Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-09
to the Exercise Of Force
~ 1S,a policy or Cancellation"

ssguperadd 10 the Exercise Of Force,
fRe Policy OF ConciIiafion." Z
This sentiment expressed In the Ian
guage Of Governor SEYMOUR, of New
York, we have placed as motto at the
head of our columns. 1t contains, in afew
words, the idea which impelled the great
mass Of the Northern people to sanction
and engage IN q war for the preservation Of
the Union and the maintenance of State
rights under the Constitution, inviolate.
II was to be, and SO promised by the Ad-
ministration that it should be, not an ag-
gressive war upon States as such, or upon
their institutions, but q war to put down
insurrection against the Constitution and
constitutional rights and obligations-a
war that was to cease, when and
SO far as these ends were secured.
1t was to be on the one hand war
against armed rebellion, while on the
other hand no terms were to be exacted
from the mass of the people in the South,
whom all conceded had been drawn I'M
Willingly into hostility to the National
Government, save return to their consti-
tutional duties and obligations. Doing this,
they, as peoples and as States, were to have
the full enjoyment of all their rights or
privileges as citizens Of the United States
and of the several States, the same as be-
fore the rebellion began. In one word, to
the exercise of force against armed and
contumacious rebels, was to be superadded
the policy Of conciliation and fraterniza-
jtlon with all in the disafected States, who
should, when the opportunity was offered
them, manifest willingness to abide by
the old Constitution and desire to enjoy
the benefits of the old Union. i
Suchwas the understanding of the coun-
try and the people at the beginning Of the
war, as to the policy which was to govern
the Administration in Its conduct. A SOL
emn pledge was given by the Government,
in its legislatiye and executive depart
ments, that the war should be 50 conduct
ed. Under that pledge from one to two
millions of the noblest Of our sons have
gone into the field; the money and re-
sources Of the country have been freely
poured forth and wasted, and a war which
might have been ended in one year or lit
tie more, has been protracted to three years
with no prospect of its cessation under its,
present management. m e..r
Why is this? the soldiers and the people
are now beginning to demand in tones Of
terrible earnestness. For what end are we
fighting, If it be not to restore or keep the
States in the Union, which the rebel leaders
sought to take out Of tito keep them in
the Union as they were when the revolt
took placeP If this be not the object for
which our blood has been spilled and our
substance wasted, what is it? Is it to es-
tablish new republic or empire in which
an the negroes in the country are to be
made the equals Of the whites? If
this be not the purpose for which the
Administration is now carrying on the
war, why have such terms been pro-
posed by the President to the Southern
people as a condition of their enjoying
The protection Of the United States, as ev-
cry body knows the mass Of them can never
accept, and that Americans ''born and rear
ed In land OF liberty, under constitution
al governments, and inheriting the spirit of
their fathers, never could accept? But why
has the war been protracted, and why is it
likely to be prolonged for an indefinite pc