The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1863-01-22


existing temper Of the public mind,
and after the education through
the press and by the pulpit, the lec'
ture and the political canvass for
twenty years, of a generation taught
to hate slavery and the South, the
success of that party, possessed, as
it was, Of every engine Of political,
business, social and religious inAu-
ence, was certain. 1t was only u
question of time, and short time.
II 4
And now sir, I recur to the state
'of the Union to-day. What is it?
Sir, twenty months have elapsed,
but the rebellion is not crushed
OUT its military power has not been
broken; the insurgents have not
dispersed. The Union IS not restor.
rcd: nor-the Constitution maintain.
ed; nor the laws enforced. Twenty,
sixty, ninety, three hundred, six
hundred days have passed; u thou
sand millions been expended; and
three hundred thousand livos lost
or bodies mangled; aud to-day the
Confederate flag is near the Poto
mac and the Ohio, and the Confcd.
crate Government stronger, many
times, than at the beginning. Not
q State has been restored, not any
portion Of any Stute has voIuntnri-
Iy returned to the Union. And has
has any thing been wanting that
Congress, or tho States, or the peo'
pie in their most generous enthusi.
asm, their most impassioned patri-
otism, could bestow? Was 1t pow
er? And did not the party OF the
Executive control the entire Fcd-
eral Government, every State Gov
eminent, every county, every city,
town and village in the North and
West?
Was money wa ted! You had
all the revenues Of the United
States diminished indeed, but still
in gold. The whole wealth of the
country, to the last dollar, lay at
your feet. Private individuals, nun.
icipal corporations, the State gov.
ernments, all in their frenzy gave
you money or means with reckless
prodigality,
Money and credit, then, you have
had in prodigal ~profnsion. And
were men wanted? More than 4
million rushed to arms? The fab
led hosts of XerXes have been out
numbered And yet victory stranger
ly follows the standards of the foe.
IA X X
And now, sir, can this war CON
time? Whence the money to car,
ry it on? Where the men? Can
you borrow? From whom? Can
you tax more? VIII the people
bear It? Wait till you have collcc,
ted what is already levied. How
many millions more Of 'Iegaltent
der"-to day. forty.one per cent.
below the par OF @oId-can you
float? Will men enlist now at any
price? Ali, sir, it is easier to die
at home-I beg pardon; but | trust
| am not "discouragcing enlist,
mouts." I'll am, then first arrest
LVu0ln, Stanton aud lIalleck, and
s,tnaOf vonr othet Generals, and |
will rr'ract; yes, | will rccant. Bat
.nu vnn daft again? Ask New
Yns NsaN, Eoyk. ASK Masur
7r< Where arethc nine hun.
ahnt .u~lsan,It, ASK not Ohio-the
Nouat"o-t She thought you re
IN .1f,st. aud gave You ali, all
more Ian con demanded.
,Ii5nt uns6 tsis war to continue?
{ answer POT a day, not an
hoF'a "a. .imn? Shall we sepe.
rate Aaa," answer no, no, no!
What th44; And now, sir, l come
to Tie giIuda-t and most solemn
peobIem,of craftsmanship from the
beginning oftime; and to the God
Of Heaven. Hummer of hearts and
mlRls, ! would hufnbly appeal for
some measure, atleast, ct light and
wisdom and strength to explore
and reveal the dark but possibIef flu.
ture of this land.
Can the Union of these States be
restored? How shall it be done?-
And why not? Is it historically
impossible? Are there physical
causes which render reunion i'm
practicable? None. 4
But if disunionist in the East Will
force a separation Of eny Of these
States, and a boundary line, purely
conventional, is at last to be mar
ked ont, it must aud it will he eli
ther1rom Lake Eric upon the short.
est line to the Ohio River, or from
Manhattan to the Canadas.
And now sir, ii it be the will of
all sections to unite, then uron