Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-25
thing, they seldom are scrupulous as to the means

thing, they seldom are scrupulous as to the means
Of getting rid Of it,"
DR.. Hodge gives two reasons why he rejects
the whole Abolition theory: First, "because II
would be morally wrong" He would not object
to the theory that slavery Is great social or
moral evil, if You please, but still he would de-
nounce the peryerting of this war to war for
the abolition Of slavery, as morally wrong"
And he proves his position most clearly. False
religions we all admit to be great social and
moral evils; but, while we believe SO, would we
be justhable in making war on those nations
that defend and perpetuate such false religions2
All must agree that we would not be justified in
pursuing such q course. Were we 10 attempt
such scheme, it would not be long until we
should have all the civilized world on our backs
So we are all ready to agree that the system Of
castles in oriental nations are great social and
moral evils; and 80 the old feudal system Of
Europe; but what would be the consequence if
the United States, or any other nation, were to
make war for the abolition of these objectiona-
BILE institutional The government Of the United
States has its own sphere to work in, and when
il transcends that it is clearly in the wrong.
DR.. Hodges second objection to the wicked
schemes Of the Abolitlonists Is put In the fol
lowing form: "The substitution Of the abolition
of slavery for the preservation of the Union,
as either the real or avoWed object Of the war,
bssides being morally wrong, becluse trascsnd-
ing the powers of the Government, would Gso
be in the highest degree inexpedient." Il Ia
one thing certain, the Aboltionists can never
oorquer the rebellion alone. II this was not
known before, 1t is becoming painfully evident
every day, that faction at the North cannot
put down secession at the South Neither can
the Democracy do 1t by war alone; il is evi.
dent, now at least, that 1t will take United
North to overcome by war the South united as
ills. Such being the case then, II the unity of
the States be o thing 10 itself desirable, and
for the accomplishment of which, it be the
duty of all good citizens to labor, how important
II is that all ouitide questions, that would have
a tendency, yea q certainty, to create divisions
among us, be kept out. And this becomes the
more important, in proportion as those ques-
tionS, which are introduced, are impof tant.
And as 1t was well knoSn that TIE diffsrelcel r
opinion on the slavery quest on was wide and
irreconcilable before the war commenced, how
important it is that such question shuuld net
be allowed to embarras the prosecution OF the
war, especially. when il IL go abuudantly evl-|
dent, that such C: urse would create such
compile ,tion of affairs, as TO seriously h4z ,rd
the success of the cause ol the Union, the
avowed, and only object OF the war But such
Is precisely the case with us now; and this state
OF things is fast working its results. From the
course puraued by those In power widespread
disaffection must inevitably be the result This
Dr.. Hodge etates 10 the strongest language pos
sib'e, when heslys: "If the abolition of slavery
be made either really or avowedly the object
Of the war, We believe we sball utterly FAIL"
There eau be no doubt of it Tee cbj,ct of
this war must be righteous one if We would
succeed; but If ite end be the abolition of slsv-
cry, IL IL not righteous war, because its end
has been changed from its legitimate purI o e
to that for which the Government had no right
to wage war. And for this very reason " can
but have the greatest fears for our success in
crushing this rebellion, such blsspbemous raw
iDg as the following from the pen Of Henry
Ward Beeeher, 10 the contrary notwithstanding
hear him: "The future 10 fair: God and The ne.
gro are to sape this RepubHe!" Our only hope is
In God; but il those In power e,ntinue persist
ingly as heretofore to use the very means that
will defeat the rsstoralion Of the Uaion, accord
ing to all human probability, we must fail, un-
less it should be 10 this case, as in many others,
that God will cause the wrath of man 70 praise
Him. .H
.,r. PHiLOS.
ALLEGHENY CRY, Pa Feb. lS, 1863