The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-05-04
gF From the Statesman,
Superadd to the Exercise of
Force. the Policy of Con.
ciliatiOn.c

ciliatiOn.''
This sentiment, expressed in the Ian
Iguage of Gov. SEYMOUR, of New York
we have placed as motto at the head @
our columns. 1tcontains, in few words
the idea which impelled the great mas
of the Northern people to sanction an
engage in war for the preservation o
the Union and the maintenance of Stat
rights under the Constitution, inviolate
1t was to be, and so promised by the Ad
ministration that it should be, not an ag
gressive war upon States as such, or upol
their institutions, but war to put dow
insurrection against the Constitution ant
constitutional rights and obligations,
war. that was to cease, when and so far al
these ends were secured. 1t was to be OF
one hand a war against armed rebellion
while on the other hand no terms were tt
be exacted from the mass of the people
in the South, whom all conceded had beer
drawn unwittingly into hostility to the
National Government, save return to
their constitutional duties and obligations
Doing this, they, as people, 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 before the rebellion
began In one word, to the exercise OF
force against armed and contumacious
rebels was to be superadded the policy OF
conciliations and determination with all in
the disaffected States, who should, when
the opportunity was offered them, mani
fest arwillingness to abide by the old Con-
stitution and desire to enjoy the bene-
Ats of the old Union.
Such was the understanding of the
country and the people at the beginning
of the war, as to the policy which was to
govern the Administratio in its conduct.
A solemn pledge was given by the Gov
ernment, in its legislative and executive
departments, that the war should be so
conducted. Under that pledge from one
to two millions of the noblest Of our
sons have gone into the field; the money
and resources of the country have been
freely poured forth and wasted, and war
which might have been ended in one year
or little more, has been protracted to
three years, with no prospect of cessa-
ton under its present management.
Why is this? the soldiers and the peo-
pie 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
re bel leaders sought to take out of ito
keep them il the Union as they were
when the revolt took place? If this be
not the object for which our blood has
been spilled and our substance wasted,
what is it9 Is it to establish new repub-
lie or empire in which all the negroes in
the country are to be made the equals of
the whites q IF this be not the purpose
for which the Administration is now car
rying on the war, why have such terms
been proposed by the President to the
Southern people as a condition of their
enjoying the protection of the United
States, as every body knows the mass of
them can never accept, and that Ameri-
cans born and reared in a land of liberty,
under constitutional 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 period
in the future? The answer is, THAT
BROKEN PLEDGE! That pledge the
gave at the outset of the
wafAsthat to the exercise of force should
be added the policy of conciliation-has
has been shamefully, outrageously broken,
and that is the reason why the Union and
the country are at this hour on the very
brink of perdition.
THAT PLEDGE MUST BE REDEEMED!
There is no hope-not even the faint
est shadow of one-if the LINCOLN ad
ministration be continued in power, or if
any faction of its party takes its place
that the pledge will ever be redeemed.
Under any such rule, the war of sections
viii go on, depopulating, sdesolating and
running the whole country, and terminate
finally in divided Union. or the estab-
lishment of military or iron despotism,
in which the States, though nominally
existing as geographical divisions, will
be essentially blotted out Of existence.
If the pledge, given by Congress and
thefexecutige branch of the Government
at the commencement of the war, is ever
redeemed before it is forever too late, it
must be done by an entire change in the
of the Federal Govern
ment change that shall place in the
hands of men who realize in its full force
and extent the one great truth expressed
by Gov Seymour-that tosaye our coun-
try, our G government, our Union, our States
and our rights and liberties, we must in
this war professodly carried on against
rebellion, "Superadd to tn: exercise Of
force, the policyof conciliation.
A LADY friend of ours was in Chicago
the other day, and was asked by her cousin
how she liked the Balmoral stocking