The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-23
I sIF.il only iutIicate the Grounds

| tion the interests of slavery were paramount
to all other interests. They looked upon such
! a Southerner as Toombs-insoIent and over
bearing as Davis--aristocratic. and a hater
Of democracy as Mason-lorslly and inpe-
rious, with much the same feelings that the
/ people of Thihet do upon the Grand Lap,a--
as invested with an inyiolable sanctity. When
either a STAKEHOLDER or an abolitionist was to
be sacrificed, they did not hesitate in desig-
mating the latter. This feeling, amounting
almost to superstition, had been increasing in
strength uutil the beginning of the war it
was the offspring of years Of political sersil-
Iiy. Of course the war policy dictated hy
such men was mild one, The Governments
condescendilgly adopted it. For eighteen
months the policy upon which the war was
conducted WAS psrsistently wooing and mildly
coercive. This was the Border State policy.
Generals who entertained such IDEAS COM
nanded for year and a half our principal
armies Sach men as Mcclellan and Buel,
who always though it better to sacrifice
thousand loyal men of the North than to Kill
one half that number of Southern traitors
Such warfare as this was not particularly
offensive to those who had regarded the ..clifs-
alry'' as a superior race: but SO soon as events
eompeIied change, so soon as the PresidSnt
began 10 discriminate between loyalists AID
traitors to the disadvantage of the lattei, a1ds
began to prosecute the war with that easnest
ness that promised to injure the persons az.
property of rebels even to the extent of ii
terfering with slavery, these men sbrilib
back in dismay. Two years of actual war
4 fare have not destroyed that idolatrous affee.
ton With which many of these men loo
upon a Southern stakeholder. Hence wbe5
all allrght-thinking men can see success only s
a vigorous prosecution. of the war, they taxi
4 of /" holding ont the olive branch,' and of
conciliaton..
The second fact is of wider scope, and per-
haps of more general application. It is not
peculiar to one history. but rises up to the
dignity of general law. All wars for the
maintenance of the national honor are. .poru-
lar among the people in the beginning. All
Fselfshpess is consumed by patriotic enthu-
siasrn that sets the hearts of millions aglow.
But in time his enthusiasm is sure 10 lose Its
intensity, and unless resolute determination
cemes to its aid, revulsion is sure to follow
If the struggle proves a long one, the faint
hearted lose their courage, selfishness sup
plants pltriotisrn. and nothing but unyielding
courage and indomitable will on the part Of
the government can carry the nation through
: the struggle with honor. especially if serious
l.reverses are met with. Men assai1 the policy
of conducting the war, when they really op-
pose the war itself, and are not honest enough
to base their opposition upon that ground
In such times all the cowardice, irresolutior
and treachery are sure to come to the surface
Such struggle brings to light both the vir
tues and the vices of fhe national character
Such has been the history of some of th,
most necessary aud ultimately successful war.
that have been waged. The propositions as
serted above are only cancellations of thi
teachings of history, nor IS our experience
one of the facts from which the induction
are made Undoubtedly large share, PROC
1 ablysa majority, of those who belong to fh
i anti-war party (such it must be called) hay
: followed some political leader in coming t
e their present position they cannot, in an
instsen be said to have altered their viesol
: nor to have changed their position. as the re
suit of any reasoning. Bur so far as rec
= changes Of views have occurred, the vast ms
jority of them can be satisfactorily referred I
one or both of the facts mentioned above.
do not believe, therefore. there is any honest
]. in the leaders who control the masses, whe
: they assign the changes of sentiment to II
alleged Illegal and arbitrary acts of the Pres
dent. Still it is sometimes as necessary
reply to simulated as to real objections an
arguments. Besides in that class who blindl
follow leader, there are.without doubt, mar
who honestly suppose the opposition TO Il
&c Administration originated in the acts referrt
$ to-. Il is not supposed many such men W
n be reached by these articles, but it is hos
Of some good may be accomplished in suppTyil
of those entertaining different sentiments, VI
al come in contact with them, with the FAC
\, that seem 10 the writer to afford conelnsi'
n argument in defense of the Executives pc
y icy. No attempt will be made 70 go overt
re whole ground. Nothing more is intend
Il than to make full exhibit of two emerge
IS cies iii the national history that bear so'
ne resemblance to the present. so far as the nc
to sures. adopted TO meet them are concerned.
he Before doing this, however, it is neeesss
re, to give distinct statement of the quest
1T at issue between the President and the "
of agitators who oppose him. It is claimed
-or the part of the former that in great natiol
IN, emergencies it is not only the right, but I
ess duty, of the Executive to go beyond thesstl
TO lettero the qgritten law, provided it is nee
mt sary to secure great national interests. and
1t peciaIly when in no other way can the natio
ity existence be maintained that in times Of J
ite the resident may assume powers that
m, peace he has no right to exercise; that
be- may be governed by the spirit of the
rather than By lis letter. All these propt
he tions the opponents of the Government str
ore uously deny-holding that the strict Letter
the law is in all cases to be the guide,
nge that it must not be departed from, ever
rm save the law itself. As entirely pertinent
to, - the discussion of these issues, propose
t,y set forth in future articles the opinions of
the Jeffersc n respecting the powers of officials
ur- great emergencies, and furthermore, his i'll
ma tration of those opinions during his. c
III e