The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-04

went further. Said Mr.. Seward, in an
official diplomatic letter to Mr.. Adams:

went further. Said Mr.. Seward, in an
official diplomatic letter to Mr.. Adams:
.sFor these reasons he (the President)
would not be disposed to reject cardinal
dogma of theirs, (the Secessionists,)
namely, that the Federal Government
could not reduce the seeding States to
obedience by conquest, although he were
disposed to question hatproposition. But
in fact the President willingly accepts it
as true. Only an imperial or despotic
Government could subjugate thoroughly
disaffected and insurrectionary members
of the State
Pardon me, sir, but I beg to. know
whether this conviction of the President
and his Secretary is not the philosophy OF
the persistent and most vigorous efforts
made by this Administration, and first ct
all through this same Secretary, the mo-
ment war broke out, and ever since-till the
late elections, to convert the United States
Into an imperial or despotic Government?
4 But Mr.. Seward adds, and | agree with
him:
] "This Federal Republican system of
i ours is, sof all forms of Government, the
very one which is NEST unified for such a
labor"
!, This, sir, was on the 10th Of April, and
| yet that very day the fleet was under sail
T for Charleston. The policy of peace had
). been abandoned Collision followed; the
militia were ordered out; civil war be-
gan.
! Nor, sir, on the 14th of April, be-
llieved that coercion would bring on war,
and war disunion. More than that,
believed, what you all in your hearts be-
llieve to-day, that the South could never
be conouered-never. And not that only,
, but L was satisfed-and you Of the Abo-
f lition party have now proved it to
4 the world-that tho secret but real pur-
pose of the war was to abolish slavery In
: the States. In any event, did not doubt
r that whatever might be the momentary
, impulses of those in power, and whatever
: lpledges they might make in the midst o.
their fury for the Constitution, the Unior
/ and the flag, yet the natural and inexora
: BILE logic of revolutions would, sooner OF
: later, drive them to that policy, and with
f it to it's final but inevitable result, the
: change of our present demoeratical form
q OF UOVcInMehG lhto du imPeiiai ucSPoe
r ism.
: These were my convictions on the 14tl
e lof April Had 1 changed them on th
10Th, when I read the Presidents procla
e nation, and become convinced that | hat
r been wrong all my life, and that all his
J. tory was fable, and all human natur
e false in its development from the begin
i ming of time, would have changed M
) public conduct also. But my conviction
It did not change. thought that if wa
Y was disunion on the 14th of April, it wa
ofl equally disunion on The 18th, and at a
) times. Believing this, | could not, as a
d, honest man, and patriot, lend an activ
,e support to the war; and did not. ha
d rather my right arm were plucked tro1
it its socket and cast into eternal burning
to than, with my convictions, to have thu
t, ldefled my soul with the guilt of NOR;
a perjury. Sir, / was not taught in tn;
e. school which proclaims that "all is fair
r politics / loath, abhor and detest. tt
S. execrable maxim. | stamp upon In. n
ut State can endure single generatc
nv whose public men practice it. Whoev'
1t, teaches it is corrupter of youth.e VIII
de we most want in these times, is honest al
Id independent public mon. That man WI
ut is dishonest in politics is not honest,
ho heart, in anything; and sometimes NOR
r. cowardioe is dishonesty. Do, right; al
ce trust to God, and truth, and the peopl
nd Perish office, perish honors, perish Ii
ut itself, but do the thing that is right, al
ed do itiike man. I didit. Certainly, 81
Lldf I could not doubt what he must suffer W
dare defy the opinions and the passion
of not to say the madness, Of twenty milli
ELF people. Had I not read history? Did
IN. not know human nature? But l appeal
d. to Time, and right nobly hath the Ave
,us ger answered me.
tu did not support the war; and tod
IN I bless God that not the smell Of so mu
ur- as one drop of its blood is upon my 81
IAN ments. Sir, / censure no brave man W
But rushed patriotically into this war; neitf
In. will quarrel with any one, here or ell
ed. where who gave to it an honest suppo
The Had their convictions been mine, L, t.
md would doubtless have done as they d
md With my convictions | could not. /
ich I was Representative. War existed
md whose act no matter-not mine. 1
the President, the Senate, the House and
it's Ecountry, all said that there should be '
act, war for the Union; a union Of cons'
.est and good will. Our Southern brethl
ma were to be whipped back into love q
,ity fellowship at the point of the bayor
der Oh, monstrous delusion can comp
the hend a, war to compel people to aceeI
ub master; to change form of Gevernme
to to give up territory; to abolish domes
ion institution; in short, war of conqu
ON and subjugation; but a war for Uni
sti- Was the Union thus made? Was it 9
thus preserved? Sir, history will rec
ress that, after nearly six thousand years
,gu folly and wickedness in every form
ION administration of Government-theocr
war democratic, monarchic, oligarchic, {
the potic and mixed-it was reserved to An
able lean craftsmanship, in the nineteenth {
ONE tury Of the Christian era, to try the gr
the experiment on scale the most costly
the gigantic in its proportions, of crea
70 love by force, and developing fraternal
the fection by war; and history will rec
se. ltoo m the same page, the utter disast1