Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-09-11
Petition to the President.

Mention has been made of a conserya.iy,
meeting at Lockport, New York, on the I'll
Inst, and the address Of the Hon. WASHINGTON
HuhT, of that State, delivered at that time. Al
the concluslon Of Governor HuNr's speech, a
petition 10 President LrNcoLH was received and
numerously signed by those present. The fol-
lowing are the closlDg paragraphs Of the pe.i
tion: '-e
According 20 our view Of the anbjeos, the 70.
cent slgnei successes Of our arms, the evident
exhaustion Of the Confederate finances and the
popular manifestations In several of the In.
su,gens States Of q desire TO close the contest
and re.urn to the Federal Union, present ia.
vorable conjuncture for making an earnest and
generous appeal to the people Of the South, Ia
the intereste OF humanity and peace. y We de-
sire you therefore, 90 our chief magistrate, 10
inform them by proclamation, that the North!
ern people ask for nothing bat restoration of
the old Union, on the foundations Of the Con.
| atitutiou, 40 established by their ancestors and
ours the sages and patriots Of the Revolution; |;
that We do not make war upon them for the
purposes OF vengeance, abolition, extermina-
ton; and that whenever the people Of any State
VIII lay down their arms and submit to the ma
uonal authority, such State will instantaneo eouely
and tp'o faeto resume its original rights and
powera under the Constitution; and that Ms will
then unite with them In honorable efforts for
restoring Q genuine and lasting peace, to be
cemented by musual Offices of friendship, COM
ity and respect.
We do not permit ourselves to doubt that
such an appeal would induce large bodies Of
che people In the South to range themselves on |
the side Of peace aud Union, while 1. would die.
arm thousands now engaged In the contest
against the Government. We believe Il would
hasten the termination of ths unnatural con-
hict, In which kindred people are shedding
each others blood, and visiting ppon large Dor.
lions OF oar common country af1ioting scenes
OF misery. horror and desolation. We deem It
the highest and most sacred duty of an en-
ilghtened and paternal Government to employ
all its wisdom 10 human efforts to stay the ef-
fusion Of blood In civil Strife and to secure, if
possible, the voluntary submission and return
of disatfscted populations.
It Ia bus too evident that IL the war ia 30 be
waged for the purpose of effect6g q social
revolution and conf ct Of races in tbe South.
ern states, the return of peace is far distant.
We hold that each State must be lett free to
regulate the status Of the negro race within
its limits, unless (like your OWN ID excludes
them altogether BY denying them the right 10
inhabit the same soil We have your own au-
shortly for asserting that the two races cannot
co.exist side by side, on footing Of social or
political equality We would respectfully sub.
mit that it is no. the psrt of wisdom and pru.
denoe 10 employ the military strength of the
country In vain effort 10 mplish a con.
ceded imposslbility. --.
Against policy 90 fatal in effect, and 90 re-
pugpant TO reason and humanity, We must re.
but firmly protest. Tho tendency Of
such war is to make actual peace impossible.
Its victories would be barren and fail To ensure
O general and pc nanent submission. Its In
evitable consequence, under the most favorablel
view, would be to compel the Government 10
hold the South In subjection, BY force of arms,
% conquered country; to crush the States by
depriving them of their most vital eonstItu tIon
al rights, thus concentrating ell power in The
Federal head and producing fatal revolution In
the spirit and structure Of our government. Il
Involves the necessity Of maintaining large
military establishment for an indefinite period !.
and until the county shall have been crushed and
many stiona oppressed to the utmost limit oil
human endurance by the burdens of an over.
debt. II tdooms one vast section Of cur
country TO hopeless anarchy and destruction; and
The other to fate scarcely more enylable, the
calling chains of arbitrary and despotio power,
lhe American people are not prepared to sane
lion or support war of this revolving charao-
Ter, nor will they submit to lts indefinite con-
tinuancs when they perceive that the adoption
Of wise, moderate and etatesmanlike policy
would enable you to terminate the confIcs In q
Of the Union on Its original basis.
Oa the other hand, 80 far ss it may be neces-
sary to employ military power, In q constisu-
iionsl method, according to the usages of civil.
zsd warfare, for the defense and support of the
jovernmens In its fuA strength and dignity, un-
III its authority over the whole aion shall have
been fully restored, We now tender you our
'teady and faithfu! co cooperation. Under all
We insist that the Union must
30 preserved; and We now address you in the l.
Fervsnt hope that line of sction may be adopt
ID which shall secure the country from lmpehd-
ng dangers and re-sstablish the Constitution
70 ordained BY the FasheFe Of the Republic. on
irm and immovsble foundations.