The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-30
S oLplERS OE OHIO:

we respond to your patriotic and thrilling
appeaIs. Men who have dedicated their
lives 10 their country, and shown their
devotion by tolls and sacrifices, have tie
right to address us, reposing in peace aud
prosperity at our quiet homes. Ohio
owes you debt Of gratitude which mo
ney cannot discharge nor words express.
You have achieved, by your gallant deeds
a distinction which will brightly mark
the page Of history, and impart 10 the
annals Of the State an mperishabls lustre;
and you may be assured that our loyal
peopit gratefully appreciate their obliga
tions to your valor and patriotism.
We acknowledge the justice and pro
priety of our ,ebuke Of he "Ignoble con
Ientious Of home politics and wild shame :
less parry strife" which unIappily pre-
vail amongst US. We cordially dsplorc
this dissension. No cause which has
ever commanded human energy SO fully
merits union OF purpose, Of voice. and Of
action, as that which has called you from
the endeafments of home to the periIs of
tho latlle field, and which summons Us
to the mobiles, duties and sacrifices which
freemen can render. Whilst we regret
thai many have preferred the badge and
success Of party to the old banner OF beau !
| " and of glory, and the triumph Of free
dom, we may refer with patriotic pride
to the Union Movement of 1851, in Olio,
in which YOU participated, as a bright
illustration OF the 10y atty Of the people.
Then men ofevery variety Of party an
tecedents MT around The altar Of their
country-laid upon it as a wiling saori'
Zee all past political ptejadiceS, and unit
ed pledged fidelity and co-operatioh until
the rebellion should be crushed, and our
flag fla! again over all tue States of our
once unbroken Union. Nothing aided
more to consolidate the ,patriotic move
ment than these memo able words in the
last speech. of tie lameued Douglas :
"We have solemn duty to maintain
the Government. The greater our unsn
unity the sp' sdiei the day Of peace. W,
have prejudices to overcome, from Il
few short months since CT a fierce parry
contest. Yet ihees must be laid aside
Let us lay aside all criminatio.s and re
= criminaIoDs as to The origin Of these dill
6culti's. Wtep We shall again. have
county, with the United Stat dag float
ing over it, and Tcepsct', d on every incl
of American SOL, a will then be tim
enough to ask who and W hat brough
this upon us. Whoever, is not prepared
to sacrifice party organizations and plat
forms on the altar Of his country does no
deserve the support and cqnfdeuce 9
honest people. There. are only two side'
10 this question. Every man must be Jo
the Unitrd STATES or ogainSt il. Tte,e ca
> be no nsutrals in this ,Oar, oelg patriots o
traitors These sent i'm nts brcamc th
raIlying cry OF Ohio's patriots. and
multitutA our best and most promin n
fellow citiz MS, gladly forgetful Of all pas
political differences and parhits, ,Ialle
as became AM rcan freemen. to the com
mon standard Of oar country. ,Ohip ne
yer witnessed more impressive specta
Gle than that of the Convention Of SCI
t-mler. 1861. The President Of the Ba
timorr Convention was chosen as th
standards carer Of the Union hosts Il
generously yielded 10 his country
call, and bravely. during the canvas
exhibited his devotion 10 the great c.us
to which he he'd committed his heart an
treasures. Those who fought with hl'
under the same banner shared in. u espir
and devotion of his deeds, and the peop
of Ohio signalized their APPRECIATION I
the Union movement by giving more the
Sc, 600 majority 10 the candidates Of tn
d convention. The power Of that entb'
siasic and united movement caused dl
loyalty 10 seek cone, almenl, and arouse
HE patriotic into generous oompetltl'
for noble deeds and sacrifices. The vol
of 1861 would probably have been, L
erbord in 1869 but for The signitica
facts that more than $4,000 voters h,
gone 10 the battle field, and the sueug
aud energies Of our people were conce
trated upon vigorous efforts to re, ri
men 10 6ll the places Of the brave who h
fallen by disease, or 10 the armed co
1ic,, and to respond 10 call for an
crease of oIt army, Those now symp
thizing with The rebellion did no. tn
reveal any trea 'herous- designs. TIT
appeals 10 the brave to come TO the TT
cue Of the country, we're not tainted vi
words Of dishouCr or reproach. The
were few shameless political bankru!
who, in their hiding places, uttered wor
Of disloyalty, but even these WIRE rebu
ed by political associates who disown
their heresies, The msjority Of our p
minent men, We'd with one another, DO
by wordS aud deeds, to eukindle in t
hearts Of the people deeper devotion
the Union, aud desdlier hatred of
rebellion. Under these circumstances {
last annual election occurred. The
suit is well known to you. Whilst
loyal meu OF Ohio were volunteering q
laboring with uDtiring vigilance TO fiji
your columns, inscriptions ard faithl
men were toiiug to secure party
umpb. Many Of those who wore
cloak of loyalty. and "paltered with
people in a double sense" have thro
of their disguise and now shamefu
claim the resul, as a vistory for party {
rebuke to our Government. They
welcome to the unepviable distinction
gloIyiug in a triumph, which has gi,
fresh animation to the dropping hopes
lrailora. ~. lnA.n