The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-04-17

We look to . restoration OF the Union.
For that our soldiers die. For that the
North is willias to pay. For that we should
: be willing to make all necessary sacrifices.
Is it too much to ask, for the sake Of resto-
ring the Union. that the North should also
seek to deserve the condolences of the loyal
men of ell the States. South a. well a.
North E?
Some days since we asserted that the
people Of the South entertains fear ths,
the laws will not be imparsialIy admins
tered By the dominant party of the North.
and that this more shan any other reason
prevents the voluntary return of the ma
jority of the Southern people to the Union.
This proposition is denied by leading Re-
publican presses. To prove ito truth. We
,ecur briefly to past history.
Governor Moore. of Alabama, less than
seventeen months ago. addressed the Leg
islature Of that State thus:
Il am no secessionist per Sc. and would
like ~ contemplate our future gIosy rs q
nation could have the assurance that the
Union. upon the basis of the Constitution.
would be as durable az the hills and VAL
leys embraced within the vast territorial
limits Of It's Jurisdiction"
Governor Lstches. Of Virginia, in a
letter written just seventeen monte ago,
said:
II the North will respect aud uphold
the righte Of the States. the Union will be
perpetual"
A. H. Stephens about the same time.
said in the Georgia Legislature.
i say TO you. don't give up the ship;
don't noandon her yet. II she can be pos
sibly preserved. and our rights. interests
and security sustained. tho object is worth
tho effort
John B. Floyd then said 10 letter:
For one. am not for secession 40 long
as anY honorable effort can he made to
preserve the Union on Constitutional
| basis. / believe that
the great material interests OF the country
demand = reconciliation of the sections and
the preservation Of the Union
A. o. p. Nicholson OF Tennessee. said.
fifteen months ago:
Of Tennessee. our people require an homes,
effort be made to save the Union
Gov. Brown Of Tennessee. at the same
time said:
Il Am for 'he Union as long as it can be
maintained consistently with the compro-
misses of the Constitution, and | am for
redressing the wrongs Of the South in the
Union by peaceful remedies. and until such
remedies are exhausted BY fair trial. Let
our war cry be: The Union and the
rights Of all under il; It's undivided fortune
and glory
Said Mr.. Cobb of Alabama, a year ago
las, fall:
i am not a secessicnist. ! desire peace.
peace predicated on the principles Of tho
Constitution
Said jefferson Davis himself year ago
in December:
The union of the States forms in my
Judgment the bes, government instituted
among men. Ii is only necessary to car
ry it on, in the spirit in which il WAS
formed.
Long have l offered propositions of
equality in the Union. Not single Re
publican hss voted for them
We might quote sentiments Of this pur-
port without limit. They we're then the
honest sentiments Of the great majority of
the Southern leaders. We believe thew
are to-day the sentiments Of the mass Of
the Southern people. What are We to in
fer from this? Simply that the mass of
Southern men ins.inctively love the Union
and the Constitution. that they are not
per Sc secessionists. and they are sctua.ed
in the present rebellion. not by hostility 10
the nature OF our Government and it's con-
s'i,u,ional principles. but BY fear ,ha,
the dominant party of the North intends
TO deny them the rights guaranteed them
BY the Fundamental Law.
II becomes a solemn duty Of the people
Of the North. therefore. to remove this ap-
prehension. and thus recover the conf
dence and allegiance OF those whose hos
tilily the unconstitutional measures Of
Northern S,a,es and the disunion sea,i.
meuts Of Northern presses have encour-
sged To re-assure the masses Of South
ern men Of the sincerely constitutional
purposes OF the North is to restore the
Union. ls no, the object which may Thus
be accomplished worthy any sacrifice Of
feei-g which the bspishment OF sectional
ism from ne might involve? We have
only to adopt the counsel of Washington.
and inves, ourselves with the spirit which
ac,uated our fashet. in the adoption of the
Constitution. and the grea, work of re.,o.