Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-05-15

now Will 90 IurtneF. we are IN q StAte
of civil war. One of the States of this De
partment is at this moment invaded, and three
others have been threatened / command the
| department, and it is my duty to my country
and to this army to keep it in the best posi-
BILE condition; to see that il is fed, clad. armed
and, as far as possible. to see that it is encour
aged. II it is my duty and the duty of the
troops to avoid saying anything that would
weaken the army, by preventing a single re-
cruit from joining the ranks, by bringing the
/ laws of Congress into disrepute or by causing
dissatisfaction in the ranks, It is equally the
duty of every citizen in the department tc
avoid the same evil. If it is my duty to pre-.
vent the propagation of this evil in the army
or in portion Of my department, 1t is equally
my duty in all portions of it; and it is my
duty TO use all the force in my power to stop
| it.
If were to find man, from the enemy's
country, distributing in my camp speeches Of
| their public men, that tended to demoralize
the troops, or to destroy their confidence in
the constituted authorities of the Government
[ would have him tried and hung if found guilty
and all the rules of modern warfare would sus-
tain me- Why should such speeches from cur
own public men be allowed?
The press and public men, in a great emer-
gency like the present, should avoid the use oi
party epithets and bitter invectives, and dis
courage the organization of secret political So
cieties, which are always undignifed and dis
graceful to a free people, but now they are abb
solutely wrong and injurious; they create dis
sensions and discord, which, just now, amount
to treason. The simple names, "Patriot" and
"Traiter," are comprehensive enough.
As before said, we are in state of civil
war, and an emergency is upon Us which re-
quires the operation of some power that moves
more quickly than the civil.
There never was war carried on success
fully without the exercise of that power.
1t is said that the speeches which are con-
demned have been made in the presence of
large bodies of citizens, who, if they thought
them wrong, would have then and there CON
demned them. That is no argument. These
citizens do not realize the effect upon the army
of our country, Whe are its defenders. They
have never been in the field; never faced tie
enemies of their country; never undergone the
privations of our soldiers in the field; and, be-
sides, they have been in the habit of hearing
their public men speak, and, as a general thing,
of approving of what they say; therefore, the
greater responsibility rests upon the public
men and upon the public press, and it be-
hooves them to be careful as to what they say.
They must not use license and plead that they
are exercising liberty. In this Department it
cannot be done. shall use all the power I
have to break down such license, and am sure
will be sustained in this course by all honest
men. At all events, will have the conscious
ness, before God, of having done my duty to
my country; and when I am swerved from the
performance of that duty, by any pressure,
public or private, or by any prejudice, [ will
no longer be a man or a patriot.
l again assert, that every power I possess
on earth, or that is given me from above, will
be used in defense of my Government, on all
occasions, at all times, and in all places within
this Department. There is no party-no COM
munity-no State Government-no State leg.
islative body-no corporation. or body of men
that have power to inaugurate a war policy
that has the validity of law and power, but the
constituted authorities of the Government of
the United States; and I am determined to
support their policy. If the people do lot ap-
prove that policy, they can change the consti-
authorities of that Government at the
proper time and by the proper method. Let
them freely discuss the policy in proper tone;
but my duty requires me to stop license, and
discussion, which tends to weaken
the authority of the Government and army;
while the latter is in the presence of the enc
my, it is cowardly SO to weaken il. This il
cense could not be used in our camps-the |
man would be torn in pieces who would attempt |
it. There is no fear of the people losing their |
liberties: we all know that to be the cry of
and none but the ignorant will |
listen to it; all intelligent men know that our !
people are too far advanced in the scale of re-
igion, civilization, education and freedom, to |
allow any power on earth to interfere with |
their liberties; but this same advancement in i
these great characteristics of our people, teach
es them to make the necessary sacrifices for
their country, when an emergency requires.
They will support the constituted authorities
Of the Government, whether they agree with
hem or not. Indeed, thu army itself is part |
of the people, and is so thoroughly educated
N the love of civil liberty, which is the best
guarantee for the permanence of our republi-
IAN institutions, that it would itself be the first
% oppose any attempt TO continue the exercise
If milithry authority after the establishment
If peace by the overthrow of the rebellion.
No man on earth can lead our citizen soldiery
o the establishment of military despotism,
md no man living would have the folly to at
empt it. To do so would be to seal his own
loom. On this point there can be no ground
or apprehension on the part of the people.
It is said that we can have peace if we lay
own our arms. All sensible men know this
o be untrue. Were it SO, ought We to be so
owardly as to lay them down until the author
tY- Of the Government is acknowledged
beg to call upon the fathers, mothers,
rothers, sisters, sons, daughters, relatives,
riends and neighbors of the soldiers in the
ED to aid me in stopping this license and
Incorporate discussion, which is dscouraging
ur armies, weakening the hands of the Gov
rnment, and thereby strengthening the enc
~. If we use our honest efforts, God will
less US with a glorious peace and a united {
ountry. Men Of every shade of opinion
ave the same vital interest in the suppression
f this rebellion; for, should we fail in the l
ask, the dread horrors of a ruined and dis !
-acted nation will fall alike on all, whether
atriets or traitors. G
These are substantially my reasons for is s
ling "General Order No. 49," my reasons e
II the determination to enforce it, and also 8
y reasons for the arrest of the Hon. @. L. r
Tallandigham for supposed violation of that e
rder, for which he has been tried. The re- +
lit Of that trial is now in my hands. ias
In enforcing this order, / can be unani- I
ously sustained by the people, or can be t
opposed by factious, bad men. In the former b
rent quietness will prevail; in the latter t
rent the responsibility and retribution will
20 ab To +ba man ybo ba r