Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-08-22
where Rests the RespOnsibiI-
fNyf

1tAAte NHn tue jluN'ieott hNpplNotf hloSe
free and powerful nation on the globe.
The hum ofindustIy was heard through
out the vast extent OF her domain the
snowy sails OF her navy whitened every
ocean aud navigable river; peace, happi-
ness aud prosperity reigued everywhere
the conscript yatherer and tax-collector
were unknown to our people While the
nations OF Europe were eternally convuls-
ell and rocked toand fro upon unstable
foundations Of Government, the American
nation rcposed in perfect security, peace
fully as sleeping lion. yet conscious Of
it, mighty strength and power. Those
were the days OF good old Democratic
role, when the Constitution was the guide
OF our rulers, and the Union the priceless
gem in the crown of our glory, SO long
as the Democratic party administered the
Government, OF exercised controlling in
huencc over its destiny, all was well, and
the dark shadows oi disunion and civil
discord no sooner appeared ON the coun-
try's horizon than they were dispelled by
the light and wisdom of the conservative
statesmen of the country-the men who
adhered to aud defended the Constitution
as the rock upon which rested the whole
structure of the Republic-thc bulwark of
civil liberty.
We are now in the midst OF terrible
civil war-a calamity the direst that
can befall nation Almost million
Americans have been called from their
peaceful avocations to go forth TO the mur-
dcrous work of battle not against for
eigu foe, but against each other. The land
is drenched and reeking with the blood OF
brethren, and the sob OF the bereaved pa
rent, the tear of the mounting brother or
sister, the lamentation of the desolate wild
ow, and the wall of the discOnsolate orphan
have Gust II thick gloom over our once hap
py mtry. These dreadful evils have
not belallen us withcut cause. We pro-
pose to determine by fair logic whether
they might have been averted, and if 70,
who are responsible Tor bringing them
about.
1t cannot be denied that at the time when
LINcoLN was elected President, the people
were in the enjoyment of perfect peace
and tranquility. Previous to that time
the Abolitionists through their State Leg
islatures and by mobs, had practically null
lifted the Constitution, aud thrown obsta-
cles in the way of Southern men to pre-
vent them from re-claiming their slave
property. Not from any love they bore
to the negro, but solely for political capi-
tai, they agitated the slavery question, and
stirred up strife and bitterness between
the two sections, Upon the assembling of
Congress il was found that unless some
compromise could be entered into-some
guaranty that Southern men would be pro-
Iected in their rights nnder the Constitu-
tion-the cotton States would secede from
the Union. In order to prevent secession
and to avert civil war the Democracy and
conservative men all over the country ia-
vored compnmise. The Republicans
were opposed to compromise. Here is
the proof:
On the Bird OF. January, 1861, STEPHEN
A. DOUGLAS addressed the Senate in favor
Of his proposition to settle the questions
in dispute between the North and South
by compromise, and thus save and per-
petuate the Union. In that speech he
said
II believe this 10 be fair basis of amieable
adjustment II you OF the Republican side
are not willing to accept this, nor the PROPOSE
tioh OF the Senator iiom Kentucky, (Mr
Crittenden,) pray tell us what you are willing
todo?
| address the inquiry TO the Republicans
alone for the reason that in the Committee
OF Thirteen few days ago every member
trom.the South, including those from the Cot
ton States, (Messrs. Toombs and Dayis) ex.
pressed their readiness 10 accept the PROPOSE.
lion OF my venerable friend from Kentucky
Mr. Crltlenden as a final settlement of the
controversy il intended aud sustained by the
Republican members
Hence, the sole responsibility of our dis
agreement. aud the only difficulty in the way
of an umeable adjustment, ia with the Re
publican partSF