Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-05-14
For the Reporter.
The War and Politics.


that few words from an old Demo
crat, at this time, under The present
state of our country, would not be lost,
| have thought proper to ask the prlvi-
lege Of expressing the same through
the columns of your paper, as 1t has
the largest circulation Of any other in
the county; and as it will be seen in
the columns Of the Wood Co. Repor-
ter, no man will presume to doubt its
veracity.
The fact that our once happy coun-
try has been engaged, for two years, in
a civil war, and that almost the entire
Southern States, having taken up arms
against the Union, and sworn never
again to return to their allegiance to
the Federal Government; and to still
add to our national calamities, we find
ourselves divided upon abstract ques-
tions Of national policy to such ar ex-
tent as to border on a state Of revolu-
ton throughout the entire North. Such
state Of things naturally leads every
thinking man to ask, first, what has
been the origin Of all this trouble? and
secondly, what remedy can be applied? +?
AS | understand the nature of cur gov
crnment, we, the sovereign people, are
the real oWnoFs and propr;etoSs of it.
If SO, we necessarily have the right,
not only to vote, but to express our
opinion III relation to the course and
policy that we think ought to be pur-
sued in administering it, provided, al
ways, that we keep within the bounds
Of the Constitution and do not infringe
upon the rights Of others. That this
violation Of constitutional policy, [ am
confident, has been the origin Of the
war,-namely, the agitation Of the
slave question by northern fanatics, or
abolitionists, is beyond doubt in the
minds Of all Union-loving men. This
question Of slavery, being local in its
nature, having existed III harmony with
the federal government from its foun-
dation; having been handed down to
the present parties engaged, by the
forefathcrs, is an institution of local
and domestic nature that could not be
intcrfercd with by people Of another
locality without violation Of the Con
stltution and Of good faith towards the
parties interested. Let US suppose a
case, for instance THAT after the in
stitution Of slavery shall be disposed
of and they can 10 longer prate about
the cnormity Of the crime, the disgrace
to our country, and Of bleeding Kan,
Sas, and that for want Of some other
theme to harp on, that they pitch into
us, the people Of the State of Wiscon-
sin, for having upon our statute book q
law which imposes a tax on Dogs
They might take hold OF this with some
degree Of success, OH the grounds of
inhumanity; that the dog is an animal
of superior traits Of character, is a fact
well conceded by all; that in point of
sagacity he has few equals, and none
for true affection. Nevertheless, our
Legislature have passed the law, and
we like it; and we don't eoncede the
right to Massachusetts, or any ether
State, to Wendell Phillips "or any 9TH
er man." to take issue with US upon
this point; and if persisted in, will in
cur our displeasure, and will end in
some national calamity.
We, the Democracy, have remon-
strated from time TO time, against this
uncalled for intervention, on the ground
that it would lead to a war We were
told, in reply, that it was all moon
shine; that the southern people could
not fight, and that any free State could
whip them. Their vanity reminds me
Of certain fanatic who fancied that
he could run a mile and jump over a
mountain; and after having run a mile,
/ became exhausted and had to sit down
to rest at its base. That seems to be
all this nigger-intervention policy has
accomplished thus far, in the prosecu-
ton Of the war That the President
has designed to pursue q just and con-
stitutional course in the prosecution of
this war, admits of no reasonable doubt;
but that he has abandoned this course
III consequence Of outside pressure too
intolerahle to be borne, and adopted,
in lieu thereof, the emancipation proc
lamation, which, although adopted, out
Of good motives on the part of the
President, against his own better iudg-
ment, il hopes that it might promote
the interest Of our cause, has proved to
be continuation Of grievances thro'-
out the entire Union. While it has ce-
mented the bonds which unite the en-
tire South against Us, it has destroyed
the confidence and hopes Of the De