The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-23

- -
The following truthful and appropriate
comments upon the Presidents message, la
ken from the CRISIS of last week, being SO
much better than anything We could say, We
publish instead of any remarks of our own.-
1t also defines our own position, past and
present.
President Lincoln's Third Annual
Message.
The anomalous message will be found in
our columps with its accompanying Proclama-
ton, which, like the tail of the kite, gives it
all its buoyaney. And we now appeal to the
world to be our Judge whether We are not full
" vindicated for the steady, determined, un-
ceasing opposition that we have given Mr..
LINcoLN-Presiaent LINcoLN-and his ad-
ministration from the first to the last. We
now appeal to all candid and unbiased men
those not infected with the mental epidemic
which has literally swept this glorious patton
and people from the empires of the earth
for m honest Judgment whether we have not,
for tho last three years, in the fase of power
and threats from supercilious officials, and tho
cold shoulder of hundreds of leading men in
our own party who would not or dared not
believe rs, faithfully predicted what would oc-
cur, and if every charge we ever made as to
4 NA0FA ~6AE4 Va 44E
crazy adventurers who held him in their keep
ing, does not now stand on. in boll and I'M
disguised Notwithstanding to every one not
ready to see. their country and its institutions
sunk to an utter perdition, from which no hui
man power can extricate il?
The day of whitewashing, palliating or ex-
cusing Mr.. LINCOLN is passed and the cry
of swat, and let us see what he and his Con-
gress will do" is no longer av liable to pro-
- A. L. ~.
everlasting and deep condemnation of the pa
triot and the betrayed. Siezing upon the
power assumed as given him by his election,
and wrestling the smen and money" given
him by an almost unanimous vote of Congress
from their legitimate purposes, he. Proclaipls
to the people of these States and to the world
a purpose that strikes down the last hope of
constitutional liberty. of Union, of country,
and of peace during this generation.
True to the piratical motto of ssthe last
man and the last dollar" he very coolly APP
propriates the whole to himself andaprepaTes
snsoah which every man, North and South,
must subscribe to, either by open submission
and confession or before some military .magis-'
trate, or he cannot be a citizen nor entitled to
any of the privileges of a citizen. This OATH
Is to be the future Constellation and The law :
Demolishing all distinction of race or color,
the oath alone defines mems Status as to ,citi-,
zenship, as well of EUROPEAN as of african
sfdescent."
As this condition of things had to come,
because it laid at the foundation of that mem
tai sdeformity which led to MI. LINcoLN's
election, it is only q pity that he had not aa-
vanced the doctrines long ago, that the weak
minded and tender nerved ofice-seeking gam
blers would have been forced to see then what
they have got, to endure now. Conscious that
this fatal hour would come-and the time of
its coming only a matter of carefully studied
and coolly calculated purpose-we are very
probably better prepared to look it in the face
than those who denied it to the last moment,
and still kept up the cry of"Wait, and let us
see." ssf
We all now do see; the panorama of our des-
tiny is opened and passing before our eyes, the
manager explaining the new scenes as the can
vas moves; and we find that We have paid dear
" for our tickets, and costly is the show to the
astounded and bewildered audience.
There was a fitting hope insthe present
Congress; but its meeting has dispelled it all.
The people voted and con6ded, confded and
voted; but when their labors eHlminated at
Washington, on the organizati n Of the House
the unplearant fact was developed that those
elected as opponents of this reckless and tyran-
nicai Administration, had neither confidence
in one a~nofhersnor any common purpose in
view except the pitifal ambition OF a distribu-
ton of ;he Offices; and on that they could not
agree; it was natural that they should not,
while no higher motive governed them.
This m~essage&cnd proclamation will then
have a clear field in Congress. Every measure
OF that body will go to carry into effect the
creation of negro States South. Measures are
introduced to repeal the fugitive slave
law and create the negro a citizen, and thus
give him the right of suffrage and to hold of.
fce. This will easily secure one man in ten |
Of the population to take the proclamation oath
and administer the new State Government ; |
provided, always, that a standing army is kept
in such State to keep down the n,ne tenths off
The people and. enforce .submission-which a.
nounts.to.a war without END.
Under This proclamation. of usurpation Of all
;he.powers of Government by one head. war
unlimited and peace impossible: forI
peace with.a standing army of 4 million of
men, or halt that number in the field, either
Fhite or black, is no peace at all and that
pan is an, idiot who would persuade himself
hat such a.thing was possible, and a union of
he States practicable.
IfL:ncoln, therefore, succeeds with his plans.
ur union of States is gone forever-our cont
plotted out, and our. country one of
and despotism, reacting one upon the
like Mexico for the last half century,
utter exhaustion and loss of character fits
IS only for the fate fall such departures f. ON
ruth, justice, reason, humanity and common
The question row comes Up to us in fearful
nagnitude-shall the people stand together,
ally their shattered forces, look to new and
lore reliable and holder craftsmanship and
lore prudent and resolved leaders-organize
nd enter their protests in firm but manly IAN ]
uage-in the sober earnestness of truth and
? Or shall they suceumb to a fate
,ore terrible than any other, the loss of coun-
y, Of liberty and the degradation of being
nled by a race of African slaves and their aid
rs and abettors? 5a4g3ef 1af nsb
These are serious and most important ques- I
ons, but they are the questions of the hour