Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-11-05
who Should First Volunteer /,

The duty OF citizens under the call for
volunteers mnst be determined by their
decision as to the probable effect of the
war upon existing terms in regard to the
restoration of the Union. Those who
assume superior loyalty are of course un.
der obligations to make tho assumption
good by proof Failing in this, they are
condemned as braggarts and dastards.
We shall, SO far as We can, hold them to
the proof. The contest is conducted mp
on policies which they approve. and for
objects, as avowed by the administra-
ton, which make the restoration of the
Union a secondary consideration. Those
who indorse these measures are more
impelatlyely called upon to enter our ex-
hausted ranks than are Democrats, who
wish the sole issue in the contest to be
the establishment of the Government
in its integrity.
We assume that the subjugation Of
the South to the present radical policies
is an impossibility. 1t can only he ac.
complished by the determination of the
whole Southern people. II we succeed
IN overthrowing their armies, we shall
then be compelled to hold every rood of
their territory by armies of occupation,
which would be a task far beyond our
power, and would also DO hideous les.
potism, from which every generous and
intelligent mind would turn in scorn.
The continuance of the war upon exis-
ting terms but nerves to greater energy
the Southern people, strs their brains,
fires their hearts, ard builds them up
more firmly in desperate hatred and re-.
solve. Every revengeful and partisan
measure OF the administration has been a
stimulant to Southern hatred, and an
efficient weapon in the hands of Confed-
crate leaders. General Lee said the au-
thorities at Washington chad done what
he would have them to do could he have
controlled them"
Appalling as are these facts, it is yet
a grave question if the war must not
continue until change of administra-
tion will grant US return to the origi-
nal objects of the contest. The issues,
as made now between the authorities at
Washington and Richmond, are. upon
the part OF the first, the enforcement of
their obolition policies, and, upon the
part of the latter, the independence Of
the Coniederacy. We have seen that
the first is impossible. and the Democrat
ic party is unaterably pledged against
the latter.
In supporting the war under the radi-
cal programme, we assist in confirming
the determination of the South to main
tain her independence. In discontinuing
the war, we trust alone to Union senti-
ment in the South to restore old rela-
tions. 1t is not sufficiently strong in
the absence of other convincing srgu-
ment to effect this result. When the
Constitution or the sword is offered to
the Southern people, they will accept the
Constitution, because they may do so
safely and honorably. When the Con-
stitution without contingencies is offered,
they will take counsel Of hatred for its
rejection.
With this view of the situation, and
we think it is one which will commend
itself to conservative men, we await
with much interest the action of those
intense loyalists whose pressure" has
compelled the adoption of the black pol
icies. They are first called upon to vol
unteer. They are the disciples of Mr..
Chase, who has declared emancipation,
and not the Union, to be the object of
the war. Democrats will volunteer for
the Union. II disunion is to be the re-
suit of discontinuance of the war, it
will not be discontinued. But those
who are prosecuting it for other purposes
charge themselves with the responsibility
of keeping the ranks of our armies re-
plenished. - chicago Times.