The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-04

alike; and after the unfortunate dissolu-
ton of the Whig party in 1854 and the
organization of the present Republican
party upon an exclusively anti-slavsry and
sectional basis, the event was inevitable;
because, in the then existing temper of
the public mind, and after the education
through the press and by the pulpit, the
lecture and the political canvass for twen
ty years, of generation taught to hate
slavery and the South, the success of that
party, possessed. as it was, of every en-
CINE Of political, business, social and re-
ligious influence, was certain. ltwas only
question of time, and short time. Such
was it's strength, indeed, that / do not be-
lieye that the union of the Democratic
party in 1860 on any candidate, even
though he had been supported also by the
entire so-called conservative or anti-Lin
coin vote of the country, would have avail
ed to defeat it; and if it had, the success
of the Abolition party would only have
been postponed four years longer. The
disease had fastened too strongly upon thel
system to be healed until it had run its
course The doctrine of the g irrepressi-
BILE conflict" had been taught too long
and accepted too widely and earnestly to
die out, until it should culminate in seces-
sion and disunion; and, if coercion were
reserted to, then in civil war. | believed
from the first that it was the purpose of
some of the apostles of that doctrine to.
force collision between the North and
the South, either to bring about a separa
ton or to find vain but bloody pretext
for abolishing slavery in the States. In
any event, knew, or thought | knew,
that the end was certain collision, and
death to the Union.
i Believing thus, I have for years past
denounced those who taught that doctrine
with all the vehemence, the bitterness, if
you choose-I thought it a righteous, a
patriotic bitterness-of an earnest and i'm
passioned nature Thinking thus, fore
! warned all who believed the doctrine, or
followed the party which taught it, with
sincerity and depth of conviction as pro-
found as ever penetrated the heart of man.
And when, for eight years past, over and
over again, have proclaimed to the peo-
pie that the success of sectional anti
slavery party would be the beginning of
disunion and civil war in America, 1 be-
lieve it. I did, I had read history, and
studied human nature, and meditated foT
! years upon the character of our institu-
tions and form Of government, and of the
E people Of the South as well as North; and
i could not doubt the event. But the
people did not believe me, nor those Older
f and wiser and greater than l. They re
, jected the prophesy, and stoned the
prophets. The candidate Of the Republi
can party was chosen President. Seces
. sion began. Civil war was imminent. [
: was no petty insurrection, no temporar.
, combination to obstruct the execution o
the laws in certain States, but REVOLT
+ TIoN, systematic, deliberate, determined
and with the consent of majority Of tn
r people of each State which seeded
Causeless it may have been, wicked
4 may have been; but there it was; not t
i. be rallied at, still less to be laughed a,
j but to be dealt with by statesmen as
J fact. No display of vigor or force alone
e however sudden or great, could have al
: rested it even at the outset 1t was dis
# union at last The wolf had come. Blu
5. civil war had not yet followed. In m
!. deliberate and most solemn judgmen
J. there was but one wise and masterly mod
J. of dealing with st. Non-c coercion woul
avert civil war, and compromise crush o,
. both Abolitionism and Secession. Th
- parent and the child would thus both pc
~ ish. But resort to force would at one
precipitate war, hasten secession, exten
Sc disunion, and, while it lasted, utterly CT
N off all hope of compromise. 1 believe
that war, if long enough continued, wou
Te be final, eternal disunion. | said it,
al meant it; and, according to the utmost !
Mt my ability and influence, I exerted Use
n in behalf of the policy of non -coercio
#, 1t was adopted by Mr.. Buchanan's A.
e, ministr alton, with, the almost unanimo,
te consent of the Democratic and constit
ce tional Union parties in and out of Co
e. gress; and, in February, with the concu
1t renee of majority of the Republics
ce party in the Senate and this House. B
en- that party, most disastrously for the cou
n try, refused all compromise. How, indee
it could they accept any? That which t
n South demanded and the Democratic al
nd conservative parties Of the North a
he West were willing to grant, and viii
of alone could avail to keep the peace a
on save the Union, implied a surrender oft
ne, hole vital element of the party and
N platform-of this very principle, in ia
nd upon which it had just won the cont'
ry for the Presidency; not, indeed. by n
ad jority of the popular vote-the majori
vii was nearly million againstit-but uno
S the forms of the Constitution. Sir,
ser crime, the high crime of the Repr
it lican party was not SO much its refusal
tes compromise, as its original organizati
ped upon basis and doctrine wholly inc'
of sistent with the stability of the Con:
oli- tuition and the peace of the Union.
in But to resume: the session of Congr
ern expired. The President elect was inaus
ost rated; and now, if only the policy of n
ons coercion could be maintained, and !
elf, thus averted, time would do its workin
self North and the South, and final, pecea
i've adjustment and reunion be secured. Sc
ion time in March it was announced that
rch President had resolved to continue
mo- policy Of his predecessor, and even g
the Step further, and evacuate Sumter and
~ u ...l forto ooA orSaools in tha