The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-01-30
WAR AND TAXES.


feelings Of pleasure that the true Union
men notice the change that public opinion
is undergoing. in reference TO who are re-
sponsible for the bankruptcy and wide
spread ruin which surround us. Prior to
the election Of Mr.. Lincoln. thousands Of
men were made TO believe. that ii they
would vote the Republican ticket there |
would be no dissolution Of the Uni N as
predicted by the Democrats peace would
prevail over :he whole country, and the
productions Of the soil would command
remunerating prices. Unfortunately for
the country. too many were led astrav by
these false promises In a very short
time after the Republicans came into pow
er. we had war on our hands which
could have been prevented without any
loss of honor. money. or territory. The
Crttenden Amendment. which the lead
ing men Of the entire South Except Sonth
Carolina) proposed to receive. guaranteed
all the territory North Of Sc deg. SO min.
to Freedom, forever; South Of that line
the Southerners asked the privilege o!
holding slaves. until State Constitution
might be formed. then they wero to have
slavery or not. as they chose. No well
informed person will argue that there
would have been any free States carved
ont Of the territory South Of Sc deg 80
min had no difficulty arisen between the
/ North and the South Hence we conclude
that the North would have lost nothing
by adopting Crittenden's amendment. bu'
would have saved tens OF thousands of
lives and millions upon millions Of money
/ The South argued that the Territories
were the common property Of al'.--that the
Supreme Court had decided that they hod
a right TO take their slaves into the Terri
tories, but they wanted the matter set at
rest forever. by Congress; and in order to
have it finally settled. they agreed to re-
lnqush all claim North of sc deg. 80
min We ask our readers in candor--
particularly those who have been selling
corn At ) cents per bushel. their wheat
AT 3 cents per bushel. and their pork at
80 CD per cwt..-would il not have been
infinitely better if our Republican friends
had voted for tina, Amendment. Our
crop Of wheat. corn. and pork, has been
far batter than usual. vet those having anv
Of these articles to sell, have only realized
ahont one half what they would have done
had the Cri,tenden Amendment been al
quence Of the refusal Of the Republican
party 10 make any cOmpromi>e whatever.
After all the compromises were ignored
bv the Republicans. Old Virginia calle !
for Peace Congress. which met The ap-
/ prohation OF all the border States, and the
Democratic party of the South. Nearly
AL the Governors Of the Northern States
wore Republicans. and true to their in.
s,incts they appointed. with few excep-
tons. the most ultra. rampant politicians
of their party as members Of said Con
gress The States Of Indiana and Illinois
were each entitled to five members. Az
the Republicans had s~all majority in
each branch the Democrats thought il;
would be fair and honorable for them TO
have two ou. of the FIVE in each State !;
and it was generally thought. after the
r men were selected by the Democratic
members Of the Legislature Of each State.
that Governors Morton and Yates would
not. for such purpose. refuse so reason
able a request But alas! how sadly were
the friends Of the Union disappon'edl--
five staunch Republicans were appointed
by each Governor for they well knew. il
a majority Of conservative men were sent
20 that Congress, that the matter of diff
ference would soon be adjusted. and the
Negro question put to rest; then there
y would be nothing but plunder to hold the
i party together.
When the Peace Conference met. j, was
!, soon ascertained that the Republicans had
y majority consequently. had things
Il their own way.
n We are now reaping the bitter fruits o
: their stubborness and folly. If they alon,
, had to suffer. it would be bad enough; bu
= = when the Democrats. who had no part o
g lot in bringing about our present troubles
e have to suffer with the guilty.. it is almos
! too in,olerable to be borne.
Is We are no apologist for the Souber
. % reb,l. and have no sympathy for sec-ss
's sionists--thcy and the ultra Republican
D. have ruined both sections Of our once hap
'e py spd prosperous country. and unless III
true friends Of the Union soon gain the as