The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-09-03
TERMS. .sl.OO PER AMNuM.


our Victories will be fruitless, our suffer-
ings uurewarded, our sacrifices barren,
and the glory and valor of our soldiers
will end in the triumph of the Southern
rebellion and dishonorabe peace.
1t is unnecessary to restate the causes
of the war. Our opponents have made
them the substance of calumny and mis-
representation. For answer, we appeal
to the living history familiar to all men.
We need not remind the people that ae
the basis of the Southern rebellion there
exists hatred of Northern men and
Northen institutions-of our social, po-
litical aud revenue systems. This has
inspired their leaders during two genera
tinns Welded TO an institution which
has demoralized them in demoralizina
their labor, and cu!tivating the earth BY
an enslaved race of men, they have made
their slaves the source of their political
power, aud have ruled the nation with
the products of slave labor. The happy
hours of our rational progress have for
years been embittered by their insolence.
All Legislation that looked to the prosper
ity of the Northern States and protection
to their industry has been opposed and
defeated by them. With the growth of
Northern strength, as the result of free
institutions and free toll, came the pos
session of political power and the gradual
resistance to the encroacdments of slavery
Nor need we remind the people of the
outrages that followed the efforts OF the
Shareholders, to recover their unholy and
despotic dominion The outIages upon
Kansas the studied insults to Northern
Senators aud Representatives the cease
less abuse of the Northern people, and
the gradual concentration of the military
aud naval power 10 the hands of the trai-
tors, all contemplated the restoration of
their ascendency, and enabled them to In
augurate the treason which eliminated in
war. Strengthened by wicked Admin
istration, aud sustained by timid and
treacherous public men in the free States,
they were permitted to organize ap armed
resistance, and to make fearful advances,
before the Government could strike
blow in its own defence.
The election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidency, so fortunate for the country,
and so fruitful of saving consequences to
the whole people, bafied the immediate
purposes of the consnirators. ...-
Tbs adversaries of Mr.. Lincoln's Ad.
ministration are in nearly every case the
adyersarieS of the Government. They
attack the one to weaken the other. We
recognize in the Executive the embodi-
ment of that authority which can alone
destroy the rebellion and rescue the Re-
public. If the Executive arm /, paraly.
zed, there can be neither unity among the
people, victory for our armies, nor hope
for the preservation of the Government
While the enemies of the war propose
adhering to the form of a mere party
organization, the loyal men have yielded
their preferences and systems, content to
defer to the days Of peace the revival of
disputes which can only be repeated now
to the injury of the common cause.
Let the people decide whether that
interest is deserving Of confidence which,
in the midst Of war, refuses to abandon
the prejudices of party strife, and in the
midst of national peril devotes itself to the
work Of dividing the people.
The opponents of the war are more
anxious to prove their hatred to a party
than to the public enemy. They insist
that the "demon Abolition" is the most
dangerous foe Of the public peace. We
can see but one great criminal--but one
great enemy of the Republic-and he is
now in arms against our countrymen and
Urothers. To defeat him at once and for
ever is our first and most imperative duty.
The adyersaries of the war insist thai
they contend for the Union as 1t was, and
the Constitution as it is. We, too, are
for the Union as it was; but not for the
return Of the armed associates of the sym.
pathizers with treason to the places they
so long occupied aud so basely deserted.
And while We renew ou: fealty to the Con-
siituion as il is, we also insist upon the
addition Of that duty which the opponents
of the war SO steadily ignore, viz: The
enforcement Of the laws" whether these
laws are for the coDfscation of all rebel
property, the emancipation Of all slaves
who aid to defend the flag Of the Union,
or the punishment Of The reckless parIi-
sans in the adhering States WHO aid and
comfort the rebel enemy, demoralize the
people, and paralyze the arn Of the Ex.
ecutive.
If, in a word, we have sympathy to
bestow: it is not for the murderers of our
country's liberties, but for the defenders
Of those liberties. The gallant soldier
teaches us by his example to persevere IN