The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-29

the following criticism on the letters and avow-
ais of the Cabinet officers at Washington,
made to ssLeague" meeting at New York, on
last Saturday. week, and then you will have o
very fair understanding, good people of the
Hest, what is on foot for oar benefit an this
great agricultural vaAey: r-aasTa ac haa.ss5a
2tih ia From the Nav York World. '-'
The Hillary Despo-
tisln. = ~
At the meeting in Union Square on Satur-
day, Mr.. Postmaster Blair, one member of the
cabinet made a speech letters were read from
Secretaries Seward and Chase, two other mem
bers of the cabinet, and letter from Gen.
Hallcck, who, thought not member of the
cab1ner, IS, from his responsible position on
such confidential footing with the Adminis
tration, that his opinion are of more signif
cameo than those of the lay figures ofthe cab
met who did;noti communicate their senti-
ments to the meeting. There is no country
in the world where the simultaneous public
expression of their opinions by the most in
huential members of the cabinet would not be
looked to with curiosity ard interest. We
have read these several expressions of opinion
by high officers of our government with an in
terest in some degree proportioned to the mag
nitude of this great conjuncture IN our affairs,
and, candor requires us to add, with some
alarm for the safety of our institutions.
I Passing the commonplaces uttered by these
members of the Administration, and, which
would have just the same significance from
one man. mouth or pen as from another's, we
will Gull out and attempt to present in con-
nected view those parts which throw light on
the present purposes OF the ADMINISTRATOR.
These are the only parts which render the
enoecbes or letters of cabinet officers of more
CONSEQUENCE than those of other citizens and
resneotipg these the country has reason to feel
at the present time, no ordinary solicltude and
concern. The simulated retreat of the Admin
istration, during the pendency of the recent
elections. from some of the most Objectionable
parts of its avovcd policy, has enabled it to re-
yiye something OF the cary zeal for the war
which that policy has extinSuished. Now
that the elections are over, the country was
watching for some token that this simulated
repentance was more than an electioneerlng
dodge. Unfortunately all hope OF amendment
is instantly extinguished by tho ayowels OF
these government officials we gather, from
their language that the insau Emancipation
policy is to be pursued to the bitter end as a
leading aobiect'' of the war, and that the Ad-
ministration accepts its necessary corallary OF
a permanent military occupation OF the South,
and the consequent maintenance OF central
ized military government strong enough to
extinguisf1 inc p pubtic all sections of
the country.
In proof of this atrocious design to estab-
lish military dcspotism oOer the North, We
submit.the. Language of theifour functionaries
who communicated their sentiments to the
Union Square meeting, beginning with the
highest and decending, in the order ef official
position to General HaHeck. By following
this order we shall see the regular develop
mcnt of the project and be able to trace the
idea through the successive stages OF Its growth.
We shall find Secretary Seward smoothing
down obstacles and remoyeing obstfuctions..;; :;
Secretary Chase avowing the seminal purpose
whose execution will render the government
of the South impossible without changing the
character of our institutions POSTMASTER BLAIR
stigmatizing disapproval of that purpose as
treason and General ir-Chlef Halleck COM
ing in at the consummation with MS return,
mo armies to put their heels on the aforesaid
..trcason" ana crush out the traitors, Such is
the argument of the tragedy and such the dis
tribution of parts in the preliminary rehearsal
We ask attention to fuller exposure of the
details.
The purpose of NIr. Stewards letter is to
inculcate, by precept and example, unques-
tioning support of every movementiundertaken
for the professed object of subduing the re-
bellion. He says that if there are rival "Loy7
al Leagues" holding different principles, ne ,9
wants his name subscribed to the roll OF all
if they agree in profession hostility to tne re-
bellion. He is for sinking AL questions about
the constitutionality of measures or thes reia-
tive value of success gained by one method
over success gainedrby another. He is oP.
posed to looking far enough ahead to inquire
whether the subjugation of the South by means
which will render its subsequent government
impossible without subyerting our institutions,
will promote the public welfare. "Let us ask
each other no questions" he exclaims, in the
arandiloouent and gaudy rhetoric which he
loses no occasion to display let us ass each
Other. no questions about hoo the marion shdH
1oUera, itself, or who shall preside IN Its coun-
ellis in the great future that looms up before
us enveloped alternately in menaclng CLOUDS
and in gorgeous sunlight" That Is to say,
It ought to be a matter ofsindiference to Amer
Jean freemen whether they come out OF this
struggle subjects of an overshadowing militia,
rv despotism or citizens Of a confederation OF
free REPUBLICS We take leave to say to the
honorable Secretary of State that the majority
Of the northern people can never be brought
or share his indifference to the preservation OF
our free institutions. They will regard the
indifference W ich he processes as equivalent
to declaration that he will Offer no OPPOSE
ton to any measures which tend to suevert
the character of the government, provided they
have for their ostcnsible object the extinction
of the rebellions. ifa2.' i''
Having thus seen, that Mr. Seward virtu-
slly declares his intention to oppose noEe of
the radical measures of his colleagues, we
nroeeed to show what their measurers and
purposes are We thus come to Mr.. Chase,
the most influential nember of the admins
tration, and is leading aspirant for the presi-
deney. Mr., Chase feeling strong in his un-
b, unded control over the monetary interests
of the country, does not mince mattersafa at all.
He is an out and -out abolitionist, and openly
proelaims it, He does not stick at making
the, abolition of slavery the 4object'
of the war. He asserts that the proclamation
is ein any event" to be made good to every
slave it declares free. He has no scruples
about arming the negroes. and seems to claim
for them full equality with free white citizens