Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-04-02

to look at events and Judge of them as
they would have been seen and judged by
him. .... .Ur
Remember a time will como when all
these things will be history. There will
come future before whose awful censure
will surely pass the men and measures
of to-day. Peg
Think you, if that future adjudges that
we of the North and South, East and
West, have been waging this war unjust
ly, inhumanly, recklessly, or without
cause; if it tuins out that by war the
United States shall have been severed,
while by negotiation, compromise, rea-
sonable concession. the Union could have
been savcd-think you history. will take
covnt whether it was by Democrats or
Republicans the wicked deed was done
OF, permitted Think You the weight Of
blame will be nicely adjusted between
Wooly-heads and Copperheads, Disun-
ionists and Aboltionists.
Not SO. On the whole American peo
ple-North and South, East and West
on these that commit the wrong and on
those that suffer it to be committed; on
the actors in this strife and on the look
ers on--on all will fall the damning guilt
of the blacklist crime against humanity ev-
er committed-of blasting its hopes Of
rational freedom and desolating the rich
est inheritance that God has ever granted
to man. loud applause.
1t is on the whole nation the blame,
if blame there be, will fall.
Is the nation, North and South, right
in this civil war? Is the war just? Is it
necessary? Is it likely to lead to any
good result to North or South
There are questions not set down, l
know, in the political catechism of the
day.
In the primer of faction the first inter.
rogatory is "Are you for a viqorous
prosecution of tie mar S''
To that | answer yes. Any and every
war that ought to be prosecuted. What
is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
II war mast be, let it be prosecuted with
every vigor consistent with the laws Of
war-with humanity and civilization
But indeed it seems to me that no ques-
tion can be more unnecessary, for there
never has been war, as far as the peo
pie of the United States are concerned,
in which more vigor and energy has been
displayed.
Volunteer armies have sprung up as il
by magic, money has been provided by
voluntary contribution with liberalty
unparalleled in history.
If any want of vigor has been exhibi-
ted it has been exhibited by the Admin
istration, not tho people.
All the Administration asked from the
people they got, and if any thing has
gone rong, they, if any. are to blame
1t is for tho soldiers in the field vigorous
" to prosecute the war. They are to
! fight, and have fought, and will fight, no
doubt, when called on. Their duty is to
preserve discipline, to bo loyal to their
flag, TO obey and act, not think or hesi.
! tate.
We, on the other hand, who arc not
soldiers; have other duties, and our first
duty is to thiuk-to think for these same
soldiers and ourselves. Our duty is to
watch our public servants, to canvass
public acts, Tor these acts may influence
the fate Of ourselves and of our children
to criticisc strictly, but justly making al
allowances, and if it becomes our honest
and deliberate conviction that our public
servants are acting 10 the injury of tb,
common veal, then it is our duty to pro
test against their acts; to discuss then
publicly; to hold them up to the light o
public opinion, and, if they be unwise
by all constitutional and legal means t.
oppose them.
Thus, while | have no difficulty in say
ing that this war and every war shoul,
be vigorously carried on while it lasts,
is still quite proper to consider the NOR
important question which lies beyond
whether it is necessary or wise that thi
war should bavc been carried ona at all
(Applausc,)
| leave out of tho discussion o-nigh
all questions as to the constitutionality o
, legality of the day. do SO becaus
those Of our fellow citizens who are mos
eager for continuing the war hav
: invented a source of authority, not gran
ted by either the Constitution or the law
called the war power. and to this as ia
as / can learn, no limits have as yet bee
assigned, save and except the good pleas
ure of those in whose hands it happen
to be deposited. With these persons an
argument founded on the Constitution O
the law is Of course mere waste of words
= Looking, then, at the matter, mercl
n by the light of the plainest principles
! interest, ! ask to what good end can thi
. civil war now lead the nation, or the pal
tisans of the war either North or South
| assume that war merely for its ow
sake is not considered desirable by an
. one. Peace is the normal and heal tn
Q condition OF society.
r War is disease; of all wars civil wa
= is the worst. do not believe that eve
= the most sanguinary of philanthropis
+ will argue that if is Of itself good thin
@ for the people of America to kill one al
:. other. American money can surely
1 put to better use than in bombardir
is American cities or in digging canals
IS divert from them navigable rivers, or
n converting into lakes and swamps trac
r of highly fertile American soil (Choers
II Nay, much as our American iellow-ci
II liens of African descent may shine
Vt warriors, think it will be admitted tn
ID their labor, might be more productive
o. raising cotton, or sugar. or rice. than