Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-09-18

d war. III is pOSsfUie, ana only possible
that this once great confederated Union
of free and Independent sovereignty now
prostrated like tho pillars Of GAIA by ,h,
Sampson Of Civil Strife, may again bc
reconstructed TO give hope, and peace
and security to the American people. Bn
we have no fixed assurance, no reliable
guaranty, that it will be 80. We onl,
know, that it is the high and conservativ,
mission OF the Democratic party here in
! the North, to stand as a shield to on,
National Constitution to present its sha
ken but still unbroken front as @ break.
water around its holy citadel, against tho
despotic assaults of an Administration
who seemingly propose to sustain it, by
breaking down every barrier erected for
its protection. In this great calamity
which has thusssbefallen our common
country, portentious alike to the liberties
and great interest of the American peo.
pie, believing, as honestly did, that the
clearly indicated mission Of the Demo
cratic party was what have stated it to
lie, | had no hesitation in uniting
my destinics with it, prepared to stand
or fall with its organization. Feeling all
its responsibilities, prepared to discharge
all its duties, aud recognizing all its inst
claims upon me, have felt no compunc-
tions ofconscence for that determination
SO long as it shall maintain its present
constitutional and conservative position.
| intend to share its fate for aceoL or for
uOe and shall meet ali the vituperation
and abuse which may be heaped upon me,
1t not with all the forbearancc and meek
ness OF christian, at least with all the
dignity and manners of gentleman.
In the dark valley Of the future which
lies before us, whose impenetrable gloom
no human intelligence can penetrate let
us walk with firm tread and unfalter-
ing hearts, neither ioolishy seeking or
cowardly avoiding difficulty; but feeling
that no sacrifice will be to great, if ded :
icated to the preservation of the Consti-
tntion as it is, and the restoration of the
Union as it was. And if at last, that
glorious union of States, cemented by the
richest blood ever shed upon the battle
field, shall be 81 verod AID DESTROYED by
a phrenzy the mcst insane that ever mad
dened the human heart, let us have the
proud, the self-sustainng consolation
that no mad fanatic, m of ours has con.
tibutcd to the mighty calamity. Nay,
gentlemen, let us seek consolation in an
other possible contingency: IT, in the
inscruitable ways of Providence, through
the madness of despotic power, and in
system of terror inaugurated by anarchy,
and the widest passions of men unre-
strained by law or religion, we should
become the victims of fierce persecu-
tion for political opinion, let us bear in
mind the Lofty sentiment, that the end OF
that man neeer can come too soon, who
falls in defence of the peace, the happi-
ness and liberties, Of his country Amid
all this wild convulsion of the social and
political organism-under the most dcs-
potic tyranny which can or may be fasten-
ed upon us, by the creatures of mere
political accident, let us still be able to say
'Thy spirit INpEraNDEScE, let us share
Lord OF the l.ion-hea rt and EaSle-eye;
Ihy steps wei. follow with our bosom bare,
Nor head the storm that ho,rts along the sky!"
Thank God +! that spirit still lives in
the Demo cratic party ! love it because
of that spirit: love it for its strait for
ward directness in the avowal of its prin.
ciplcs. flove it for the indomnitable
with which it maintains its organ
ization against all the dcspotc efforts to
put down and stillc its ut.erance. love
it for its sing minded and unalterable
attachment to the Union, the idol of its
political worship, for the legitimate main
tainance which it leads the column of
brave hearts now striking for its defence.
! love it, because it has nobly resolved to
"sink or swim, live or die, survive or
perish" WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND LIB.
ERTIEs OF THE COUNTRY