The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-08-12
Pash on Compromising to save the Union

Pugh on Compromising TO save the Union
We have met. in our time, with neat hits, and
hard hits. and solid knock-do~ns, but in all our
experience We know not another blow 50 telling
as ths, which Is administered 10 the Hon. George /
F. Pug IL tie following leader ieom the en-
cianaA Ga-stte:
+ COMPROMISING TO PREvENr SECESSION Mr..
Push made IN his speech AZ the NallAndigham
Convention Al Columbus The following assertion. /
i that compromise before the rebellion would have
prevented IL:
The Democracy did not bring the war shout
it was by the acts q the Administration Ia
power. No one but the sbjeet slave Of the Ad-
minis'raton would say that this controversy
could lot have been settled on honorable terms
OF peace he knew be could not; sad he did
not state this matter o. opinion. but a. a
fact"
Mr. Pugh states ths as not al opinion. but
fact lie does not produce any evidence OF the
fact. therefore. We conclldr that he speaSs up
on the evidence already upon record We al
nit that Mr. Pugh knows from personal knowl-
edge whether the controversy could have been
settled 50 a. 10 obviAte the rebellion. aud upon
his knowledge OF that fact We propose 10 discuss
the subject Of responsibility for the war. accord
ing 70 his own principle mat nor they who rebel
but they who did nor prevent "a 10y conceding 10
b Southern demands are guilty OF the Rebellion.
2 The terms Of settlement were presented oy
the South IN the Democratic Convention al
- Charleston. IN a platform DENYING the power OF
! Congress or a Territorial Legislature to exclude
J slavery from any Territory. aud asserting the
duty of the Government to protect the rights
b. and property OF shareholders wherever its con
o slitutional authority extends This was their
= ultimatum With this a. the platform Of the
z 49, Taf..rafas iarl4raf their
z wilhugn 10 support any candidate nominated
I bv the Convention, and 10 90 on IN harmonious
d control OF the Democratic party a. b fore
Without il, they declared their determination TO
secede from the Convention aud split the party
II The Northern delegates knew that this would
> throw the election of President into the hands
= OF the Republicans Their stated method OF
= influencing Northern elections was 10 proclaim
y that the election OF a Republican President
: would make the South seccde. IL VAS ihe stand
Y ing threat OF the South in Is g. and lis repeti
i ton constituted the chief electioneerug ammu-
II milton of tae Nort.etn Democrats Here they
p had the alternative presented ~ them Of the
r. Southern platform, or the secession aud war
i which they had Proclaimed IN advance, and 10y
IN prOclaming had encouraged Here ~as where
: Mr. Pugh knew il to be fact that the contrO-
-e versy could have been settled 80 a. 10 avoid
- war and the record of the Convention shows
ID how he Tet the issue.
Mr. Pugh followed Mr. Yancy ia a speech to
IN the Convention aud thanked him tor bis honesty
A. in placing il before the country that the South
AZ demanded an advance step from the Democratic
\. party on the question OF Slavery. He went on
he 70 show that subserviency 10 the Southern de
n mands had reduced the Democratic party 10 q
a. minority in the North And, said Mr.. Pugh,
le " when we come here 10 debate with you. you
commence by telling Us Ne are inferior class
that We shall not assume TO have or express any
opinion; that we shall not call upon you TO stand
. by YOUR plghted faith that We shall put on
he bands on our mouths, and our mouths 10 the
l. dust Gentlemen, YOU mistake us-We will not
re do IT,"
Here was the time when the diffcute.
might have been settled without secession and
= war, and here in the face Of the Southern
a. threat of secession from the Convention and
ne from the Union, Mr.. Pugh refused 20 coEpro-
ID mise H. told them that il these were the
d terms which they demanded a. a condition o
y their stav in the Democratic ship" they mus
70 90 If yor choose to absndon H." said he, al
he part from you We must, will part from yot
.ir without anger, bot in sorrow"
Upon this performance OF the Northern De
IN nocracy at Charleston, Mr.. Pugh j. justified il
nh saving that he could state il as a matter OF fact
Id that the difficulties could have been settle,
without war; and by his principle they who di'
not prevent the rebellion by Yielding TO the de
Il mands of the South, are responsible for the war
be has assumed its responsibility upon himsel
III aud the Northern section of the Democratic
party.
e. The organization Of the South for secession
oi went on from that hour. When the Republican
~ Administration came into power, secession la,
'o begun There never has been a time since th'
III Democratic Convention hen the South present
a cd any terms Mr.. Pugh not only assumes 70
80 the Northern Democracy the whole guilt Of tn
= rebellion. hnt he now takes for them the abjec
ne attitude Of The shabby Gbeouites. when the
n presented themselves before the cOnquernl
1e tribes, and meeky accepted the position 0
=, hewers OF wood and drawers Of water
II H. confesses to the South that bis defiance il
the Charleston Convention was the mere extrav
~ aeance of fear that his declaration that Their
nc vas any southern demand which the Northern
=, Democracy would not submit to, was the aft .cte
% blu-ter Of Quaking hearts, ready 10 cringe =
a. soon as the Southern lash was brought out tbs
the insOlent assumption of the South, that ID
- Northern Democracy are an inferior class f
only for subjects correct idea of the orde
a. Of nature; aud that they are ready 20 max
amends for their Instruction against their natu
" raj masters by submitting 20 everything tina
r. they refused then, BY assuming all the guilt O
" the rebellion. and by eating any amount OF dir
that may be prescribed In addition.