The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-02-14
OUR POSITION.

rs TO the publlc, TOT whose FAVOR We
are new candidate, to state our po-
litical position, and our platform.
We desire to place ourselves before
the pnblic in no other than our true
position, and we bespeak tor ourselves
fair and candid hearing. Let each
one read and exercise his own Judg-
,ncnt before deciding for or against
rs.
Neither secession nor abolitioulsm
have any charms for US. No one
can trnthfuIly charge us with beng a
secession sympathizer. for none more
than ourselves can better appreciate
the dire wickedness and folly of the
monstrous rebellion now desolatlng
go large a portion Of this once happy
country. Disguised as it may be by
the thin veil Of the right to secede,
it is an act of pure and unmitlgated
rebellion, without lawful or justlfia-
bic excuse. IF, as was alleged, the
Southern States had been apprised,
or were fearful of future expressions,
they had the proper remedy in their
own hands. The conservative ele-
ment Of the North was with them,
for the prevention of injustice, and
the security of all their constitutional
rights and privileges; and at this
time. If the rebellious States had re-
NAMED with us, a conservative, ma
tipnal President might have been cN-
erciSing the powers Of his office tor
o united people, instead of the repre-
sentative of the extreme sectional par
ty, now at the head of affairs True,
the people ofthe Sonth might feel q
lust Indignation at the otticions IN
termeddling Of northern fanatics, in
their domestic affairs, but that alone
furnished no reasonable ground Tor
rebellion against the Government.
In what RESPECT had the GOVERNMENT
been hergl:ci? Had Il failed in the
perfornlluca of any OF its functions?
Net at ALL All the excuses and pre-
texts that were reSor;r! to by the
rebel leaders were but to hide their
real motives and designs. They were
governed by blind, reckless ambi,
ton to rule, and failing in that. 70
ruin and destroy the Government un-
der which they had enjoyed so many
blessings, and which had bestowed
apnn them SO much of its patronage.
While we admit that the people of the
South had much cause of complaint
OH account Of the course pursued by
a portion Of the northern press and
pulpit in reference to their institu-
tons and domestic affairs, yet we do
not think hat this, in the least, JUS
tilted them in rcbclling.
We look upon the Union as phys
ical necessity, and we expect to en-
ploy all proper means for its restora-
ton and preservation. And at the
same time that We shall battle for its
maintenance against the rebels Of the
South on the one hand we shall also,
on the other, endeavor to repel the
aggressions ct the northern radicals.
We deem the abolition party as much
to blame, if not more, than the rebels
are. for the var now raging, and the
consequent loss Of so many valuable
lives, and So mucn treasure. Adolf
tioaiSm and ScceSSionism are like the
blades OF pair OF shears, it is only
bv contact with each other that any
effect can he produced.
We DO cot believe tnat slavery in
and Of itself was the cause OF this war
am more than we believe that the
tliut is the cause Of the spark of fire
that is ELECTED from it by the blow Of
the steel The institution Of slavery
was struck bv the steel Of New Eng
land tanatciSm, and what was pro-
duced but tie fire Of diSuuion, now
so rampant in the land? We have
no respect or regard Cor the abolition
list; he is one, as Henry Clay said
twenty yeare ago, with whom the
rights Of property are nothing; the
deficiencies of the powers OF, the Fed
eral Government are nothing; the
acknowled set} and incnntestible pow
ers Of the States are nothing; the dis
solution Of the Union and the over
throw Of Government in which are
concentrated the hopes of the civil
zed world are nothing. \ single idea