Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-07-16

those brave troops, they will speak trumpet-
tongued, bFooking no denial, but COMMANDING
obedience. May Heaven, however, under its
present leader crown the next onset of the
Army OF the Potomac with O decisive victory.
But ehould defeat be the result 10 save itself as
well as the country, the Government will do, as
II did last summer, not only order but implore
George B. Mcclellan to place himself at it's
head, to bring il out of whatever disorder dis
aster may have involved 10 in, and lead It again
against the foe; and who doubts that, should
this be done, the cheers of the rank and file
will be heard again filling the air, the conf
dence Of the officers be soon restored, and the
foe be again driven from the soil which they,
through weakness, have been permitted to dis
honor. .s .r.
Our rulers should also consider another sub
ject. The public sentiment respecting il is too
strongly exhibited to be mistaken. To defy Ii
will be madness. Arrests on mere suspicion In
the loyal States. where the course of Justice 10
unimpeAched, must cease. Their very safety
and the success of our arms demands this. And
arrests for alleged specific causes, OF civilians
not under military rule, must be disposed OF as
provided by the legislation OF the last Congress.
Whatever differences Of opinion may exist a, 10
| the extent of the executive power of the Pres
idsnt, no one can doubt that IL 10 within the
partment OF the Government to pass the laws
referred to. 1t lie, Of course, the duty of the
President TO obey them. To disregard them
himself, or TO permit his military subordinates
to do 90, Gas has been done), is O clear viola. |
tlon of that duty. Even if the power of Con- |
grsss was questionable, decent respect for |
Congress, and for public opinion, requires that
this conduct should not be repeated. Freedom |
of speech, and Of the press, too, must not be |
abridged. This 10 provided for by an express
constitutional guarantee, which il is an impeach.
able ofense to disregard. The military, too,
should be instructed 10 conduct the war on the
humane principles Of the modern laws of war. |
The burning of private or public buildings, |
Wbere they are not being used by the rebels for |
military purposes, and the appropriation of pri- |
vate property, except for our own military pur-
poses, must end. To tolerate this, is to make
an effective restoration Of the Union impossible.
Such acts of vandalism plant deep in the hearts
of the sufferers bitter hostility. In the words
OF the poet OF the heavens, grt
Never can true reooncilement grow
Where wounds Of deadly hate have pierced so deep,
Such outrages, too, are bringing upon US the
indignant contempt Of the world. Slighter en-
ormities of like kind, occurring during the
wars Of rs and '12, met with our univ srsal
repr0bation. The burning of the public build
log in Washington at the latter period, caused
Wellington to blush for the good name of Eng
land. So sensible was he OF the disgrace, that
IL is knoWn that he never permitted the subject
70 be referred to in his presence. And, in the
war with Mexico, no euch outrages were per-
mi!ted by our gallant leader, Scott; and yer, TO |
our ehame, they are now being petpetrated with |
out, 90 far as the public know, even government
rebuke. On this day, too, 1t will be the duty |
OF all political parties TO do Justice to each otner.
During the canvass in New York and New Jer-
sey, which resulted 10 the election of Seymour
and Parker, their opponents denounced them
as disloyal and traitors. The last few days
have established the gross injustice Of the sccu-
sati0n. The moment the present exigency
arose these GOvernors, with an energy worthy |
of all imitation, and a patriotism deserving of
all praise, basteled OF their gallant soldiers TO
the aid OF the invaded States II this has not |
put to shame their calumniators, it has siienced
their slanderers, and their renewal will never
be tolerated by the people. And, finally, and
above all other !hnga, appealing to the spirits
OF the great departed, We should all en- the
coming Fourth swear that, happen what may,
ws will never consent TO a dissolution of the |
Union; that we will hold to il as sacred DO
litical order, which we will as one man en- |
deayor to preserve, or die in tue patriotic ef- |
fort.
With great regard,
Your obedient servant,
REVERDY JOHNSON.