Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-31

Ion parties IN ana out OF ongres3; ana III
. February, with the concurrence Of ma
jority Of the Republican party in the Sen
etc and this House. But that party, most
dsaslrously for the country, refused all
compromise How, indeed, could they
accept anyl That which the South de-
mandcd and the Democratic and conser-.
vative parties OF the North and West were
willing to grant, and which alone could
avail TO keep the peace and save the Union,
implied surrender of the sole vital ele
ment of the party and its platforn-o Of the
very principle, in fact, upon which it had
just won the contest for the Presidency !;
not, indeed, by majority of the popular
vote-the majority was nearly a million
against it-but under the forms of the
Constitution. Sir, the crime, the ''high
crime of the Republican party was not SO
much its refusal to compromise, as its
original organization upon a basis and
doctrine wholly inconsistent with the sta
hiitv Of the Constitution aud che peace OF
the Union.
But to resume the session Of Congress
expired. The President elect was inau-
gurated and now, if only the policy Of
non coercion could be maintained, and war
thus avcrted, time would do its work in
the North and the South, aud final peace
able adjustment and reunion be secured.-
Some time in March it was announced
that the president had resolved to cOntin-
ue the policy of his predecessor, and even
90 a step further, and evacuate Sumter
and the other Federal forts and arsenals
in The seeded States. His own party ac-
qulesced; The whole country rcjoiccd. The
policy OF non coercion had triumphed, and
for once, sir, in my life [ found myself in
an immense majority. No man then pre-
tended that Union founded in consent
could be cemsnted by force. Nay, more,
the President and the Secretary of State
went further. Sid Mr. Seward, in an
official diplomatic Let cr t, Mr.. Adams =
"For these reasons he (thc PrcsidenD would not
be disposed to r9Ject cardinal dogma of theirs Qhe
sslonists,) namely that The Federal Goyernmcnt
conii noi reduce the seeding state to obedience by
cosqucst, although he we're disposed to que son that
, PROPOSITION. Bat IN fact the President Willingly ac-
crnment could suhugatr thoroughly disaiicc ted and
| insurrectonary members OF ihe state"
Pardon ne, sir, but | beg to know
whether this conviction of the President
and his Secretary, is not the philosophy Of
the persistent and most vigorous efforts
made by this administration, and first o!
all through this same Secretary, the mo-
mcnt war broke out and ever since till the
late elections, to convert the United States
ipto an imperial or despotlc Government
! But Mr.. Seward adds, and | a. rec with
! him:
=, "Ths, Federal Republican system Of ours is, ofaI
! forms of governments the very one which most
fitted for such labor"
This, sir, was on the 10th of April, and
yet that very day the feet was under sail
for Charleston, The policy Of peace had
been abandoned. Collision followed the
militia were ordered out civil war began.
Now, sir, OH the 18th of April, / be
lieycd that coercion would bring on war,
and war sunion. More than that, be-
lieyed, what you all in your hearts be-
l:eve to-day, that the South could never
be conquered d-nevor. And not that only
but | wa, satisied-and you Of the aboll-
ton party have now proved it to the world
that the secret but real purpose of the
war was to abolish slavery in the States.
In any evcut, did not doubt that what
ever might bo the momeutary Impulses of
those i'll power, aud whatever pledges they
might make in the midst of the fury for
the Constitution, the Union, and the flag,
yet the natural and inexorable logic Of
revolutions would sooner or later, drive
them into that 2oicy, and with it to it,
final but inevitable result, the chang of
our present democratical form Of govern
ment iuto an imperial despotiSm.
These were my convicI ions on the I4h
of april. Had | changed them on the | ),
When read the Presidents proclamation,
aud become convinced that [ had been
wrong all my life, and that all history
was fable, and all human nature false
in its Development from the beginning Of
time, would have changed my public
conduct also. But my convictions did not
change thought that if war was dlsun-
ion on the l4th of April, it was equally
disuuion on the 5th, and at all times
Believing this, could not, as an honest
man, Union man aud patriot, lend an
active support to the war; and | did not:
| had rather my right arm were plucked
from its socket, and cast into eternal burn
ings, than, with my CONVICTIONS, to have
thus de6led my soul with the guilt of NOR
al perjury. Sir, | was not taught in that
school which proclaims that "al is fair in
politics. | loathe, abhor, and detost the
excreablc maxim. stamp upon it, No
State can endure single generation whose
public men practice it. Whoever teaches
it is corrupter Of youth What We most
want in these times, and at all times, is
honest and Independent public men, That
man who is dishonest in politics is not hon
est at heart, in anything; and sometimes
moral cowardice is dishonesty. Do right
ard trust to God, and Truth, and the
People. Perish Office, perish honOrs, per.
ish life itself; but do the thing that is
right, and do it like a man. ! did it,
Certainly, sir, could not doubt what he
must suffer who dare defy the opinions and
and tho nassgons, not to saw the madness