seal of appreciation of Heaven 8
King. AS a humane and heaven born in
stitution. they imporiously demand for it
our appreciation. giving 20 it expansion and
diffusion throughout the United States and
its Territories; at least, to allow tho master
to hold aud treat his slaves as chatties per.
sonai, to all intents and purposes whatever
in any State or Territory whoro no may
choose to take them. They boldly ask Of
us tho re-opening of tho African slave trade
which oil civilized nations have by law do
clared piracy-a crime so odious that the
criminal must pay the forfei. of lifo upon
the gallOws. In short, because tho non.
s!aveholdiOg States, could not adopt aud
sustain, as humane and Christian, that ac-
cursed institution, Slavery, which Charles
| Wesley pronounced the "sum of all vii
lanies," and which thoy. in solemn assom
blies, q few years since, declared utterly in.
compatible with the Bible, Gas they could moi
harmon;zo, they said they would Give up the
Sacred Volume rather than Slavery.) be.
cause We could NOT SEQ clearly to adopt
their views of changing ethics, thoy would,
with traitorous hands, dissolve the bond OF
National Union, set the Ship Of State adoat
without chart, compass or pilot. to DO
wreck ed or stranded upon the shoals and
quicksands, and upon Its ruins to construct
u Government whose caruor stone should
be American Slavery. They boast that tho
stone which other builders reiectcd-S.a
very-they have chosen and consecrated Of
tho chief'hcad of the corner.
| To overthrow tho best Government evel
instituted by man. they. for a sories o.
yoars, shaped their course with mastery
skill. and iaborcd with untiring zenl
worthy better cause, up to the incoming
Administration, fifteen months since. Nc
formidable obstacles were inerposed to
frustrate their traitorous schemes Of ro
bellion. Arms, munitions of war. forts, ar.
senals. navy yards. were seized on by traitor
Gus hands. surrendered at their behest. unit
tho crownng act of rebellion was sealed by
| firing upon an uDarmed vessel bearing tht
American flag, in tho employment of tho
ipou ~
United States soldiers keeping garrison il
! u. s. Fort Sumtor, in Charleston hnrbor
This overt act of rebellion was followe,
Immediately by the reduction of that for
by forco of arms. Since that time, tho his
tory of our Nation has revealed rebellion
far more gigantic in its structure, stupen
dous in It's proportions, and mighty in ii
power of aggression ard resistance, and, a
tho same time, moro wicked. unnatural ant
causeless. than ever cursed any Govern
ment, and waged against tho best Govern
ment ever instituted by man--a Government
too, whose supervision, management ant
control, in its executive. legislative, judicial
aud, indeed, ell it's subordinate branches
bad been largely with them, through oil o
its history.
1t bohooves US, then, as citizens, as philan
thropists, as Christians, to look this monster
traitorous Rebellion full in the face, and t,
be prepared with united strength and energ,
to grapple with its colossal growth ant
strength, 10 vanquish, and subdue, and con
sign it to that oblivious grave which know
no resurrection. 1t behoOves Us to look a
, our national sins with unprejudiced, unbe
clouded eye, that We may repent OF them
' and put them away, that inquty may no
cause our ruin. American Slavery is no
our only national ain, though that appear
the most dark, fearful and appalling OF th
. catalogue, and may be regarded as the i'm
= mediate cause of tho fearful struggle whic
is now distrac,ing the land. and almos
: literally clothing tho nation with the dark Ina
biliments of mourning. The curse, causlesi
has not fallen upon US OF the North Ii
folly, it is madness. il is worse. it is Vilo ny
: pocrisy and heaven daring wiekedncss. TO
U us to say that wo are guiItess with rogar
= to tho existence and condition OF national
lied American Slavery. We may indce
plead comparative innocence with regard I
J. tho existing municipal regulations whic
y govern tho institution in tho several State
i whore il exists. but for tho passage OF a
!, those acts of Congress whose effect it wa
d to naiionalize tho institution, We OF III
y North may be regarded more reprohensibl
. than tho slave holding South, as the Mort
3 might have acted without pecuniary mi
T. tive. and the consequent strong bias whic
|, pecuniary interest imposes, especially upo
q those whose moral snsceptibilitios are NJ
n worry acute. Again: the odious aud wicke
+ Fugitive Slave Bill, and others of kindrc
10 spirit, were advocated and sustained
e Northern members. who cared not whetb'
T. Slavery was "votcd up or down" The
y are our representatives, and those our law
g and these statesmen must have sounded Il
IT, heart Of the Nation. and must havo know
8, what tboy could calculate on, or they new