The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-02-12

of every engine of political, business, so.
cial and religious influence, was certain
1t was Only question of time, and short
time. Such was its strength, indeed, that
do not believe that the Union ofthe
Democratic party III 1860 on any candi-
date, even though he had been supported
also by the entire so called conservative
or ant-Lincoln vote of the country, would
have avai!ed TO defeat it, and ifit had, the
success of the Abolition party would only
have been postponed four years longer.
The disease had fastened too strongly up
on the system to be healed until it lad run
its course. Tie doctrine Of the ''irrepreSs-
bl conflict" had been taught too long and
accepted too widely and earnestly TO die
out until /. should eliminate in secession
and diSunion; and, if coercion were resor
ted to then in civil war. L believed from
the first that it was the purpose OF some
of the apostles of that doctrine TO force a
collision between the North and the
South, either to bring about a separation
or to fad vain but bloody preiext for
abolishing slavery in The States. In any
event, | knew, or thought knew, that the
end was certain collision and death to the
Union.
To resume. the session of Congress ex-
pircd. The President elect was inaugural
It'd; and now, if only the policy OF non CO
ercion could be maintained, and war thus
averted. Time would do its work in the
North and the South, and final. peacea5le
adjustment and reunion be secured. Some
time in March it WAS announced that the
President had resolved to continue the
policy OF his predecessor, and even go a
step further, and evacuate Sumter and the
other Federal forts and arscuals in the Sc
ceded States. His own party acquiesced;
the whole country rejoiced. The policy of
non coercion had triumphed, and for once
sir, in my lie l found myself in an i'm
mense majority. No man then pretended
that a Union founded in consent could be
cemented by force. Nay, more, the Pr, 81
dent and the Secretary of State went fur
ther. Sid Mr.. Seward, in an olli,ial d.
ploma,ic letter TO Mr. Adams:
..For these reasons he (the President)
would not be disposed to reject cardinal
dogma of theirs the S-ce>s:oni,.s name
", that Tie Federal Government could not
reduce tie seeding States to obedience by
conquest although he were disposed t.
question that proposition. But in fact the
President willingly accepts it as true. Only
an imperial or despotic government could
subiugate thoroughly disailecici and insur-
reclionary members Of the State
Pardon M, sir. but | beg to know
whether this conviction Of the President
and his Secretary is not the philosophy OF
the President and most vigorous efforts
made by this Administration, and first of
all through this same Secretary, the mo-
ment war broke OUT aud ever since till tie
lale elections, to CONVEX. the United State,
into an imperial or despotic Government!
But Mr.. Seward adds, and | agree with
him:
"This Federal Republican systesn OF
ours is, of all forms OF government. tie
very one which is most untitled for such a
l,bor."
This. sir, was on the lOlh of April, and
yet that very day the fleet was under sal
for Charleston. The policy of peace had
been abandoned Collision followed; the
militia were ordered ont; civil war beg,n
Now, sir. on the l4,h Of April, be
lieved that coercion would bring on wa
and war d.snnion. More than that: be
lieved, what you all in your hearts be-
lieve day, that the South could never
be conquerei--never. And not that only;
but was saiistied-ani YOU Of the Abo.
lilion party have now proved it to tn
world--that the secret but real purpose .
the war was to abolish slavery in tn
States. In any event, did not doubt tha
whatever might be the momentary i'm
pulse of those in power. and whatever
pledges they night nake in the midst o
their fury for the Constitution, the Unior
and the flag, yet the natural aud inexora
bic logic of revolutions would. sooner o
later, drive them to that policy. and w.t.
i to its final but inevitable result, tn,
change Of our present democralical form
of Government into an imperial despo-