Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-01-15

complisb ID fstrOgSS1sion and ultimate
overthrow.
The ssest Of ths Las few years, hav.
isg fully demons tsatsds the ifIepressible
satagsa ism OF slavev, - oar Republican
'ssliiut;ons. and Mt We Qssstion no
longer 10 abstract discuss %, or inter
pretstion, our manifest duty, under the
constitution, is while tho authority y
sie htfully N our hasds, 70 80 that 90
nee OF fenodeled 0overnment - secesv-
-, which pssssnts tbis obviossly aa,i-
republican feature.
Under proper auepices, and Just re-
gard for mutual rights, tho process
tof reconstruction may keep pace with
the advance Of our asms. With saita
bic assistance the people Of the insurgent
States may be restored 10 their legiti
mate rights IN the Union % rapidly a.
the hostile power 10 expelled from their
borders. To Effect this consu patton,
some rule should be prescribed, plain and
lust 10 itself, compatible with the Dig
"iiy Of the Government, and the perpet
uity OF the Union. Emerging from The
cslamities OF this conflict, let 10 secure
an honorable and permanent pc zoe, aud
seal forever the terrific fouotaios Of civil
war. BY doing less than this, we would
prove faithless 10 the sacred trusts COM
q tilted to our care, embittered the heirit.
age Of posterity, add commit monstrous
c1ime.
| No true patriot, no sincere wishsr Of
= restored and honored Union, could de-
sire the wicked and infamous leaders Of
this rebellion reinstated in their places
under this Government. where, BY rep.
eti,ion Of their gigantic frauds, and in
,rigues, they might again attempt what
they hrve 80 signally failed to accomplish
BY the gage ri battle. Every motive 81
self preservation and the sterucst dictates
Of patriotic duty, demand Of 10 10 guard
we'll this vital point. Let 10 expuoge
forever these infamous names from the
roll Of the Union. Let rs appeal di.
rectIy to the less criminal offenders and
the more tractabIe masses. To none
others would it be safe or expsdient to
extend the boon Of amnesty or enfran-
chisement and not to these even, except
upon the just and easy terms of being
purged Of their treason aud plighting
anew their faith to the Union.
| Any effort at restoration, to be sub
slant al and productive Of satisfactory
results, should be inaugurated upon q
theory which will inspire mutual coo6-
derce between the parties, aud consti-
tute basis sufficiently comprehensive
to embrace all who, by recaotation Of
their disloyaI,y, may qualify themsel es
for and become entitled TO i,s benefits.
The initial point j. obviously the most
vital, and difficult /; for if ~ start with
wrong reckoning, our future course
will be one Of constant cmbArrsssments,
and fail Of ultimate success
| Profoundly imp, essed with these CON-
victions, and firmly believing that no
more feasible mode has yet been devised
for securing a speedy and honorable ad-
justmen, Of our disordered Union, | am
prepared to fully endorse the late emf
"ently plain and sensible proclaim alton Of
President Lincoln, and until Withdrawn,
or superseded by some more snthorita-
tive act sbal yield TO it my earnest and
unequivocal support.
Il II BY the offer Of freedom we could To-
duce these bond subjects to leave their
reasonable masters, AMI return to their
legitimate soverigu, whom they have
never willingly offended, what principle
Of law or right would be thereby contra
vened9 Has not any established Gov
ernnent an absolute tight to exercise
thi, sovereign authority over its own
subjectsa If it be alleged that this would
be a violation Of our faith with the
Southern States, the conclusive answer
is, that they bad already violated theirs
with rs By attempting to dissolve the
Union. We could ~ righlfaIly do It's,
as we could induce the soldiers in the
rebel armies to leave their ranks and
return to their allegiance, BY the offer OF
a general pardon. And to deny that We
can r,gh,fully do either, is to hold that
the individual claims Of traitors, tho
rights and local regulations Of insurgent
States, are paramount 10 the sovereignty
Of tie General Government.
The period At leogth arrived when, to
/, sure success TO our arms, and make
the overthrow Of the REBELLION I speedy
and certain event. an effeclual blow 1t
this formidabl. element OF rebel power
was ,mperativcly demanded. Our au-
au' hori,y over the subject was broa.l
and ample, and the necessity for the step
no longer doubtful. Why hesitate to
terminate the war, and save the Union,
by losing slaveryi 1t became obvious,
that amid the throes Of this mighty rev.
olut,on, one or tbs other mus. 20 Down.
The Union and slavery cannot both be
saved from the wreck, for the same pow
or which rescues the ore must inevitably
crush the other. Which 10 the more
valuable for preservation After all its
a anifold crimes against liberty and hui
manity, against God and HE holy laws,
what claim has slavery upon this Govern
ment for protection AID perpetuityi 70
this reckoning had the Nation come %
til, first day Of Jaouary, 1863.
| thank Almighty God, thst At this
momentous juncture. We had man q
the helm Of this Govcrnm a., who July
realized the situation, ard possessed the
sublime courage to perform bis duty,
and place the zeal Of condemnation irre-
vocably, and forever, upon this convicted