Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-10-08


For tho first time, in our history, has /
an exiled, banishcd man, been chosen
as the candidate Of great party, for the
highest Office within the gilt of the peo.
pie of his State and il the citizens Of
Ohio arc worthy Of the freedom bequcath-
cd to them by their sires, for The first
time will an exile be recalled from his ban
ishment to act as the chief magistrate Of
a people sought to be ensaved, but de-
termined to be free
| am forced to believe that tho Prosi.
dent either does not desire the prcserva.
ton Of the Union, or that he does not
comprehend the means by which that end
can be attained. In either case, we need
a change in the administration Of tie Gov
ernment We want statesmen who can
rise to level with the crisis, and who
will inspire confidence from the lakes to
the gulf.
This is the supreme moment in our his
tory. The preservation of tho Union is
os vital interest; but the force of arms
without gnanimity--courage and skill
without justice and generosity never
can restore ur country to the happy,
prosperous and glorious position it occu
pied prior to the war. Even Austria
has conceded constitution aud pailia.
ment to Hungary, and before the per-
manent Union of our States can be Sc
cured. we must in good faith recognize
the constitutional rights OF tho Southern
people, and grant them the generous am
uesty to which they are justly entitled by
their heroic devotion, even to mistaken
cause. During our war with Mexico,
our policy was conciliatory. Peace com
missioners accompanied tic army, and
we seized the earliest opportunity to Sc
cure an honorable termination of the
war. And although an empire lay con-
! quered at our feet, we withdrew our ar
mics at the conclusion of peace, without
destroying town, or dismantling iolt.
Such was the wlsdem and humanity Of
our course that the Mexicans, who re.
ceived us with tho bitterness of enemies,
parted with us with the regret of friends.
And at thi, moment the advocates of lib.
erty in Mexico turn to us appealingly for
aid.
In war Of invasion, one Of two pol
ices must be purSued-to exterminate,
or to concliate. Can any christian man
hesitate as to which policy should be
pursued toward our countrymen, even
misguided as they are -?
The subjugation of the South would
be the bondage of ourselves, for it can
only be effected through the permanent
agency of large standing armies, and
their existence is incompatible with lib.
erty. On the contrary, the sword should
: be entwined with olive branch, and in
letters of eternal light the Constitution
should be inscribed upon our battle flag.
:, Such policy, can and will preserve the
Union, when adopted. Let the Southern
. people be made to feel that with the I'm
! ion their rights will be secured; and that
= this sad war, caused by comparatively
few men, North and South, will only bC
= rememb, red in sadness and tears.
i 1t may be asked whether agree will
. andigham in relation to the war. an
y swer. no; out DO agree with the platform
- of the Convention which nominated him
to which he has pledged himself and up
:. on which, after mature deliberation,
y take my stand. Mr.. Lincoln has left m
i, no other choice. He has made the issu
" between unlimited power, and the Constr
. tuition; between arbitrary arrests and ban
" ishment and civil liberty; between tn
bayonet and the ballot box. The over
whelming nomination of Mr.. Vallandig
/; ham was not in consequence of his views
.. as 10 the war; but because he was stricken
! down for the fearless exercise of the righ
y of free debate. And, though not maj
of nervous fears, | do avow that an
', alarmed by the unwarranted assumption
- of powers by the President The gener
al suspension of the writ of habeas corpu,
=, even in States removed more than
" thousand miles from the theatre of war
" is sufficient to excite the gravest inquie
tude in the mind of every citizen.
And If this most mistaken and danger
Gus measure be carried into execution, nc
living man can foretell the consequence,
- which may ensue. For my own part,
can only ioresee the danger Of the wiles
"" " anarchy, to be succeeded by an appalling
t. dcspotism. Who will be up or who dowr
no maa can tell 1t is to bind ourselve,
w sNlIoSS llut lllc llllcuSt, bll SuDplcoo
! ed feeling which exists is confined to par
ty leaders. In solemn TRUTH they bu
dimly reflect the pent up passions of th,
people. and already the rumbling of the
e volcano can be heard beneath the surface
= 1t is time. then. for us all to ponder
and reflect, before it is too late. The
: out spoken voice of the people a
the ballot box, may yet con
- vince the President that he has beer
wrongly advised.
If these, my humble. but sincere an,
earnest views, ale published, l respect
fully request that the entire letter ma,
- be given, so that there may be no mis-
y apprehension.
When | reach Ohio, l will be read
to meet my fellow citizens at such place
as may be desired.
With earnest prayers for our country
u u I remain, very respectfully, your fellow
citizen. GEORGE w. MORGAN.