Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-02-14
THE w AR.

We cannot if we would, conceal the
fact that the abolition policy, upon which
the war is prosecuted, is becoming so re-
pulsive to the people that the Administra
ton will be speedily compelled either to
make an entire change in the programme
or to consent to terms of peace. There
is not Nation of people in the world
more willing than ours to respond prompt
ly to the demands which may be made
upon them to maintain the honor Of their
country. No sacrifice however great nor
peril however iminent will abate the ardor
of our people when the cause Is one which
their Judgment aud moral sense approves
This fact has been sufficiently established
in all the conflicts which we have had
with other nations, and it has been con-
tirmed in the history of the present rebel
lion. From the moment the irst overt
act Of treason was committed there was
one universal spontaneous demand from
oil parties, and all men, throughout the
North that the indignity perpetrated upon
our National flag should be visited with that
swift and overwhelming retributiou which
the enormity of the offence required.
Calls for men and means met with the
greatest alacrity from every State, every
man felt that he had received personal
affront for which there must be full and
speedy atonement, it was felt BY all that
there WAS no room to question the justice
Of our cause. 1t was represented, by those
who had authority to speak for the Nation,
that our on y motive was to maintain our
Nationality, and to enforce the Constitu.
ton and Laws which were adopted by mu.
tual consent and designed for the mutual
benefit Of all parties. So long as we oc.
cupied this position no rational man could
question our ultimate success. With so
vast preponderance Of men and means
IN our favor, the Navy Of the entire Ma.
tion at our control, an abundance of all
and united people ready for any sacrifice
that might be required at their hands, fail
ure of success was impossible Aside
from all this, as if to make assurance
douby sure. there was distraction, confu.
sion and restitution throughout the South.
In every State there we're thousands who
felt that their cause was Dad, that appre-
tensions with reference to unlawful! inter.
ference with their local institutions were
unfouuded, that the Federal Governm ent
was honest and sincere in the declarations
made, and that the cause of the Union
would in the end triumph Tho only ra
tional theory upon which We can account
for the abandonment upon the part of our
Government Of the vantage ground, which
indicated SO clearly the line of duty as
we'll as safety, is that the party in power
were determined to make the Constitution
and Laws, and even the preservation of
the Union, subordinate to the radical sec
tional dogmas Of the Chicago PLATFORM
Inflated with the power which they pos
sesssd, and the patronage at their disposal,
they imagined that they could avail them.
selves of the present crisis for the consum
nation of the great purpose Of their or.
ganization, viz: the destruction Of slavery,
and thus war which, in its inception
commended itself to every patriot in the
land, was converted into parti:an strife,
barren of results for good, and which, ia
the very nature of things, must not only
add immense strength to the insurgents
By uniting all in the defense Of their law
full rights; but must also meet with the
disapproval Of all who really desire to see
the war prosecuted that the Union as it
was might be restored As might have
been expected. opposition to this policy
was at once manifested, and the ardor of
our people destroyed. The Democracy
must have been reereant to the time hon
Ored principles Of their lives to have coun'
tenanced crusade go manitestly unjust
and unlawful, one which they had ever
most emphatiealy denounced, and much
more to take up arms to aid 10 its success.
This policy inaugarated, volunteers no
longer sought the recruiting stations,
the demand for new troops forced resort
to CONSUMPTION, the deuunciatons Of free
men and free press led to the last resor.