Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-02-25
Gbe Obio Gtatesnra,r
T R N a
lfron the National IntsllIgeneer.l
Object OF the war.

lfrom the National IntellIgeneer.l
Object OF the war.
The subjolned letter (the initial number of n
briei series), from the pen Of public man we'll
known TO the whole country, and who in the
present crisis has slgnalized his devotion 10 tho
cause Of the Union, was originally sent us for
,nseruon without the signature Of the writer
Inougn desiring, from considerations OF mod
esty' 70 write anonymously, he was induced, at
our request, TO attach bis name 10 theae lei.
thority. go y "'' ~
LETTER MOI
10 Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States: "' N"'''
RrsrEoTrD sn do not addsess you for the
purpose OF censure or advice. From boyhood
70 olo age have belonged TO the Democratic
common with that of my party tbrouobout tho m
North, has been and now is deyotlon 10 Inc
Constitution as 1t camo from the hands Of
washington and bis compatriots, and 10 the
rignts OF the States reserved 70 them on the
adoption of that instrument.
We look upon the structure composed of the
states and the Union as our temple of liberty.
OF Wnicn the States are the pillars and the
onion the roof. Remove the pillars and the
ROOT viii fall; remove tho roof and the pjllara
Will oe overthrow by the storms OF anarchy and
war, and our country will be strewed with ruins
more melancholy than those which lie pros.
Irate or stand shattered on the sites of ancient
cities.
Ruthless hands have seized upon and are at.
tempting to remove portion of the pillars of
our temple, at the hazard OF crushing them.
selves and Us In its fall, and in The insane hope
OF building new temple for themselves out of
the ruins. "
Though the Democratic party of the North
were always willing to mako all reasonable or
even toleraole concessions to satisfy their allies
~ tne SOUTH yet, as body, no party ia more
was devotion to the Union which induced them
TO make concession after concession 20 ouiet
the apparent approximations Of their Southern
friends So vital In their view was the preser-
walton OF the Union and the Constitution to the
interests and safety Of the Southern States in
particular, that many Of them could not, until
tno assault on Fort Sumter, be convinced that
tne leaders OF Southern agitation had ANYTHING
In view beyond further guarantees for their To-
Cal institutions. Under this delusion some of
them raised their voices against coercion, and
thereby unWittngy rendered material service
to the cause Of rebellion. But when convinced.
BY the thunder Of rebel cannon and the flames
OF Fors Sumter, that revolution, and not re-
dress or security within the Union, was the OBJ
lecs Oh the southern leaders, they did all that
honest men could do to retieve their error, and :,
Notwithstanding their political antagonism on
minor points, the Democratic party of the
North rallied around your Administration as
tue Only means OF saving the country. Your.
armies ABOUND with them; none are more ready
70 sacrlnce all that is dear, even life ITSELF for
tne preservation Of the Union and the Consiitu-
tlon' ana to them II is cheering, though but
Jus', .nat you nave recently given them repre-
De assured, sir, that the Democratic party Of
the North, with the exception of few semi-
traitors whom they repudiate, cordially approve
the objects OF the war against rebellion as de.
clared by you in all your public oyowals. They
rally around you with devotion to the cause
NOT exceeded by any class of your original sup
Poftefs, and they will spare no sacrifice to save
tne Union and the Constitution. In this great
OBJECT they are already consolidated with the
great mass OF the Republican party, and will be
among the last to despair. Indeed, these Two
parties ior all present purposes constitute but
one winch may appropriately be called the con-
stitutlonal Union party. The object of this
party in the pending war is to preserve the
Union and the Constitution as II is. II is the
Constitution, and that only, which makes US
nation; destroy 1t, and the nation will cease to
exist, being resolved into thirty. -four independ-
ent States In fighting for the Constitution,
therefore, We fight for the life of the nation,
ior oil tnat can give us peace and security at
nOme, ana all that can make us honored and re-
spected abroad.
The fundamental principle of our Govern.
| manf lh hat nninainla Il
public TO extend itself from the Atlantic IN the
Pacific, and endowed il with a canaoitv N em.
brace continents and climes within It's dominion.
ls that everything which relates exclusively or
mainly to local affairs shall be left to be regu-
lated by local governments, while the powers of
the 1eneral Government shall be only such as
are requisite to promote the happiness and pros
perity OF the people, whatever may be their pe.
cullar customs, laws or domestic institutions.
AN attack upon this principle is an assault upon
the Constitution; II is undermining the foupda-
tions OF the Republic; 1t is diyesting it of that
attribute almost divine, which, like the poyern.
ment OF Heaven, protects alike error and truth.
allowing man to work out his own happineas
In peace, by the free exercise of bis own
powers.
But we have class of men among us who
are not content with such government. They
are not content with the privilege of shaping
the laws and institutions of the States 10 which
they live according to their own sense of right
and expediency; but wish to compel other men
and other communities, over whose local affairs
they have no rightful control, to adopt their no.
tions, and utterly regardless of essential differ
ences In circumstances, remodel all local nstitu.
tions by their procrustean standard. And by a
concerted effort these men are attempting to d.
vert the military power of the country from its
legitimate object, the preservation Of the Con.
sttution in its integrity, and direct il to The
suoversion of the fundamental principle on
which 1t is based. Such scheme is yirlually
conspiracy against the Constitution and tbe
Union in the North, giving effective aid 10 the
rebellion in the South. Il would present tbe
loyal States to other nations, not, as at present.
defending an established Government aeainst
wanton rebellion, bat as themselves rebels a1ains,
the oery Government they profess to be defeHdino.
IL would cast the North also on the stormy
ocean of revolution, not fighting for any exist
ing Government, but for such q one as NAV rise
out OF the waves--it may be many warning
States or Coufederacies, or military despotism
based on conquest, and swallowing up the
whole.
In another letter shall endeayor more fullv
to expose the danger and folly of all such
schemes.