North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-29

peioh
general government of many of the most cherished
rights of the States had for its founder aud ehlefest
glory the gigantic intellect of Alexander Hamilton
viii the spirit of New England Federalism listen to
his great voice to-day! Hear it 1t has been well
observed that to the States is one of the mad
dest projects that was ever devised. iailurc OF
ccnrliance will pever beconfned to single State
This being the case suppose it is wise to haz-
ard civil war! Suppose Massachusetts, or any
large State, should refuse, and Congress should at
tempt to compel hcm would they not have influence
10 procure assistance, especially from those States
who ire inl the same situation as themselves 7
Whist picture does this idea present to our view
A complying State at war with non-complyns
State Congress marching the troops of one State into
the bosom Of another; this State collecting auxiia-
ries and gaining perhaps, majority against its
Federal head. Here is nation at war with itself.
Can any reasonable be we'll disposed toward
Government which makes war AMI carnage the only
means of supporting itself-a Government that can
exist only by the sword g. Such, in my Judgment
is-of its creation in the beglnnig, its duration t
nearly century its restoration from its present evil
estate an preservation for the future. 1t VII
born of compromise, It rested upon an enit thtened
public consent and the idea of resort to the sword
means ofits pcrpetuation was characterized even
by the leader Of the high Federal party as "one Of
the maddest projects that ever devised " Ny
hope, therefore, is not in war My hope is in peace
aud in the supremacy once more Of human
reason. The councils of convention are more
powerful and less cruel than the battle
field Negotiation must conmmence somewhere
In the whole range of history war, civilized or
barbarian, was ever before waged thus long by IL
Government on portion Of It's citizens in revolt
without an effort for peaceful settlement If is OBJ
ieced that such an Effort would be frulrless in our
case nay is til at tha fact is not known. The
records of tho Thirty Congress will forever
show that the South would have honorably compro.
missed then. What she will do now, or hereafter,
can only be known whom the rulers of the nation
shall consent to take the precepts of the Christian
gospel as their guide instead of the war cry of Mo-
Ioch in unholy thirst for revenge. War is the
sport of Kings but alas what fatal ruin to the peo
Ile and the American peope-rHE PEOPLE, not
the noisy, enriched, paid, stuffed nd pampered off
cials whose numbers and appetites aflict the land
like Egyptian locusts ut the people of the soil and
of the workshops with hard hands and honest faces
are crying out in agony of sweat and blood in
cry corner of the Rolutlie they behold the pro-
900 gress of this and its results, "How long, oh
Lord how long?" They are standing in anxious
expectation, with longing hearts and fearful eyes
ready to excain, Blessed the peaceml kers for
they shall be called the children of God" II poll
ey which has governed the conduct Of this war ha 5
also further aggravated its original weakness as
remedy for disunion. shall not here pause to dis
cuss it The whole civilized world knows that
shameful story Broken faih violated pledges, per-
verted purposes pular deception, dishonored laws
and shattered Constitution line its whole path wa v
The Union party at the South rGvaged and crushed
aud partisan issues thrust in the face of the North to
divide distract rs people constitute the results OF
the civil policy Of the Administration in connection
with the prosecution of the war. war thus prose
euted cannot 81 ceed.
It has not tie merit Of an honest and sincere
management. And the war as now conducted hos
one more element Of failure and disgrace which
shall here and everywhere receive my male
diction. Tie smoke Of the private dwelling
wh'-e helpless ece end infancy and gentle WON an
hood sheltered r the midst of the horro-s of war
Is not an agreeable incense TO the Christian God
The ashes of unoffendng town and cities are
acceptable offering the atar Of civilization. The
wasteful and indiscrminating vengeance Of Atta
Alaric and Hyder Ali, will not command the smiles
Of Heaven, ror long forerun success. avow nv
belief in the special providences of the Almighty.
believe in TIE speedy overthrow of those who derry
the divinity of justice, truth and mercy War has
its rules that 90 in mitigation cf its sanguinnry fea-
lures, which cannot be violated with impuntv. And
if war must rage yet for a may God incline
the hearts of those who shape councils TO spare
the mother and her babe and TO cease the heavy
rerroaches and ordinations which Butler or a
Montgomery has Inflicted upon the spirit of the age
In which we live ! l say this standing uron are
desal of etf NAL principle which lifts high above
party and party designs. No nation mock God
in war or in peace and long expect to escape the
humiliation due 10 offence. But my fellow-cltZens,
having thus expressed my views on somc Of the
principal issues of the day. ard arraigned, as
eeive to be just. the present Administration of af-
fairs of the country, in this dark hour and time Of
trial. il will no doubt be asked what our purpose is
In maintaining the organization of the Democratic
party and what we design to accomplish for
country. am ready to answer. am ready to an
swer, not as having authority, bur as an hum
BILE member of that grand old party fully and ear
nestIy inspired, trust, with its time h nored and
Cons iu ion. We intend to preserve it for ali the
States if we can, but intend ta preserve il for the
States IN which i've at all hazards and to die, If
necessary, with arms in our hands for its defence
The danger of ali civil war is military dcspotism
This evil is to be confronted and to do IL is mart
Of our mission Liberty, thou :sar of our mission
Liberty thou star Of promise, lowering over the
cradle where the Republic horn and still b, rp-
ing Oh the frcnt Of the sky will follow thee where
ever thy orbit raaylead We ill srurn from us the
trafcer of the hour who offers pcrishable wares in
exchange for the light Of this jewel. Tho restora-
tien of the Union, too, is cherished purpose of the
Democratic party. And after some time he past
this viii be accomplished, not strife and blood
eutin compromise, harmony andpeace. The glory
sfthe country in the past, in the hands of the De-
Gocrncy, is a sufficient guarantee for the future
when it shall again lay its hands the helm of the