Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-18
@blo Statesman,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
The Ohio Statesman Company.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, = MAY IS.
Mr.. GOX'S SPEECH CONCLUDED.


to preserve the liberties of the people North?
Can such an image, part brass and part clay
stand? Will not government despotic as
an oriental empire toward one half Of the
nation, become intolerable and oppressive
to the other halt? Let the experience of the
people under the war power, answer. Let
the sitting of free speech and free thought,
the censorship of the telegraph and surveil-
lance of the mails, the arbitrary seizure and
imprisonment of opposing partizans and the
military control over ballot-boxes, courts,
and people answer! Shall the attempt to
restore the States therefore be given up?
Shall our armies be disbanded in the pres
ence of rebellious armies? Not at all.
To restore allegiance and inspire nation
ality, let the individual rebel in arms against
us be reached by the arms of our soldiers,
and when noncOmbatant by the mOdera-
tiOn and paternal care of the Government
Let the military power of the confederates
be broken. Use those and only those sever
tiles of war which civilization warrants and
which will make the military power of the
South feel the power Of the nation; but do
not place any longer in their hands the
armament of despair. They have had that
weapon for over two years. Let our rulers
forego their ostracism of the misguided cit-
zen. Let an amnesty be rendered which
has hope in its voice. Give forgiveness to
the erring, hope to the Responding, protec-
tion to the hating and allay even fancied
apprehensions of evil by the measures of
moderation. Thus, by confiscating cOnfis-
cation, abolishing abolition and cancelling
proclamations, by respecting private prop
erty and State rights, prepare the friendli
ness which will beget confidence in the in
dividual citizen. Thus will minorities be
transferred into majorties South, and the
States discarding the rebel authorities be-
take themselves to their normal and proper
sphere under the old order. If this cannot
be done by the present rulers, let other
rulers be selected. History teaches in vain,
if it does not contain lessons of moderation
in civil wars. How were the feuds of the
Grecian federation accommodated? How
were the civil wars of Rome ended? How
were the intestine troubles of England as
suaged? How was La Vendee pacified by the
generous Hoche? How is it ever that unity of
empire and consentaneity ofthought are in
duced? How, except by the practice of that
mildness which cares for and does not curse
the people? When Athens undertook to
succor Mitylene from the Persian grasp,
contederacy was formed between them
Athens used her power despotically. Nifty
lene revolted. Athens regrasped her. Per-.
fidy began. Destructive malignants-the
Jacobins of that day, led by Cleon-in
stigated Athens to doom the citizens of
Mitylene to death, their women to servitude
and their lands to desolation. But another
and better party arose, who strove to as
suage grievances, prevent rebellion, and
save the honor and unity of the Republic.
"When all hopes of success have vanished"
said one of the wiser orators, ''your rebel
lious subjects will never be persuaded to
return to their duty; they will seek death
in tho fold thor than await IL frOm tho
hand of the eXecutioner. Gathering cour-
age from despair, they will either repel
your assaults or fall useless prey" Wis
dom prevailed, and the glory of the Grecian
States remained untarnished.
But more conspicuous analogy to our own
revolution is to be found in the Marsian
war or Rome. The Marsians claimed the
privileges of Rome, whose empire they had
enlarged and supported by their arms
They were the bravest soldiers of the En-
pire, but they were denied equal rights in
the State, which had been raised to emf
nence by their prOwess. This war con-
sumed above 100000 of the youth of Italy.
Finally, Rome conquered by recruiting her
strength from the Border States" to whom
she communicated her privileges. The on
ly thing, says the historian, which saved
Rome, was the fact that the Latin colonies
remained faithful; for Immediately after the
commencement of the war, the Romans
made up their minds to reward them with
all the rights of Roman citizens. This de-
cree is called the lex Julia. These allies
were won by something more than an am
nesty of hate. The grandest Empire of
the past was rescued from internal feuds by
the wise moderation of its statesmen.
When again Rome was racked by civil
war, the wisest statesman of that turbulant
and ambitious era, Cicero, summed up the
duty Of the patriot in this sentiment, which
we might ponder with profit: .
shall willingly adopt your advice and show every
lenity, and use my endeavors to concillate Pompey
Let US try if by these means we can regain the at
Let this be a new method Of conqnering, to fortfy
ourselves with kindness and liberality.
The closest analogy to our condition is to
be found in the English civil war begin
ming in 1910. The English people are our
ancestors. They had what we have-a sim
liar code of personal freedom, great muni-
cipal independence and popular parliament.
The causes of the war were complicated by
religious controversy; but the questions in-
volved concerning the royal prerogative
and the popular privilege are closely allied
to our struggle. We know how the first
Charles lost his head; how Cromwell's iron
hand rescued, for time, England from an
archy. At his death, eleven military gov
ernments, under Major Generals, like Monk,
held almost absolute sway. The three ma
tions were represented in one parliament,
which, on CromwelFs DEATH had been dis
solved for indocility. Conspirators had
been punished with death. Confiscations
were common. Yet counter revolution
began. Terror began it. CromwelPs grasp
was relaxed. His son, wiser than most men
in power, convoked parliament. The ar
NV still reigned. 1t hau been corrupted by
power. The result of intrigues for the gen
eral safety was a union Of the royalist and
presbyterian. But before the old authority
Of the Stuarts could be restored one ele-
ment was wanting. 1t was supplied. Par
ty vengeance was rampant then as now,
but the peoples representatives considered
that they had to decide between a new civil
war and a restoration. The latter was rep
resented as clement, unexacting, prudent,
and determined to adapt itself to the man
ners and wants of the time. Then came
the famous declaration of Charles III from
Breda. 1t removed allhesitation, and the res
toration began. The King in that paper
declared that he desired to compose the dis
traction and confusion of his kingdom, to
assume his ancient rights, and accord to
them their ancient liberties, without fur
ther 'blood-letting." He therefore granted
an, amnesty to all who would return TO their
obedience. He gave his kingfy word that
''no crime whatsoever committed againt us
or our royal father shall ever rise in judg-
Al ....k -RA n.