The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-01

he has not been good political student OF
the times in which he lived. The first of
these causes was the inordinate thirst for po-
litical power and domination on the part of
the Southern leaders; and the second was the
determination to make the political character
of slavery the balancing power in the nation.
These two things have precipitated the re-
bellion; they have been the causes working
for long time toward this result, If. man
of even ordinary capacity had stood on the
pavements of Cincinnati during the sittings
of the convention which nominated Mr.. Bu-
chanan, and failed to see these elements at
work, he must have been as blind as mole.
At that time, and for years before it, this re-
bellion was determined upon. Itwas no sud
den movement of the Southerners. The first
leading motive was an ascendancy in the con-
trel of the government of the country. With
their subordinates, they made the institution
of slavery the means by which to secure it.
We estold. that sectienalselections have
produced this state of things. My friends,
we have not had an election in this country
that has not had these elements in it, except
ing one, perhaps-that of 1910; for know,
to my deep chagrin, that in every instance
where the Democratic party has taken sue
eessful part in the elections of the country,
they have been compelled to go to the South
ern States for their man, or take man which
those Southern politicians had bound hand
and foot before his nomination. Great ap-
plause. When you come down to the cleo
ton of. 1860. which is said tozhave been sec
tional in its character l will show that the
election of Mr. Lincoln had no more to do
with the Inauguration OF. this rebellion than
would an act of the Chinese Emperor in his
kingdom have done. That it was issued as
a pretext, Twill admit, but that it was a NOV
ing cause, I deny. These things have been
gradually working to their issue for years.
The Southern politicians saw what every one
else has seen, that on account of TIE institu-
ton of slavery, the political power of the
Government was passing out of their hands
Tney found out long ago, what the world
could have told them much sooner, that civ
ilization and material prosperity could not go
hand in hand with slavery; they found that
by the laws of population, while they were
losing in their political character and strength,
the virgin soil Of the great North West was
being occupied with a hardy and thrifty peo-
pie, who were not only extending the area of
freedom, but what they disliked more than
all else, extending the area of votes, thatthe
time was not far distant whera the States
north of Mason and Dixon's Line would con-
troll the destinies of this country What was
to be done? Then came up the dogma, that
slavery must be the balance wheel in this
Government, and regulate the admission of
free States into the Union. They therefore
said to the North, you must adopt the rule
that slavery shall go hand in hand with free
dom, in order to preserve the equilibrium of
power Well, the Democratic party had
shouldered great many things in its time,
till, to use steamboat expression we used to
employ under such circumstances, they liter
ally loaded us down to the guards-they gave
us. asa Yirginian would say, more than we
could tote. What was the result? We
struggled under it as long as we could, but
when they piled on this, additional amount,
the Democratic resolution staggered at it
They of the South said, it is either that or
we will secede and dissolve the Union. I
stood upon the pavement in Cincinnati when
Buchanan was nominated, and every five
minutes heard that threat from some South
ern nabob:2 You are bound to take this thing,
or we will secede. Well, they patched up
another compromise, and nominated Buchan-
an, and he would have been wise. man who
could have foretoldS the result.
Four years of another Democratic admin
istration rolled on. Southern men had got
bond and security for another four years; but
they were pretty sure it could not .beobtained
again, for there was nobody that would give
it. During that administration it is noto-
ines from the Southern States who made
themselves busy as bees preparing for this
conflict, The, Secretary oflthe Navy sent
forth all the ships of the feet to far distant
SSN'S'
of a year or two. The Secretary of War
took from the arsenals, in the North, all the
guns and munitions he could get t,and crowd
ed them into Southern hands, who had been
taught to use them For four Years thew
were busy disarming us, and quietly engaged
in placing the arms among themselves. Yet,
in the face of these facts, it is said that they
secededlenly because MrsLineoln was elected.
Well, if they did, they made an almighty
good preparation for that event. Laughter.
More than that, they actually went to the
existing Administration, and asked the Presi-
dent how far viii you let us 60 in our peace
able measures of separation before you bring
to bear upon us the power of the Government
Don't you wish Old Hickory had been there
to have been asked that question? He would
have taken his pipe out of his mouth, drawn
himself up, and sworn, if you go a single
step, by Heaven, | will hang every one Of
| you. [Applause. say togyou, my friends
that right sorry am that when the pen Of
the historian fills this page of our history
tneio Will pe iouuo uiauy record over WHICH
the patriot will shed tears of shame; and il
will not be in the power. of the recording an
gel to blot that record out.
Suppose we admit that they had not made
preparation. Let us prove the point from
other circumstances. When Mr.. Lincolr
came to take his seat in the Executive chair
what reason was there still for Southern mel
to raise the hands of suicide, against this ma
ton? Why, the. said, You have been sac
rticing and trampling upon our rights all ove
1 this country.''' Pray, how !? Pray, Where
/ -VNbot boya ,,,o do-.2