The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-09

!Mr. EEtor-f am aware that it is some.
what dangerous in these troublesome
times, for man to cxptess his political
opinions. provided they should differ from
the opinions o! our present administra-
ton. Nevertheless, if You think it safe
to publish them. ! would like briefly t.
state a few historical facts. Two years
ago, when Mr. Lincoln in disguise had
found his way 10 the White House, and
after trembling through his Inauguration.
he found Notwithstanding his big scare,
that the people of the North, of all par
ties, were united to a man, and determined
to stand by the government and sustain
him in all Constitutional measures for a
vigorous prosecution OF a war To crush re-
bellion, preserve the Constitution, and
save the Union Did he ask for - 300
twice that amount were readily offered -
! If he called for 500 0Jo UOp that amount
was offered At the same time, ne found
that more than one bali of the people
of all parties in the South were in favor
of our Old government, and determined
10 fig 1T side by SIDE with us In the North,
whenever the proper time should occur.
This, Mr.. Editor was the condition OF
our country, ard these the feelings Of our
people, when Mr.. Lincoln came to power
How Is it now? Nearly one half Of our
proud states are in suicidal 0ariore against
the other The south are q unit against
the old government; and more than one
half of the north are decidedly opposed
to the imbecIle. or nefarious proclamation
policy of the present administration
In i precisely what that arch old traitor,
jeff Davis desired j: is Jus. what he
/ fiShed { r-hc got bIte-aDd he caught
that stupid old gudseon, Honest old
Abe Now sir II any body IS culpabls
for directly or indIrs ely giving ard snd
comfort To old jeff; who Is it? " any
body is cul paple for the los Of confidence
in our administration, (which we all know
gives a.i and comfort 10 old jeff and Ia.
ccufedaracy) is II the people who have
forfeited it, We leave these question:, to
be answered by your readers But after
all let Us rot blame poor oit Abe. UNJUST
ly we recoiiect that once upon time
land you Mr. Editor know when lie De
clared IN all sincerity and candor, that he
desired to administer the government IN
accordance with the acquisitions OF the
constitution, and 10 keep IuvIolate. the
oath which he had taken 10 preserve, pro
tect and defend that sacred instrument
But said he. there is pres>ur. bearing
upon me which | cannot afford to with
y
know too, who brought this pressure up
on him: II was Garrison, Phillips Henry
Ward Beecher, pous Old Greedy. Sumner.
and the two notorious mulattoes, Fred
Douglass and oven Lovci"y. With such
a weight as this pressing u on him, ought
we not 10 pity rather than blame honest
old Ale? If we can remove this pres
sure persuade the president to return to
the constitution, and convert this aboli-
ton crusnde into a legitimate war 10 save
the Union, who know. but ne may vet
restore the Union and save h,nseD also
One thing Is certain, let him do this,
and he wi! find every true democrat
standing where he has stood from the be-
ginning ready to sustain him with men
and nIoney-'o the last man, and the last
drop of blood. But he must remember
that democrats mako distinction be-
tween the government itself, and those
who are Entrusted with its administration.
l hope there is nothing reasonable in
this-but Mr. Editor, you must Judge for
Yourself, concerning the publication, and
will take the consequences SO tar as the
utterance is concerned
Peru, May 18th 1868 S.