The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-04-24

influences of good government. and the
Christian conscience and enlightened sel
interest of the age. That they hoped and
believed that under such influences slavery
would gradually and peaccably disappear,
without violence and bloodshed, they have,
by their acts and declarations, left no room,
for doubt
A. the same time, some Of them. in the
words of jefferson, trembled for thsir
country" If slavery shonld be strong
enough 10 survive the influence Of free
institutions, and fas.en itself on the govern
ment.
Their apprehensions were better ground.
ed than their hopes. Slavery which they
hoped would pass away in peace, stimula.
ted by the unexpected development of the
culture 4 tropical products. took possession
OF the most fertile portions of the country.
corrupted the politicians of the South. and
controlled for years the policy of the gov
ernment. till. in nation founded on the
principle that q all men are born free and
equal" it was decided by the highest
Judicial Tribunal. that the black man had no
rights which the white man was bound to
respect.
present rebellion. no demand for legislation
very.
| No laws Of the land were ever more
faithfully executed than the laws made for
the return of fugitive slaves. All the de-
partments OF the government. except the
Executive, were virtually in the hands Of
the slave power. and the President himself
could not act without the consent Of the
men who iaaugursted this rebellion.
Rut fha politiniapS af fhe enftnn States
were not content with this. while they lived
under free institutions. where men had a
right 10 speak and utter their convictions on
the subject of slavery.
They demanded of all men in the North
as they compelled all men in the South. an
ack wled gment that slavery was in Itself
righ. aud wise aud good.
fhcy complained, not of what was done
by the federal government, but of what
was said by the abolitionists of the North
Aud it was to destroy the free institutions
which our fathers made, and erect upon
their ruins a government based upon the
corner stone of African slavery. where
shareholders alone should govern slavery"
that this rebellion was begun, aud that
this war against the government is prosecu-
ted
The issue forced upon us, and which we
c,nnot evade, is, Shall we preserve our
government. our liberty. and our free insti-
tulions, and nstional unity. BY which alone
our liberties are secure : Or shall we count
nothing the sacrifices Of our fathers. and
betray the hopes of mankind. by basely
submitting to the fouest conspiracy against
gooi government, and the rights of man,
since time be an?
1t is an issue that cannot be compromised
There can be no lasting peace /; except by
the establishment of the authority OF the
government. We canno, compromise our
liberty, our honor. the Interest of posterity
and the hopes of mankind The battle
must be fought out. There is no choice
for US, except between freedom and good
government on the one hand. and slavery
and anarchy for us and our posterity on the
other.
trying to compromise in vain. We have
conceded all 10 the slave power it has ever
asked. We have been swift to perform all
give, except our liberty and our tree insti-
tutions.
Let not loyal men be SO deluded as to
think the present struggle can be compro-
missed. OF the ultimate result, if we are
true to ourselves, there can be no doubt =
We have on our side every advantage that
righteous cause could have. But the best
cause may BE- betrayed. There are men in
our midst, Arnolds and Burrs, who are
clamoring for peace and compromise. when
they mean slavery who are constantly
comp mplaining of the horrors of war which
they help to prolong. slandering the govern
ment while it is struggling fJr life. and
lending aid and sympathy, 50 far as they
can with safety to themselves, to the
enemies of their country. These men are
meaner traitors, and not less dangerous
than those in arms against the government.
Let them be watched and marked -Fayette
County Uaioa.