Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-09-04

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a majority Of nearly amillion American
voters, has been civil war that threatens,
not alone the life of the Federal Union,
but the life of Unconstitutional liberty itself !!
The gauntlet of civil war thrown down
by infatuated and maddencd men Of the
South, was taken up by the Federal adj
mnistration of a republican President
and republican Congress, and at the
call of the President, as tue Constitutional
organ Of the people, the whole North be-
came apparently united as one man in
an effort "to preserve, protect and de.
iend the Constitution fthc United State
In this great crisis that had come upon
the nation without their agency or fault,
and which they were in no wise response
bic, what was the duty of the Northern
National Democracy? Their duty was,
in the dying words Of tEeir illustrious
leader, "to obey the laws and support the
Constitution OF the United Statesl" Have
they done it? Call the roll Of the FEEDER
al armies, and hear the response of hum
dreds of thousands Of Democrats in arms
for the Unionl 1--WE have done our du-
tyr Count the graves of tens Of thou
sands Of ofDemocratic heroes ofthe war slain
on every battle field from the Potomac to
New Orleans, aud hear the response of
the silent and yet sadly speaking tcncnts
of those honored graves, "We died in de-
fence Of the Constitution, and in obedience
to the laws Of the United Statel" What
is still the duty of the 300 900 demo-
Gratis who voted for Stephen A. Douglas
in 1850, and Of the deceived Breckenridge
Democrats of the North, led estray by the
secession leaders Of the South, who divi-
ded The Democratic rorty in 1860? What
IN a word is the duty Of all conservative
and truly patriotic ncn everywhere in
the North? We all will readily answer
to hold up the hands Of the constitutional
authorities in their Efforts to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the
United State" by all legitimate and con-
stitutional means. This duty Of the pco-
pie, which all conccde, involve cores
Ponding duty on the part of the FEEDER al
Administration, that is, to conduct the
war by constitutional means alone, with
reference to the only true end, upon
which the war on the part Of the Federal
government can find justification before
an enlightened world, and that is the end
ana purpose indicated by the action of
Congress IN their solemn declaration of
July, 1861, known as the Crittenden res
olutions, viz:
"lhat IN this national emergency, Con
Sress banishng all feelings of mere pas
! SION rp ,nnnt ,uill ,,,,ll,,f nl,, -,
duty to the whole country; that this war
Is not waSed on our part in any spirit of
| oppression nor forany purpose ofconquest
or sublugation, for the purpose of ever
throwing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of tn, States:
but to defend and maintain the suprema-
cy OF the constitution, and to preserve
the Union, with all the dignity, equality
and lIShtS OF the several State unimpair-
ed; and that as soon as these objects arc
accomplished, the war ought to cease"
In view of these facts, coming home
as they do 20 the heart of every man,
| ask, do we feel, can we feel that the Fed
eral administration is in safe hands?
Does 1t deserve the confidence of the peo-
| Pile? Has it not been fairly tried and
found wanting? Does it especially deserve
the confidence OF the national Democracy,
or Of national and conservative Wings,
whose best and wioest statesman have
long iorsccn and laborcd to avoid the very
state OF affairs now upon US in all its ter
ribIe reality?
Again, ask, what is the duty of dem
ocrats and conservative men in this cri-
sis? In answering this question, | ask
you to note distinction between the Fed.
cral Administration and Federal Govern,
mcnt. The Administration and tho
Government are not identical or con,
vertibIc terms. Tho Government i,
the Constitutional Government of the
United States i. is right and should stand
forever. The Administration is but tho
servant and representative of the people
to exercise the powers of their Govern.
ment; it is justly changed, for it is Often
conducted by partiSans and for partisan
ends, whereas the Government is of the
people and should ever be for their wei,
lare and happiness Opposition to Il
Federal Administrator, therefore, either
IN peace or in war, il that opposition be
respectful, and patriotic, and not mere
Iactlous, by no means implies infdelity
to the Government. The highest patri,
. otlHm often prompts us to que ton and
oppose the policy, aud to overthrow the
power of Il Federal administration. II
is n SlayiSh doctrine that would teach Ms
that to question the wisdom of our rulers
is treason to the State. Free discussion by
Tree speech and free press as we'll as free
5 votes, are essential principles of free de-
mocratic, constitutional government
, Amy other doctrine finds no place in any
f democratic creed. The doctrines of ar
bltrary power that are in upon us, will
do for partisans, who seek power and
profit by slavish prostitution of the no.
blest attributes of frecmcu, but they will
not become tho proud position Of the ma,
tional Democracy.
This purpose of the war was also adop-
ted 10y the Department of State and made
, known in its diplomatic correspondence
with the leading powers Of Europe, as the
basis upon which their neutrality if not
thei: cordial sympathy with the Federal
Government was demanded or, at least
expected.
The Federal government thus stand:
solemnly committed before the world t.
7 the conduct of the war not as a war oil