The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-08-13

opinion and will, from hour to hour, of tin
Presidemt-and such a Prcsident-is sol
emnly and officially proclaimed superior to
the constitution and the laws, even in the
States wholly loyal, so that upon the pres
ent policy of the administration and its par
ty. declared Interchangeable, the South is to
be forced to the will and opinion Of Abra-
han, Lincoln, instead cf written, funda-
mental statute, and common law. And if
we ourselves scorn to yield up our consti-
tttional rights and liberties to their mon-
strouS demand. does any honorable man,
any sane man. ask or expect the States and
the people of the South to surrender, 50
long as a man survives to strike blow or
Il woman to strengthen his heart or nerve
his arm? Upon such Il policy this war
must and will be intcrminablc So many
square miles may be oyerrun. so much soil
may be conquered. but the hearts of the
people, never.
How. then. stand the chances Of the
Union measured by the two different poll
ci,s Of the abolition and democratic par
ties?
The party Of the administration declares
that the States and people of the South
shall be forced to lay down their arms and
submit. Wha; then. Confiscation of their
property. emancipation of all slaves and
execution Of all who, directly, or indirectly
have taken part in This rebellion. namely,
nine-tenths of the whole population; for no
general amnesty has ever as yet been 80
much as suggested hy either Congress or
the Executive. and unconditional submis-
sion Is now the least which is demanded
More than this. as to any State which
may first submit or be conquered. Con-
scfiption Of every male person. white or
BLACK. between twenty and iorty-lye fJr
the c,aqu,St Of the States still in arms
Noc j. this the worst. for. inasmuch a. all
,la.cs AID free negroes South are con-id-
":.l !oTal and nearly all white men and
women disloyal and, therefore, rs having
ali rights the uc4focs hereafter
irc-. arc 10 lie treated q, almost The only
persons entitled t. the several rights and
,rivilcet. Of citizenship and especially the
very soldiers to garrison the Suoth Add
t, ali this supprc sion Of freedom Of speech
aud Of the pre-@, suppression Of hateos
co5pUs, martial law. arbitrary arrests,
ban;shmen.s, interference
with elections. test oatliS, appropriation Of
private house, and every other Lind Of
outrage and dcspoti,m, which
for two years have been recently practiced
even in State, never in iusurrcction. but
a 1iys loyal to the Union.
This l. the entertainment 10 which TN
der the present policy Of the administTa-
ton dictated by the radicals who control
it. the States and people Of the South are
invited. And repeatedly the question was
put to me while among them, IF the citi-
zcns of the States still adhering to the
| mon are continually arrested, impris-
oncd banished. or otherwise outraged
merely because Of their political opinions,
or for ccnsurc and criticism OF the men and
party in power. what would not be done
with IA five were tu be conquered or sub
nit: In fact, it il the very policy which.
instead of crushing cut the rebellion
crushed out all Union sentiment among
them and whicl, made. as i: still KEEPS
them. Il unit in numbers and spirit against
the force and arms of the Federal govern
incnt.
What, upon the other hand does the dem
ccratic party propose to the States aud pco-
pie Of the South. Not conliscation. nor
nor conscription, nor eXccu-
tions, aud certainly not the equality, or
rather the superiority, OF the negro raec;
but the constitution with all its guarantees
the rights OF the seeded States and lib
critic, of the people.
We would restore the Union. and with
it. give them quiet and security i'll the Ell
l'yment Of their rights properties and IN
of every krd as in the beginning
os the government, anu before fanatics and
made slavery subject of NOR
al and political aSit5tion. We promise also
tu ourselves. and Of course TO them. free
press. free speech, free elections, liberty of
and opinion, hobcos corpus,
due process of law. judicial trial, trial BY
Jury no midnight arrests. no martial ltg7
no military orders OF Commissions, no Pro-
yost Narshais, no Military Governors. In
short. we ask and offer nothn. but the con
the Union anc the laws.
Which policy then, let me ask, is best
to restore the Union. Which
party is best able 10 effect the restoration.