Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-10

out. If you cease now, you may save all
in your hands, or compromise on gradual
emancipation. But let beseech you the
negro no longer stand in the way Of the
happiness and safety of friends and kin.
dred.
The changes Of sentiment upon this
question, in the South, have been curious.
Not many years since il was by no means
unusual for the press and public men, as
well as for the people, generally, in the
South, to ooneede that slavery Was sn evil,
and regret that ii should ever have existed
expressing, however, no disposition or de-
sire TO be rid Of it. Yet, few years more
the demand for cotton having increased,
TIE price of negroes having advanced, and
the agitation Of the slavery question haE-
ing increased in viTulence-hnd5 us de-
Tending slavery as a divine institution.
De bows Review, and other Southern pa
pers and periodicals, with Senator Ham
mond OF South Carolina, were prominent
in this defense. Their object was TO edu-
cate the Southern mind to this belief
Such a course has been vital to the exist
ence of slavery; because, to concsde that
/
virtually to concede the whole argument
1 10 the abolitionists. As the controversy
warmed, We became sensitive. And so
morbidly so, thst the North might have
threatened with impunity 10 deprive US of
horses, or other property; yet the whole
South wOnld bs abiaze if some fanatic took
one negro. Such was public sentiment
! at the South, ct the commencement of this
most unfortunate and bloody struggle.
! But revolutions shake up mems thoughts,
! and put them in different channels l
have recently talked with Southern slave
holders from every State. They are tired
Of negro slavery, and believe they could
make more clear money, and live more
peaceably, without thaa with il. As for
the non stakeholder Of the South, hon
estly thought the struggle was for him
more than for his wealthy nSighbor-that
to free the negro would reduce to compar-
ative slavery the poor white men. now
regret that instead of war to sustain
slavery, it had not been struggle at the
ballot-bOx to cOlonize it. This will clearly
be the next struggle.
Let US live in hope, my grief-stricken
brothers, that the day is not far distant
when Arkansas will rise from the ashes of
her desOlation, TO start on path Of higher
destiny than, with negro slavery, she ever
could have reached; while the reunited
Government, freed from this cankeIing
sore, will be more vigorous and powerful
and more thrifty, opulenG and happy, than
though the scourge of war had never desc
lsted her fields, or made sorrowful her
hearthstoEes
The sooner we lay down our arms, and
quit this hopeless struggle, the sooner our
days of prosperity will return.
l hesitated long, my fellov-citizans, be-
fore ! determined TO issue this address. |
dislike to be abused and slaudered. But
more than all, dislike to live under a
cloud with those friends who have not vet
reached my standpoint. And, besides, all
possess i5 in the Confederate lines.
Their leaders will deprive my family of
slaves, home property-debts due me-in
q word, reduce them from competence and
ease TO penury. Aside from what 1 have
inside the Confederate lines, l could not
pay for the paper this address is written
upon. But il may al 60. Did desire fu-
ture promotion, and could bring my con-
science to 1t, I would dc like the Johnsons,
safe from bullets and hardships them
selves, they assist in holding you on to
this hopeless and Tuinous struggle, and, at |
the end of the conflict, will come back and
say: ""I Stdid Nth y0u to the last F'
" Honor me and miae 70 God deliver me
from such traitors TO humanity, and to the
interests Of our bleeding people To me,
the path of duty is plain. 1t is to lend my
feeble aid TO stop this useless effusion Of
blood. And, though it beggar my family,
and leave me NO ray Of hope for the fu-
ture, shall follow it.
/ have witnessed the desolaiion Of The
Southern States from one end to the other. !
This hopeless struggle but widens it. Each |
day makes new graves, new orphans, and |
new mourners! Each hour filings into this !
dreadful whirlpool more of wrecked hopes,
broken fortunes, and anguished hearts
The rich have mostly fallen. The poor
have drank deep Of the cup of sorrow,
while surely, and not slowly, the tide of
ruin, IN its resistless surge, sweeps toward |
the middle classes A few more oam-
paigHs, and they will fora part Of the gen
eral wreck Each grave and each fear,
each wasted fortune and broken heart,
puts us that much further off from the OBJ
ject of the struggle, and that much further
off from peace and happiness
Viewing it thus the terrible question
was presented to me, as to whether
should continue my lot in an enterprise SO
fruitless and so full Of woe, and help hold
the masses Of the people on to this terrible
despotism of Davis, where only ruin
awaits them; or whether l should be 8
quiet observer of it all, or lastly, whether
l should assist in saving the remnant of
you from the wreck.
l have chosen the latter. shall send
this address 10 every hill and corner of
the State, TO the citizen and soldier, ct
home or in prison, and shall send with it
my prayers 10 Almighty God TO arrest them
in their pathway Of blood and ruin. Why
trust Davis longer? Had ne twice our re-
sources he would still fail. With success
he would be despot. But the whole
thing is tumbling to pieces. Soldiers are
leaving disgusted and disheartened; and
whole States have gone back to their home
in the National galaxy.
He then speaks of Delaware, Maryland
Kentucky and Missouri as wholly lost to
the Confederacy; of Tennessee, soon to be
wheeled permanently into line, and Of the
growing loyalty in North Carolina, and
concludes:
"The shortest way, in my opinion, to
resume our relations with the Federal
Government is, to instruct Hon. W. K. |
Sebastian to take his seat in the United
States Senate. 1t is by all means desira-
BILE that such instructions be go clear that
ha TTnf2aA QfoNoo G,,yavvnv,nnN ho -
no loss to see that our people are loyal,
and that Mr.. Sebastian may have but one
course Of conduct left. feel sure that he
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