The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-10-15
PLAIN TALK.

we commend Iuo lIOlloWtHS9 lIoih lhS
Louisville Journal to the careful reading
of our bitter revilers. We can appreciate
the truth of the remarks, and when those
who would gladly make out the Press
sympathizer with seceshdom, can have a
taste of that bitter pill as we have, then
will their tune be changed. But neither
the evils of secesh nor the wickedness of
Abolitionism can makeus disown our good
and glorious Government. We have long
been taught that the Constitution, which
is the foundation of this Government,
guarantees the freedom of speech and of
the press, in discussing governmental at
fairs. The secesh denied us this in Dixie,
and the pimps of Abolitionism would do
the same in this boasted country of the
free, if they could effect it. But listen
to the words of the Journal:
The Chicago Tribune and a few other
papers of the same stamp bitterly de-
nounce us because we oppose the Presl-
dents Proclamation in regard to the eman-
cipation Of slaves in the rebel states. They
suggest that it would probably be well
| for us to join the secessionists at once
They talk like fools, They should know
that the President, only few weeks
since, was against the policy of issuing
such a proclamation as the one in ques-
ton. and there is no doubt that he issued
| it at last with much reluctance. They
should know that some Of the members OF
the Cabinet are said on good authority to
have boen strongly opposed to its being
issued. If it is fitting that we should
ioin the secessionists, it is fitting that a
portion of the Cabinet should join them
And what is to be thought of Mr.. Lin
coins present position if he retains in his
cabinet men whose appropriate place il
among the secessionists?
/ If these bitter and fanatical Northern
organs had paid in times past good deal
more respect than they did to the earnest
counsels and entrerties of the Louisville
Journal and other papers better than
themselves acquainted with the temper
and disposition of the whole country
North and South, this terrible war, how.
ever anxious the fiery spirits of the South
might have been to bring it on, would
have been avoided, and the repose and
prosperity of the nation have continued
undisturbed. Leaving out of view the
utter unlawfuiness of the proclamation,
the Union organs here can judge far bet
ter than the Republican organs of the
North of the probable effect of such a
proclamation in the region where it i,
expected and intended to have its CHIEF
effect, and, if we believe that it is calcu-
lated to promote and advance and strength
en- the rebellion instead of tending te
auell it, we certainly do not, by the ex.
preston of such belief, make ourselves
liable to any just charge of secessionism
There is not paper or prominent politi
Ician in Kentucky that docs not deeply re-
greet and deprecate the President procla
nation, though all may believe that lit vii
be wholly imperative SO far as its object
are concerned, and that it was well in
tended.
i Northern fanatics should be ashamed t.
charge or to insinuate secessionism agains
us. It is very easy and very safe AM
perhaps very profitable for them, situated
as they are, to be noisy Union men anc
to publish noisy newspapers-th onl..
kind of papers Of course that they dar