Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-12
REN, TRUMBUIL COUNTY, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY

I q DOutu
ern prints and insolent conventions, tha
no reconstruction ever shall take place
that no concessions by the North will be
for a moment entertained; and that they
loathe, desist, and utterly despise us, a
unworthy of their company. Even theil
spurious President, in the most solemn
form which treasonOus offence could take
spoke of us before the world, in terms o.
the most absolute contempt. And are We
so poor in spirit as not to hate the traitors
who do this and not to be willing, one
and all, to wage that punishment against
their pride and power, which they have
flagrantly provoked, Can we above al
things forget, that though nursed under a
common constitution, they would have
cheerfully been guilty, of that last crime
known to man, and welcomed the foreign
invader to their country's soil? 1t was
high time they should feel our bayonents
as they did last Sunday at Mill Spring
and full time, too, that we should take
fresh thought and pursue our task hereat-
ter with the practical heat of angry refor-
nation. Our politicians, some Of our gen.
erals among them, should at once shake
off the spell which haunts them, of re-
/ construction of the Southern influence
ndouryoung men. who are so glib against
/ the abolitionists. had better leave that fac
ton to themselves, and direct their rage
on traitors Artful enemies are seeking
to confound the issue, and to pervert the
honest anger of the country upon COM
paratively harmless sect. What though
| they are querulously urgent, that does not
relieve the guilt OF the assassin, nor de-
crease our peril from his blow (; and of the
| two. those are the more to blame who
seek to turn our view from the descend
ing knife. than they who urge us to smite
the villain who upholds it. The Admin
| istration has. from the first pursued 4 pol
! icy consistent with the Constitution /; and
it has given innumerable evidences that
| it is capable of continuing the WARMTH an
intelligent resolution. Let us, therefore,
now that the crisis of the campaign is rap
idly approaching, exhibit a united conf
denee, and be prepared to support the
Government, in whatever measures may
be deemed necessary TO emasculate and
quell this wicked treason. Let us hear
no more whimpering about ''our Southern
brethren :" no more lugubrious regrets
that such q deplorable state Of thins1 ,ir,,s
-.louid ever have come round; no more
talk of peace. The country is in fortune.
The war IS a wholesome alternative against
a canker that was eating out its life; and
all who speak despairingly of our condi-
tion, or OF our power to extirpate the poi
son, are traitors in their hearts.
But one spirit should animate every
loyal bosom, andits main feature should be
a willingness to aequiesce in any measures
which the Government may find it neces-
go H.
rebellion. The Gordon is closing round
the sullen lines of the insurgents. The
avenging bayonet has already cleaned in
the arena of Kentucky; and soon the
grand army of the Potomac. responding TO
reverberations on the Southern coast, will
begin to move. Let us, therefore, relin-
quish all minor questions and perversions,
and be prepared to go with it, hunting
this rebellion to the end, with sympatl y
for the Union, and concern alone for the
superior result which guarantees the pro
greSs of mankind.
The Southern people who are in rebel
ion are enemies. There is no description
of property in their possession, which it is
not our direct interest to destroy-even
to the taking Of their lives. When they
lay down their arms and submit to the
jurisdiction of the Government, there Is
no description of property in their posses
sion which it is not cur interest to pro
tect. These are the laws of war. The
same with us and our Southern enemies,
as between all other belligerents and ev-
cry REIMBURSEMENT of their absolute
stringency in favor of our foes, is war
against ourselves. Let us strike, there
fore, as if in earnest. Fiercely, because
that is mercifuly; and as we march, let us
put the conquered territory up at auction,
in order that the thousand million debt,
now in process of accumulation, be expia-
ted by the traitors who created it. That
is the way to make war do its work. That
is the way to teach treason a lesson, that
will be a warming to insubordination in
the future. Any milder treatment, any
general act of grace, before such penalties
are levied, would insure new insurrec-
ton OF the hands of gallant" rebels, at
the end of every presidential election.