Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-04-17

philosophy there IS no right thing that can
be damaged by ending an evil: and hence
if the undertaking to abolish Slavery be
right thing nothing is TO be feared for it
from the suppression of the Rebellion.
| called the existing Rebellion Pro-
Slavery one. | do not forget that there
are persons who find il convenient to
deny it that character. The Southern
statesmen, one of whom calls Slavery
the corner stone of their new nation, do
not thank these persons for this denial
The Southern clergymen will not thank
them Tor it. They entirely concur with
the Southern statesmen at this point
Their Bishops, in their recent Pastoral
Letter. are not ashamed to avow that the
Rebel States care about to plant their
national life" on Slavery.
Sd. The Northern people should all ad-
mit-ndy, to use more positive and
proper icOrd-they should all DECLARE
that the Rebellion is entirely grOundIess
and exceedingly pieked.
None among US should any longer say
that the Aboltfonists provoked the Re.
belhOn. The saying OF this goes if fnot to
Justify, nevertheless to excuse, the Re
bellion; aid il goes to reduce the hatred
and horror of 1t. aud also the strenth Of
the purpose and endeavOrs to suLdue it.
| readily admit, that the Abolitionists did
by their much talking aud writing against
Slavery greatly annoy the Shareholders
But surely this talking and writing,
whether right or wrong, furnished no ex-
cuse for Rebellion. Free discussion is to
be tolerated. Ii il is not, then the Mis-
sionaries, which our Churches have sent
all over the heather world TO discuss
idOlatries and other forms Of error, should
be recalled; and then, indeed, the pro-
gress of mental and moral improvement,
the earth over, should be arrested. Re-
publicans and AboltoniSts. will not YOU
tolerate free discussion? | need not ask
the Democrats whether they will. For, in
the turn of things, thev have become the
champions of tree speech. They, before
whose frequent mobs against free speech
| had twenty or thirty years ago TO re-
treat and hide, have now become the
loudes: mouthed defenders of free speech
But YOU will. perhaps say that the
Aboitionists went beyond free discussion,
and pushed up some of the Northern
Legislatures to unconstitutional legisla :
ton against Slavery. But even if it was
unconstitutional it certainly gave no Just
occasion for Rebellion. If nothing else
forbade Rebellion, il Was forbidden by
the fact that there was the Supreme
Court Of the United States to pass upon
the cOnstitutiouality Of the legislation and
to make Decision that all would abide
by. Right here, let me run 4 contrast be-
tween the North and the South for the
purpose of taking all possible cavil and
complaint at this point out of the mouth
of the South. The whole South vi ote or
talked for Slavery. But il was only a
small portion of the North which wrote
or talked against it, Most of the North
ern people either apologized for it. or
absolutely defended it. Again, Southern
men came North, and advocated Slavery
in the broadest and most offensive terms.
Nevertheless these Southern visitors were
treated cOurteously and kindly But
when Northern men went South, they
were. If however slightly suspected of
being Abolitionists. insulted, frequently
tarred and feathered, and not unfre-
quently murdered. And again, whilst
the North was entirely willing to have
the question of the conStitutionality os
her A1ti-Slavery legislation 20 to the
/ Supreme Court, the South angrily and
stubbornly refused to let her ro-Slay cry
legislation uhdergo this trial. Such was
the refusal OF Charleston and New
Orleans, when Massachusetts, sent Com
missiOners to those cities; and the Com
lnisSioners had instantly to turn home
ward in order to avoid violence and death.
And now, To continue the contrast. willis!
The North, though under the provocatiOn
of these deep wrongs. did not rebel, nor
even demonstrate. nor scarcely murmur;
the South, though suffering no wrong nor
sembance Of wrong. has rebelled, and
armed herself against the nation. Never
theless so debauched and blinded by
Slavery had the North become, that, even
in the face OF this contrast, there are
thousands amongst Us WI o say and scores
of thousands who believe, that the North
and not the South is the aggressor-tha'
the North is the guilty injurer, and th'
South the injured and the innocent!
"Oh judgment, thou art fed to brutist
beasts,
And men have los, their reason"
4th. The Rebellion must be put dOIcr
Internationally.
Government must make no conditions
and accept none. Stern, gncompromis
ing. unrelenting must be its policy unit
the Rebellion is suppressed. After that
the frecr the play of a merciful and fra
ternal spirit the more will my heart re
lioice. Nor must any Republicans propos