Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-01-17
NAUeuRAL AppRnss.
Gentlemen Of the Senate aud House of
Represenf0tives.

dnties OF tho office TO which q generous and
cenfding people have assigned me, Is will
be expected, and it is but proper, that /
announce to you my views upon the leading
subjects now occupying public attention.
The high duties and responsibilities per-
tanning to the Office Of Chief Executive Of
our State 1t this time, are duly appreciated; I;
and, were it not for the fact that, propos.
cd calling TO my assistance men of known
high moral worth, and large experience, l
would shrink from the task; but, with such
aid, and with the full belief that those,
whose servant asn, will demand only an
honest and vigilant effort, / will undertake
the performance Of these duties. f'aa
+ Upon the great and all absorbing ques-
ltion Of the day-the war for tho mainten.
auce Of our National existence--my position
is, perhaps, sufficiently well understood. -
II am indebted to the friends Of our Union
for their generous selection, mainly, from
the we'll known fact, that was willing to
surrender everything but honor, to quell the
unholy rebellion. a'tI
The more / reflect upon this important
matter the more thoroughly am l convinc
ed that, the future welfare Of ourselves, and
our children, and our children's children de-
pends upon preserving, at all hazards, the
integrity Of our National Union-maintain-
ing IL under the Constitution, as our fathers
gave it to us.
To be a free, prosperous and happy peo-
Iple, we must have domestic quiet, and our
commerce must be protected throughout the
world. To secure these blessings, tho Un-
ion of the States must be preserved In
no other way can we hopo to demonstrate
to the world that man is fit for selfgovern-
ment.
If this Union cannot be preserved, we
will be compelled to resort to some other
form Of government, and thereby confess
that, our fathers were mistaken, 10 claiming
for their children, ability to govern them
selves. / am proud to know that our con-
stituents thus view the issue now made for
us; and so highly do they prize the rich
blessings of self government, that they are
most checrfully willing to bear every exac-
tion that may be required for that purpose.
As their agents, then, for the time being,
we should exert our best energies to the
gallant and liberal support Of the officers of
the National Government in their efforts to
restore tbatgovernment to its former grand
eur, and to protect and maintain most
beneficient Union and Constitution against
all foes, whether domestic or foreign.
| am most happy TO be able to express
the opinion, that the helm of State Of our
National Government is in honest. pure and
patriotic hands; that President Lincoln
seeks, and is determined, TO conduct the
war with an eye single to the speedy res
toration of the Government to its former
harmony and vigor, irrespective of the in
fuence this may have upon domestic inst-
tutions of any of the States.
In this glorious work, the people of Ohio
have most nobly done their duty thus far
laying aside all party prejudices and partial
tiles, they have more than met the calls
made upon them for men and money; and,
not content with this, they are still willing
and eager to meet any further demands up
on their means and patriotism. Let us look
to it, then, that in our action we do not
disappoint the expectations they entertain
ed, when, lying aside all considerations,
save determined, vigorous and liberal sup
port of the National Government, thev com
mitted to cur hands the vast responsibilities
now resting upon us.
Ohio must, in all time to come, be able
to claim for herself her Just share of the
burden and glory of putting down this re-
bellion. In my opinion, this object can be
accomplished only by bringing to coudign
punishment the leaders Of the rebellion, and
satisfying their misguided followers, by a
firm and generous policy, that We seek, not
the destruction of any of their domestic in
stitulions, but only the maintenance and en-
forcement of the Constitution and Laws of
the Nation-a Constitution which their fa-
thers, with ours, handed down to us, with
the solemn injunction, that we, together,
should forever maintain and defend the
same
These mercenary and wicked leaders, gov
erned by unhallowed ambition for place and
power, being securely disposed Of their de-
luded followers may be expected to return
again to their loyalty. Surely, with such |
a purpose only in view, with unstipted
means in men and money, managed by
brave, gallant and accomplished officers,
like those at the head Of our armies. the |
struggle can neither be long nor doubtful.
To insure an early triumph Of our arms.
we should not, either in word or manner,
withhold our confidence from those 10 whose
hands the command Of our forces is placed.
Il is cruel to impugn the motives and acts
of those who are laboriug with zeal and in
tegrity to preserve and protect our best in
tercsts; the man who would do this with
out cause, should be avoided by all good
men. io' o'ni"'- 'i3f
Fortunately, we have nothing to distract
or divide our attention aud energies from |
vigorous prosecution Of the war; at peace
with all foreign powers, without questions Of
moment 10 settle with any, We may hope 10
maintain kind aud amicable relations with
all. .7'o. fa.n tll't 'i' ''iai
The magnanimity, cooluess and diplo
matte skill Of the President and his advisers.
evinced in the settlement Of the delicate
questions growing out Of the seizure of
Mason and Slidell, afford sufficient guar
anty that our honor and interests, so far as
they are involved in our intercourse with
foreign nations, are in safe hands.
In view Of the importance 10 the welfare
and happiaess Of the people of both gov
ernments, that friendly feelings should ex-
ist between them, il to be regretted that
Great Britain should have demanded the