The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-04-01

OF sympathy for the brave men who went
forth to do honorable battle for the Con-
stitution and the Union, and who are now
lying, by thousands, sick or wounded in
the various hospitals and pest houses of
the country. In which we have no word
of coincidence for the thousands of wild
ows and the tens of thousands of orphans
who are now weeping tears of blood
throughout the length and breadth of our
land. In which we have go kindly ex-
pressed words of cheer for the thousands
of aged parents who sit weeping around
their hearth stones, and lamentlng over
the destruction of their household gods
the hope of their age and the prop of their
declining years. Nota word of this kind.
But we do have long dissertation on the
status of the negro in this country. And
the President sagely tells us that he has
been endeavoring to procure place for
them outside of the United States-but
can find no country that is willing to re-
ceive them but Hayti and Liberia and as
they are unwilling to go there he cannot
COMPEL them, under the Constitution CD,
to do so. And he then goes on to con
vince us of the utility and the practical
bility ofscattering them broadcast through
out the United States; and tells us in so
many words ''that there would be only one
negro to seven whites They certainly
could not be in one another's way or jos
tie each other-there would be nobody
hurt" Now compare the whole argument
of President Lincoln in this message upon
negro equality, with the foregoing senti-
ment of Stephen Foster-and if they arc
not as similar as two links of sausage
made from the same dog, then l must con
fess that | have not the ability to draw
comparison.
Thus, Mr. President, I have incontesti-
bly, linked together the leading men of
this Administration, and those whom the
opposition upon this floor during this dis
cusslon have denounced as radicals for
whom they were not responsible. Had l
time / might go on and by consecutive
links attach all the one-horse politicians
and puritanical Miss Nancy's of the land
to them.
I now leave this and proceed to another
branch of this discussion. 1t is claimed
here, and admitted | believe, on all sides,
that there is not that unanimity in the
public mind of the North with regard to
! the prosecution of this war, that there
was last summer, and in fact during its
whole progress to the 22d of September,
1862. upon which day President Lincoln
declared in proclamation his emancipa-
ton policy. And they now seek to charge
the Democratic party with being the cause
of this division of sentiment.
T For the solution of these troubles I
shall lay down an axiom which | ask the
lgentlemen to rid themselves. of; and that
: is this: A man or set of men are re-
j sponsible for the legitimate results of the
doctrines they advocate, however much
they may disavow them. This axiom is
) true in ethics-it is true in theology; and
: it is equally true in, politics-and gives
the solution of the present division oi
sentiment in the Northern mind. There
was no division in the public mind of tn,
: North as to the prosecution of this war
not even as much as a grain of mustard
seed, or the dividing of hair until after
t the proclamation Of the I'D of Septembe
7 last. And now to charge the Democratic
: party 'swith the legitimate consequence
o of your own doctrines and your own>ac
: tions, is manifesting a degree of incon
!, sistency that l must confess | had no
G prepared my mind for-even from the Re
r publican party.
d 1 had intended to say something abou
''arbitrary arrests y during this discussion
e but the subject has been SO ably handle
! by my colleagues, that will but refer t
it the action of Owen Lovejoy, in Congress
o March II, 1862.
Mr.. Lovejoy (Ill.,) asked leave to in
" troduce resolution, instrueting the com
e mittee on the District Of Columbia to in
h quire and report by what authority Mrs
= Bristow, of Georgetown, seized or cause
is to be seized two men, and had them ser
+ Ito Baltimore and imprisoned in Jail, an
n whether such arrest and Imprisonment wa
n not in violation of the following provisio
in the Constitution, which says:
l. mo person shall be deprived of HI
1t life or liberty without due process of law.
,e Mr. Wicklife (Ky), moved to lay til
,fl resolution on the table,
10 The motion was lost,by yeas 43, nays 81
I The resolution was then passed.
d 1t is all right for Mr.. Lovejoy to inquil
~ into arbitrary arrests and quote the Cor
N stitution, but if Democrat does this
at is acting seditieusly, and is a traitor
of heart.
y Again look at the following:
re s'I tell you, sir, l believe, and declal
l. it upon my responsibility as Senator
h the United States, that the liberties
n, this country are in greater danger to- da
f. from the corruptions and from the prof
q gacy practiced in the various Department
n of the Government than they are from tt
f open enemy in the field. Speech
no John r. Hale, an the U,,ited States Sena
On April, 1868.
lie, Why was not John P. Hale arrest,
ch and sent to Fort Lafayette in advance
10, DR.. Olds and others? The answer
he and the faithful historian will SO write
r. down, that the reason why he was not. a
tic rested was because he was Republica
But we are told by the Republic
.e- Senators upon this floor, '.that they
IN, not approve of the Presidents emancip
,is tion proclamation; they think that it "
he ill-timed and i'll advised; but since it h
to been issued we should say nothing abo
M it," Oh no, you must not say anythi