Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-03-13

truth. When they were yanquished II
the election Of Mr.. Lincoln, their appeal
frpm the ballot % the bullet, was the log
I ical consequence OF their insane devotion
10 slavery, and their conviction that moth
ing could save it but the ruin of the Re
public.
Such was the issue decided by the peo-
pie in the last presidential canvass. 1t
was the long postponed battle between
slavery aEd anti-slavery, fairly eRcoun-
tering each other at the ballOt-bOx. II
was struggle between two intensely hos
tile ideas. wrestling for the final mastery
OF the Republic. Freedom, through the
Republican party as it, instrument, tri-
umphed over slavery with both wings of
the Democratic party as its tools aud ser
wants; for the distinction between Breck
inridge Democracy and Douglas Democ-
racy was purely metephy ysical, and eluded
entirly. the plain common sense of honest
men.
Now, sir, | hold that the people of the
United States, who earned, and fairly a.
chieved this great victory, had a vested
right to its fruits They had a right to
expect the domination OF slavery over the
national Government to cease. They had
right To demand that all its Depart
ments should be committed TO the hands
of those who believed in the grand idea
on which the Administration ascended to
power. And the Intervention of the re-
bellion in no degree whatever released
the Government from its duty in this re-
spect. The rebellion did not refute, but
confirmed, the truth of Republicanism. 1t
was simply final chapter in the history
of the slave power, an advanced stage OF
slaveholding rapacity, naturally born of
Democratic misrule; and instead of
tempting US to cover before it and and
surrender our principles. furnished an o.
verwheiming evidence in favor of stand
ing by them to the death.
do not say that no man who had been
identified with The democratic party should
have been appointed TO office, but no man
who regar led with indifference the great
principle which had triumphed in the can
vaSs no man. certainly, who was known
to be hostile to that principle, should
have been allowed to hold any Federal
Cllice, high or low, civil or military, at
home or abroad. This was the duty of
the Administration: for the simple reason
that it coul ! not decline it with fidelity To
the people who had installed it in power.
The Republican principle was as true af-
ter the election as during the canvass; a.
true in the midst of WAT rs in seasons of
peace; and just so far as we have lost
sight Of this truth, just so far have We
strayed from the path of salty. Indeed,
f.l, II A..
ance when the stur of war came, We
should have clung to them with redoub
led energy and "A dedicated zeal. Instead |
Of making terms with our yanquished op- |
pOrents by cOnterrlng upon them Office /
ard power, we SHOULD have taught them /
that these were necessarily forfeited in |
our triumph. And We should have re- /
memhered that even our enemies would /!
brand Us ~ hvp0,rites and towards, If the /
Should be less distinctive /
" Republican in principle and policy than 4
lad been the party which created it.
Very nearly allied to the policy OF con. I
,iiating our opponents. nnd thus build.
ng up their power, was the project of q
Union party. encouraged by RtDubli
AN politicians simultaneously with the
BEGINNING OF this Administration. Such
. movement, started soon after heated
,oli;ic.d canqasS involving the issue OF
'lavcry and aIti-slavcry. was utterly pre-
,osterous. The war grew out OF the very
question which had organized our parties
md marShslled them against each other
u times OF peace; and hence, instead of
melting and fusing them into one, their
inc, ot div sion would be brought our ali
he more pa lpably, and their auta.ousm-
Al the more intensified 1t was lncrcdi-
,le that pro-slavery Democracy, after
iaviug been so thoroughly drugged ana
uricited with the h,resies Of southern
'ebels. should. ir the tWinklng of an eve.
inter into cordial union with the men 1t
lad so long traduced. What is now pal
Fable 10 All men, thought obvious in The
leginning that union OF Republicans
'ud Democrats on the single question OF
iutting down this rebellion, Ignoring the
'cal issue out of which il sprans, was
imply a shallow eSpedicnt ior'diviling
hc spoils OF 0liicc. AZ the cost O.. a practi
al surrender of the principles for which
Republicans had 80 zedl0usly cuntendod.
DO not say that the disruption
IF the Democratic party WAS bv any
neans impossible. There was viz.
'rous. loyal element pervading It's rank
lnd tile whch iis urprnciped leader
hip would have been powerlcss to con
rol, If Republicans had stood firm III
We had been perfectly true TO our own
batting no iot of zeal in their
and frowning upon any
movement which sought to soften down
Or shade off the right-angled character of
'ur anti slavery policy; II We had bravelv
accepted the consequences ot that policy,
branding the rebellion a. the child of sla-
'ery, and the Democratic party as the
great nursing mother that had fed and
II into this bloody revolt
against the Constitution; if, when the
ruth of our doctrines and the guilt of
,ur opponents were written down in the
Tres OF civil var, We had called upon all
men 20 join hands with Us in saving the
the Democratic party would
lave heard It's death knell in the guns OF
Fort Sumter, and instead of borrowing
lew life from the cowardice and decline
If Republicanism. would have crawled TO
Is guilty and dishonored grave. Only
~ persistent fidelity 90 our own princi-
1les could we hope to either break down
he power of our foes or maintain real
Union movement. This We already had
IN the Republican party. fthere is any
where Republican who j. not Union 4
nan would be glad 20 know where he
nav be found. This accursed war j. up
IN US today because the policy Of the +
Government, under the rule OF slave. I
breeding Democracy. has 20 long been .
drifting from the principles Of our Re z