The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-09-24


There has never been a time, from
the day when Washington was inaugu-
rated first President of the United
States, when the rights of the Sou h.
ern States stood firmer under the laws
of the land, than they do now; there
never was time when they had not
as good cause for disunion as they
have to-day. What good cause have
they which has not existed under every
Administration. ......
IF they say the territorial question
now for the first time, there is no act
of Congress prohibiting Slavery any
where If it be the non enforcement
of the laws-the only complaints that
| have heard have been of the too Wig
orous and faithful fulfillment of the
Fugitive Slave Law. Then what rea-
son have they?
Tie jSlauery question is a mere ercuse.
The election Of Lincoln IS a mere prete1t.
The present secession Increment is the re-
suit Of an enormous conspiracy formed
more than a gear Since-formed by leaders
IN the Southern Cowederacy more than
tcelre months ago.
They use the slavery question as n
means to the accomplishment of their
ends. They desired the election of a
Northern candidate by ascctional vote,
in order to show that the two sections
cannot live together. When the his
tory Of the two years, from the Le-
compton Charter down to the late Pres
idential election shall be written, it
will be shown that the scheme was de-
liberately made to brake up the Union.
They desired q Northern Republi-
can to he elected by purely North
ern vote, and then assign this fact as a
reason why the sections may no longer
live together. If the disunion candi-
date, in the late Presidential contest,
had carried the United South, the
scheme was, the Northern candidate
successful, TO SEIZE THE CAPITOL LAST
Spring, AND RY AN UNITED SOUTH AMI
DIVIDED NORTH, HOLD IT. That scheme
was defeated in the defeat of the Dis
union candidate in several Of the South
ern States.
But this is no time for detail OF
causes. The conspiracy is now known
Armies have been raised. War Is
levied to accomplish it. There are
only two sides to it, EVERY MAN MUST
BE FOR TIE UNITED STATES OR AGAINST
IT. THEREcANBE NO NEuTRALs IN THIS
NARROWLY PATRIOTS or TRAI
TORS.
Thank God, Illinois is not divided
on this question. (Checrs.) know
they expected to present an united
South against n divided North. They
hoped in the Northern States, party
questions neutrality-suspicious. between
Democrats and Republicans, when the
south would step in with her cohorts
aid one party to conquer the other, ant
then make an easy prey Of the victors
Their scheme was CARNAGE AM
CIVIL WAR IN THE NORTH!
There is but one way to defeat this
In Illinois it is being so defeated by
closing up the ranks. War will thus
be prevented on our own soil, While
there was hope Of peace | was ready
for any reasonable sacrifice or compro
mise to maintain it. But when the
question comes of war in the cottor
fields of the South, or corn fields of IL
linois, | say the farther off the better
We cannot close our eyes to the SAT
and solemn fact that war docs exist
The Government must be maintained
its enemies ovcrthrown; and the NOR,
stupendous our preparations the les
the bl0odshcd, and the shorter tn,
struggle. But we must remember Ger
tain restraints on actions even in tim'
of war. We are a christian people
and the war must be prosecuted in ;
manner recognized by christian ma
tions.
We must not invade constitutions
rights. The innocent must not suffer
nor women and children be the vic
tins. Savagcs must not be let loose
But while | sanction no war on tn
rights of others ] implorc my country
men not to lay down their arms unit
f our rights are recognized. Cheers,
The Constitution and its guarantee
are our birthright, and | am ready t
enforce that inalienable right to til
last extent, We cannot recognize Sc
cession. Recognize it once, and yo
have not only dissolved the govern
ment, but you have destroyed socio
order, and upturncd the foundations q
society You have inaugurated anar
, chy in its worst form, and will shortl,
experience all the horrors of the Frcnc.
revolution,
} Then we have y solemn duty to per
form to maintain the Government
5 The greater our unanimity the speed
. icr the day of peace. We have preju
Q dices to overcome, from the eXistenc
. of few short months since, of a fierc
4 party contest. Yet these must be al
A layed. Let us lay aside all crimina
tions and recriminations as to the or
gin of these difficulties. When we sha'
g again have the country, with the Uni
f ted States flag floating over it, and re
g spected on every inch of American sol
+. it will then be time enough to ask VIII
t and what brought all this upon us.
e l have said more than intended t
G say, Cries of "go ONT 1t is a sa
t task to discuss question so fearful q
n civil war; but sad as it is, bloody an
: disastrous as l expect it to be, ! expires