The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-09-30
WooDSFIFID MONROE COUNTY, OHIO SEPTEMBER 80 1868

and ruin This would be its inevitable
rs4ult. Iappeal to our Republican friends
tnat, laying aside party passions did pre-
Ijuiices, VIC superadd to power the force
of cancellation. Is there not more hope
for an early and lasting peace, and long
career OF happiness for the country, in u
conciliatory line Of policy? How can any
man object to a policy that will unite the
people North and South and call out from
every section an ardent love of the Union
aud the Consttution-alo love which firm
| ly believe only stu u bers in the revolted
States, and is not dead Shall the party
n power say, ''our brothers have mott
crouched down to us-they are not yet
subjugated have not yet gratificd our
mllice and our hate" Il tn 1t a generous,
as ma n lnimol is as saying ''return to the
Union, your rights shall be preserved
sacred and invioate Men must choose
between these two lines OF policy, We
may have differed in the past, but now
our armies have triumphcd Our soldiers
have proved their bravery and their patri-
otism. They have sacrificed for the cause
all that is dear, and now will we who have
had no shire in the hardships and perls
of the field, sacrifice our pride and pas
sion, thus showing to the world IA Just
and fraternal regard for our countrymen?
[ am not disposed to criticise the Presi-
dent 5 recent letter, unkindly, or to embar-
rass the Administrations [ am willing to
leave the Emancipation Proclamation Just
where he has left ito stand valid If
valid, and to fall if invaled-and it must
fall because it is invalid. [ agree with
him when he proposes to leave it where
he knows it must die, without regret
He does not, in that letter, contemplate
an early Termination of the war nor does
he propose any time when it will cease
We however, are ready to mark out policy
now, and that a-eonciiliatory policy; that
the States shall Ieturn with all their rights
Is marked down in the Constitution. l
believe that the great Conservative party
OF the country will say to them, "Ruturn
to your allegiance and we will maintain
your rightes,n Whatever may be the
course of the Administration it becomes
the Conservatives to say to this South
''Leti the war ceIse-cotne back to your
ailegienee aud we will protect your rights
Never hive L embarrassed the Admins s
tration. and never will. / have at ali
tlmessougat to uphold the army, and have
ne olscted no opportunity to send succer
TO our men. have toiled without eeasing
to do my duty to the soldiers from New
York. 1 have issued upwards of 5000
commissions, and [ don't know that the
Ad ninistration, with ! the unkiAd things,
thatits friends have said OF me, has had
occasion to say that my course has been
partisan in regard to them. | repeat that
am full of hope for the future. | have
never doubted that the Union will be re-
stored. | have never feared that the rights
u the States will be destroyed. have
never, for moment, believed that the
Invasion OF TIE rights of the States, by
character. The principals of coneiliatlon
and wisdom which guided our fathers will
outhye the folly OF their successors, Con
cilation is magnanimous. Generosity, IN
its nature, is larger taln hate. A gener-
ons course will com menl us to the world.
{ Applause To the dissolution OF the
Union viii never consent Cheers L
would put forth every power-I woaid ex-
haust every measure of eoncillatlon--l
would appeal to the interests, the hopes
AMI felrs O. citizens OF the South, and
urge every sugges nn which it beeone a
man t. nake-to bring back the revolted
States-out as to Disunion, will never
consent to that, Applause. Let as put
forth every power to restore the Union
invoking every considerations. OF patriot
ism-doing all that's due to our country
and to ourselves-invokins the return OF
svery State-holding sacred oye,y star
upon these flags that float around Us point
ing to the flags which decorated the halt
and marking him who would strike one
from its blue field as much traitor as he
who would rend its folds asunder.