The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-10-01

the advice of the Senate, and represents
the nations character at the capital Of a
friendly power Citizens In loyal States
who became the objects of suspicion or
Of malignant assaults, have been seized
at their homes, dragged to distant prisons
without trial and without redress, while
each convicted plunderer walks freely and
boldly among the people he has robbed
andwronged. Maladministration demands
change of administration
At this time issues should be fairly and
boldly made It is no dishonor to be
mistaken, but it is disgraceful not to be
.outspoken Let this war at least settle
questions of principles. A few months
will decide who is right and who is wrong
now, as the past two years have shown who
were right and who were wrong hereto
fore. We are in favor of the rights. of
the States as well as of the general Gov
ernment we are in favor of local self gov
ernment, as we'll as of the National juris-
diction within its proper sphere. Z
While we thus meet as political or
ganization it is not for partisan purposes.
We can best serve our country in this re-
lationship> The President of the United
States will bear witness that he has not
been pressed or embarrassed by US. We
have loyalty responded to every eaff made
on us by constituted authority We have
obeyed all orders to reinforce our armies.
When we we're in power we denounced the
higher law doctrine-the principle that
men might set up their Wills against the
statutes of the land-as reasonable. We
denounced it when uttered by Northern
men; we are combating it now when tits
asserted by the rebellions South. We're
pudiate it by submitting to every demand
of our Government made within the linn
its of rightful Jurisdiction. This obedi-
ence has not been constrained, but cheer
fully rendered, even in support of a par
ty and policy to which we are opposed.
We have struggled to sustain not only the
letter but the spirit of outlaws. We feel
that we have set an example of loyalty
that will not be lost upon those opposed
to u.s. Having done our duty, we now
demand our rights, and we shall at this
time set in calm and fearless judgment
upon the conduct of our rulers. Ours
shall not be the language of discord and
violence We deplore the passionate and
yindictive assaults of leading Republican
Journals upon those holding civil or mill
tary stations. Above all, we protest, in
behalf of our eountry's honor and dig
nifty, against their insubordinate and dis
respectful language toward the President
Of these United States. Such language
wrecks the authority Of Government and
tends to anarchy and public disorder
For another reason, we cannot disband
our organization. No other party car
save this country 1t. alone has clearly
defined purposes and we'll settled princi
pies. It has been we'll said in our Con,
gressional Address that under its guidance
"From FIVE millions, the population in
creased to thirty millions. The revolu
|. .tionary debt was extinguished Two for
..eign wars were successfully prosecuted
with moderate outlay and small army
and navy, and without the suspension q
| the habeas corpas, without one iffractio1
of the Constitution; without one usurpa
ttion Of, power; without suppressing a sin
gle newspaper withoutimprisoning sin
gle editor; without limit to the freedom o
the press; or of speech in or out Of Con
gress, but in the midst Of the crosses
abuse Of both; and without the arrest Of
EsingIe traitor though the Hartford Con
yention sat during one of the wars, and ii
the other Senators invited the enemy t
greet our volunteers with bloody hands
and welcome them to hospitable graves
i During all this time wealth increased
business Of all kinds multiplied, prosperi
1ty smiled Oh every side, taxes were low
wages were high, the Northand the Sout
furnished a market for each others pro
4 ducts at good prices; public liberty wa
secure, private rights .undisturbed, ever
man house was his castle, the courts wer
j fopen to all, no passports for travel, n
!. secret police, no spies, no informers, n
yEbastiles; the right to assemble peaceablJ
the right to Petition; freedom Of reli
tgion, freedom of speech, a free ballot, an
a free press; and all this time the Consti
tuition maintained and the Union of th
States preserved .hsinis4g