The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-07-02
,opld reach office with uotornisbed boo(g

COulu lS6NhN UNIV WIN ulsat SNNN9
Unfortunately for the Democratic party
this class has always been TOO .inauen.
tial in its couusels. and thoughs many
noble spirits promptly disowned oil par.
ty at the call oftheir country, yet.Se~
oagh oftho party retained cohere IS @
keep up some ssmblenoe ofthe olC75 y
gOnizaton. As q party de'ected, oppo.
silion 10 every measure Of the admins;
tratior became auecessity OF exisloDcei
and accordingly, before tie war was
fairly commenced, the leaders OF tho
Democratic party chalkod out the road
for the rank and file 10 follow. Unwit'
tingly and in many cases innooeuty,
these latter fell into line, advocated
compromise, prated of State Rights and
Northern aggressions, voted for Peace
Congressmeu, agiiOted against the war,
opposed the enlistment Of soldiers and
the raising of money, voted for secession
and so fully committed themselves, and
through themselves the Democratic par
ty, which had been for SO many years
the very apples Of their eyes, that re-.
treat was impossible without more sac.
rifce of pride than they were capable Of
making,
The slavery question interviewer
through its whole substance with the
matters at issue, Of course camo promi-
nently up, and as the Democratic party
had as general thing occupied South.
ern grounds on this question, Of course,
the government in warning with The
South, had still more 10 embitter the
Democratic party by its treatment of this
question.
There are doubtless other reasons
why men residing in the border and nor
thcrn States occupy the positions before
the public defined al the outset Of this
article. but we are persuaded that an ex-
aggcratcd party feeling and unreasona,
bic obSlinacy coupled with pride of op.
inion is the main reason why we have so
many secesh among US. We are far
from believing that all those who op.
pose the policy Of Lincoln's Admins.
tration, or all that are denominated Sc
cesh, even oil that voted for sece ssiou,
are disuuonists, on the contrary, we be-
lieve that on emergency, many of this
very class would exceed proCesscd Un.
ionisIs in doing good service In the field,
Many of them would hail with pleasure
such an opportunity once more to enrol
themselves under the flag of their conn-
try, and would labor with zeal Ito uphold
it. We have tie charity to believe that
there is no inconsiderablo number Of
such men, while we also know that W..
have those among US, who would if they
dared. in their mad maliguity, trample
the flag in tho dust, withp.l 1t Sy,nboii.
zes. ~
II is matter OF importance TO tho
future well bsing of the country, as well
ps TO the Union cause at the present time
that these two classes should be pru.
IDENTIFY and discreetly dealtwilh. Those
who isnoranlly sinned and are willing
10 retrieve their error by loyal course
of procedure should be treoted with
! consideration and kindness, and all hon.
orable inducements held out to them to
redeem their character, while those who
obdurately aud persistently continue in
their courso Of opposition TO the govern.
meut, should be treated with conespOn
ding severity, without regard to person
on position.
The idea should be popularized thai
this is no longer thing Of politics, but
of national and personal preservation
and when this is once thorougbly &C
complished, secession among us will be
come one of The exploded herCsies and
sympsthiscrs with rebellion will take
their proper Posi'ionin public cstima.
ton.