Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-03-18
Correspondence.

try | ask this favor more for the reason
that my own name has been mentioned in
editorial remarks, Of your own, of late, and
also for the rcason that believe now is the
Time for men to compare notes. 10 foot ac-
counts with political organizations and pre-
pare for new issue in the political history Of
this nation. do not care to go Ear back in
the political history Of men nor Of parties,
but will corfne my remarks to the a,sing
incidents of the past eighteen months.
What was the political condition Of the Co.
in the month of September 1854 Can you
answer the query? If you do so. it W Ill be
after this wise: Our country in rebellion,
civil war raging. the cotton States the insti-
gators. and to all appearances, large MAORI
~ of the inhabitants of those actively en-
gagged or sympathizng with the rebels at
the north very large majority. and almost to
a unit were the people crying. forward to bat
tie. put down the rebels, save our country as
given to US by our fathers.
What was the WIZ policy of the adnins-
tration that could SO unite the masses of the
people, recently widely separated in the
matters of political Jurisprudence? " hat
was it that, as With one voice, the masses of
the great and loyal North sent greeting TO
President Lincoln, the glad tldings that men
and money are forthcoming without number
and without stint? Why was it that men
forgot that they We're Republicans, or Demo-
crate. that they We're foreign born or native
born, that they were Yankee or Hoosier. of
Scandinavian, Holland, Irish, or French birth?
Why, [ ask, was thus Was it not that the
open and declared policy Of the administra-
tion was TO restore the UIion as it was, upot.
tile basis of the Constitution as it Is? Was
it not announced rs the grand policy of Pres
dent Lincoln AMI his advisers 10 put their
foot upon this rebellion and crush it out with
the power of united North And when
that was accomplished was il not always con-
ceded that the war ought to cease? Was
there any lack of men or Of means TO wage
this war 70 the tinal overthrow of every rebel
in arms ? No. But on the contrary the
whole nation was aroused blaze of patriot
ism illuminating, as it were, our whole land,
burst forth. Our armies were almost fabulous
in numbers our treasure was poured forth
not by tens but by hundreds upon HUNDREDS
Of millions. This tu,hu issln. or rather this
sense of duty. WAS apparent until within the
past few months.
There is no longer tIe same confident tcel-
ing of tho speedy success 50 hopefully antici-
pated. Why is this? Why this sudden
change Is it That Americans are any the
less loyal. that they any the less solicit
tous for the final overthrow OF this monster SO
long they have battled with, or is not rather
feeling of dependency, as OF hopes crashed /,
as of some terrible danger staring them in
the face. as of change of policy, that, in
their opinion, would make the chances of sue
cess much less, and require a mi ch greater
loss in both blood and treasure. even though
success should eventually attend Them /
wish 10 ask right here, if loyEl Democrats
have not Just as great an interest in the future
as loyal Republicans? Is not the future as
replete with veal or of woe to them and their
posterity as is that of Republicans? You
answer yes Then WHY not reserve to them
the privilege, without c:ling them Copper
heads, of canyassing with a jealous eye each
and every &C, of the administration
No republic can exist long without difIcren-
ces of opinion arising upon matters Of great
public policy. 1t is these very differences Of
opinion that cause the people to discuss, sift
out. and at the ballot box deposit what, in
their opinion, seems the best for the great
masses of the people.
Refuse this sovereign right. Gebar a free
and enlightened people of any expression of
opinion contrary to the supreme will Of exec
utive power, debar them of the rights of
trial by jury for imaginary wrongs, in fire.
place them where they shall seem to be but
mere machine, to be at the will OF sim
gle man, and how soon will a feeling OF dis
trust asten upon them.
have come to point that l think | can
decide why it is that a settled apathy
has alighted upon the MASSES of the
thinking people. | think | can see why re-
cruiting offices are not thronged why it IS
/ that the ballot box at the late elections has
shown that the people are crying for change
in policy 1t is that they feel that this is
no longer fought for the Union as it is"
and /" the Constitution as it was.
They feel that they will not tamely submit
to any innovation upon THEN constitutional
rights, fearing that encroachment after en-
croachment might at last leave them with their
sons slain. their treasure exhausted. and their
rights swallowed up i'll one common vortex of
usurpatiou never again to be restored.
assume that to-day the Democratic party,
as party, is Just as Loyal as the R. publican
party will do just much to-day or to-
morrow to strengthen the Government, to aid
in putting down this rebellion as will the Re-
publican party. None of their acts. as par
ty, give a color of reasoning to the contrary
/ of the criticisms of the conservative por-
/ ton of the Republican party | find no fault !;
but of those ultraists who can survey no
scene with pleasure however fair, unless there
is a negro in the foreground, OF theml can on-
ly say,
:. wish some power the gift would gle them
| To see themselves as Others see Them
wish to say word in connection with