The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-09-10

ready become an abolition war; that
it was then being prosecuted for the
sole purpose of extinguishing slavery"
Would not Democrats understand
from this that itr0s as plain as that tro
and t,ro mdke four that the war was then
beng prosecuted for a purpose such as
that they should refuse to enlist? In
the opinion of your committee, no sane
man, unbiased. by passion or prejudice
can put any other construction upon,
or ascribc any other intention to this
speech,
Can any honest man imagine any
other purpose or motive for making
such an argument at such time,
but to induce and influence Democrats
not to volunteer?
The rebels had just invaded Mary
land. They We're pressing down the
Kanawha. Morgan and Kirby Smith
were ravaging Kentucky threatening
Il descent upon Ohio. The President
had called for 100000 volunteers to
drive them back. A government re-
cruiting officer, Mayor Fritter of Ian
caster, was present at the meeting, So
liciting volunteers to fill Ohio's quota.
Loyal men everywhere were rallying
for the defense of our borders.
1t was under these circumstances,
in the midst Of military disaster and
national cOnstcrnation--when the very
pillars of the Government were rock
ing to their foundation and topping to
their fall--that DR.. Olds found it con-
sistent with his loyalty to make this
speech to his Democratic neighbors, to
convince them that they should refuse
to volunteer because "the war was then
being prosecuted for the sole purpose
Of extinguishing slavery that it was
"inaugurated in accordance with the
programme Of the Massachusetts, Abo-
litionists for the purpose Of dissolving
the Union;" that the administration
Of Mr., Lincoln had coined with Gar
rison and Phillips in dcnouncing the
American Constitution rs u covenant
with death and an agreement with
hell; )" that "the whole power of the
Government was being welded topre-
sent the slaves with freedom and Il
dagger" that it was the settled policy
of those controlling the administration
to destroy the Union;" and that the
war was being carried ON by these bad
mon for this infamous purpose.
Can imagination conceive language
moro calculated to eXaspcrate Demo
Gratis against the war and those con-
Quoting it, Or devise motives so strong,
or inducements so effcctual, for their
refusing to enlist?
For what other purpose could he cx-
claim, I'm Gods name, my Republican
friends, have you. not got blood enough
by this timer" For what other pur-
pose could he ask, "1s your cry still
with your blood thirsty leaders, blood
blood, BLooD?' Did he not mean to be
understood that blood enough had been
shed; that the further prosecution Of
the war was Il crime, and that Demo
Gratis should refuse to participate in it:
guilt? Your committee are unable tC
give these sentiments any other inter
probation, or ascribc to them any Other
intention.
Yet in the face Of these declarations
all ofwhich DIR. Olds himself swears he
uttered in his Berne township speech
he calls his personal and politica
friends above named before the commit
tee to testify that "he never made any
speech, declaration or remark calcula
ted to discourage cnlistments, 0,
which could be so construed by an,
Democrat. ....,...
Your committee deem it their dut,
to present a synopsis of this tcstimon,
in order TO show the marked differenc
between their answers to the question
Of Mr.. Dresel and their answers to TN
chairman of the committee.
Questions by Mr.. Drcsel. "Did yol
understand DR., Olds in his Berne town
ship speech, or in anyother speech, a
discouragingo onlistments or counselin:
resistance to the draft, or as sayin!
anything that would be likely to be s,
construed by his political friends? o
did you hear or do you know of an,
Democrat in Fairfield county who s.
construed the remarks Of DR.. Olds il
any of his speeches made in 1922
TO all these questions each ofhis SAT-
friends answered mo"
DR.. Olds himself presented an affida
Wit made by Tall Slough shortly aftc
his arrest, for tho purpose of procurin!
his release. In this affidavit Tai
Slough swears that "Dr. Olds did no
either directly or indirectly discourag
cnlistments or advise resistance to th
draft in his said Bcrne TOWNSHIP
speech"
The following questions, embracin!
declarations copied from the spcecI
which DR.. Olds swears he made il
Bernc township, were propounded t.
the same witnesses by Mr. West viz:
Question |. Did DR.. Olds in his sal,
Bernc township speech say, "lf thi
war ceases to be a war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion; if it is no longe
to be prosecuted for the maintainanc
of the Constitution as it is and the res
toration of the Union as it was; and j
to become an Abolition war, Democrat
will refuse to volunteer?
Question 2. Did DR.. Olds in sal,
speech say, at is as plain as that tw
and two make four that hencetorh thi
war is not to be prosecuted for tn