The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-03-26
! NUMBER 3.
r a d j ca | or Conservative
Which? 1s

We print 10 another column ~ srtla
from the Louisville Journal on the Presi.
dents recent special message. which We
commend to the readers perusal
1t is conceded on oil hands that t6ers
is nothing really practical in ths recon.
mendation of the President 1t Is im-
portant only IS the iatimasion or thu sux-
gestion of policy 10 regard toislssery.
And it is on this point that the intetpre-
ters OF the message expound It in differ.
cot ways The conservatives assert that
it leaves the question of emancipAtfou-
entirely to the States without ints:fesencs
on the part Of the Federal G5ssrnwept,
while the radicals, declare that. Il the
slave States refuse to accept the proposal
for the gradual emancipation Of. and com.
pensation for slaves, the, message plAiply
indicates that the Goverument may deem
it necessary, under the war power, ITO
proclaim emancipation as an, indispensa.
BILE measure for putting down the rebel.
lion Is, g...'z- -s....'s,sa
We think the impression on almost evs-
~ mans mind, on the FIRST perusal ofgshs
special message, was that there was some.
thing ambiguous about it. inducing, the
involuntary exclamation--.W bat does the
President really meanfs' We doubt
whether this irst impression has sbecn 10
many minds removed by subse qaspt peeu-
sal and reflection
But is this uncertaihtyS Ia reg gard q ishe
Presidents real intentions and future spoli-
|cy anything new or strangs? Has sif not
been more or less the case with almost
every official document emanatiug. from
the same source? We hare been tQId 1t
one time BY Republican journals thai what
the Administration needed : more 4han
anything else was policy; then that Il
had policy, radical or conservalise. seo-
cording to the views of the journAl sx.
pressing the opinion; and .agai1, we foand
the same papers. the radical and consar.
vative. alternately charging. that the Ad.
ministration had no ds6aed or dcRnabls
policy. e,ss,s. at. 81. 4.v
It would seem that the President and
his Cabinet have had one great o!iecs
constantly in view, which has operated as
dead lock upon the adoption - :
straightforward and aniform policy,
namely, to reconcile the radical and con.
servative wings of the Republiean party,
and make the two harmonious in support
of the Administration. Hence, the o:a-
cles at Washington, like those sofoold st
Delphos. utter sentences of doubtful and
ambiguous meaning.
On the one hand. the radicals are
shouting for war for tho satjogasIon Of
the South and the abolition OF Saver:
and on the other hand. the conservativs
men OF the country, whose. feelings are
shared generally by the officers and sol-
diers 10 the field, are equally dsterusisssd
that the blood and treasure Of the nation
shall not be wasted for the sake of Gcivine
freedom to the blacks. while both shallbe
poured out without stint for the .puruoss
of maintaining the, authority of ihe Con.
stitution sacd the integrity of the sUnisn.
The Administrations cannat stand betwe,n
the two; it must favor thu iyieuss and
that decidedly, of either the oradiasls or
eonservatives. or lose the sconfdsncs sshd
support Of both. Upsn the stand Il
takes depends lis own fate. and toa eysas
extent the veal or wo of the counsfy.