M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-02-27

zeus in the measures hereby adopted
for the etfectual suppression Of unlaw.
ful violence, for the impartial enforce.
ment Of constitutional laws, and for
the speediest possible restoration Of
peace and order, and with these, Of
happiness and prosperity throughout
our country"
The first law Of the extra session,
passed July 13, 1861, provided for an
army to execute the laws Of the Un-
ion, suppress Instructions, and repel
iuvasions. The Crittenden reSolu.
tiOns were an explicit avowal Of the
oBly and legitimate objects of this
war, House jaurnal Of last session
p. 129. They said:
In this national emergency We
would banish all feeling Of mere pas.
sion or resentment; and would recol-
lect only our duty to the whole cOun-
try; and that this war was not waged
upon our part in any spirit Of oppres-
sion, nor for any purpose Of conques;
or subjusation; nor for the purpose OF
overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of
the States; but to maintain the Gu
premacy Of the Constitution and pre-
serve the Union, with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
unimpaired.
To divert it into warfare against
the institution OF slavery will be to
make il the "violent and .remorseless
revolutionary struggle" which the
President Tears. Besides it would
make it u gigantic swindle upon the
people, upon our votes for taxes, and
upoa the soldiers who imperil their
lives in defense of the Union and its
authority. 1t would be q fraud only
measured, if not exceeded in atrocity,
by the rebellion. The only object, ii
such q war is successful, which would
be attained, would be the utter ami.
hilatiou Of the Union; perhaps worse,
the destruction of the Government
remaining in the fragmentAIy Union.
This was not the understanding Of
large party in this country who rail-.
led at the call Of Douglas. He most
distinctly disSvowed such an object.
He would not by q Federal army, any
more than Federal Congress, inter.
fefe with State laws and Institutions.
So be declared over and over again -
This forum is no place for itS discuss.
ion, much less for its enactment. II
the State Legislatures, in their GOV
reign will. choose to dc this, it is for
them, not for us. We have no right:
and it is none OF our business to make
the Federal Government . moral re-
form society. This attempt has brok.
en- the Union; and the continuance Of
the effort will widen the breach until
the separation iS everlasting.
As most Of our ills come by slavery
discussions and laws, why may we not
now pausei Why do not gentlemen
on the other side, who have now bs.
fore them the results Of this most troub.
lssome agitation, cesse their clamorl
Those who keep it up are disunioniSts.
Their talk ia treason. They deserve
Q traitors fate 90 much % Davis or
Wigfall. Is it not enough that q mill
ion Of men are employed in violence
and bloodshed; not enough that our
trade and commerce are parslyEed;
that our revenue has fallen of over
$4,000, 900; that by 1863 our nation
al debt, as estimated by Mr.. Chase,
will be eS97, ,372, ,s02, not enough that
we are to pledge $50. 100000 this
year Of taxation to meet interest and
expenses; not enough that my own
State pays one tenth Of this; is it not
enough that oar currency is vitiated,
and BANKRUPTCY to overwheIm Us; not
enough that our highways are closed,
our flag inSultsd, our sovereignty de-
rided our whole nationality in peril;
not enough that dictator is op enly
threatened; not enough that il is de.
elared here that the Constitution shall
be overslaughed, on the plea Of uecea
sity; that all its limitations shall be
oyorleaped, ruthlessly and aimleSslyi
Are we to have added the horrors Of
an endless war of hate; the hopeless
ness Of all reconciliation; the proUpec,
and the fact of a divided North; the
burdens of a taxation only equaled by
the monaachies Of Europel Heaven
forbidl If God in his mercy would
strike down, not only politically bui
physically, the marplots who are war.
ing on their own Administration and
Government, it would indeed be 8
blessing compared with this pros
pectl
! We may differ here about our in
terror government; we may have oul
parties oi administration and oppo
sition. These differences of opinion
. - II Il