The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-08-24

or subJugation, nor purpose of overthrow
ing or interfering with tho rights and es-
tablished institutions of those States /;
but to defend and maintain the suprema-
cy of the Constitution. and to preserve
the Union, with all the dignity, equality,
and rights of the several States unim-
paired and that as soon as these objects
are accomplished, the war ought to cease"
Under these oft-repeated assurances Of
the Executive and Legislative authorities
of the country, defining the purposes of
the war to be in harmony with the prin-
ciples of christian civilization, the armies
of the Union were filed by volunteers,
and a system of military conscription-
the offspring of Oriental 6espotism-was
not a measure necessary to be resorted to.
Immense armies Of volunteers entered
the service of the North to execute the
purposes proclaimed in the several mani
festos from which We have quoted
Since these armies were thus raised, un-
der such pretences, the Administration
haa proclaimed a cardinal change in
the objects Of the war. Instead of its
being a war for the maintenance of "the
Constitution and to preserve the Union"
it is practically waged against ''life, lib
erty and property"-a wal of ccnfiscat:on,
determination, rapine and plumber. And
the President of the United States in re-
Spouse to a proposition for a peace nego-
%tiation, proclaimed OF the 18th of July
last, in an address "to whom it may con-
cern," that any PROPOSE ton looking to-
wards a close. of this desolating strife'
which did not embrace "the abandon
ment of slavery would not be listened
to by him. Thus were the Federal ar
mics recruited upon the solemn and oft
repeated assurances that this was not an
abolition war ; and thus does this con-
scription, unprecedented in magnitude in
the history of nations, and the proclama-
ton, "to whom it may concern" call up
On the people to execute a policy the
very reverse of that which, at the outset,
was announced as the purpose of the war.
Therefore, by the people of Ashland
county here assembled, be it hereby
Resolced, That the President of the
United States be respectfully and truth
fully advised, that the enforcement of a
draft such as is ordered in his late Procla-
nation, will produce widespread desola-
ton ; that it will subtract IRON our al
ready depleted fields and workshops near
ly the balance of the remaining life. blood
of our country ; and that he be earnestly
requested to suspend the execution of his
order.
Resolued, That asserting that God Civ
en- right SO nobly and successfully vindi-
Gated by our revolutionary fathers in thu
Rebellion of 1776, VIC solemnfy pledge
ourselves henc,forth to resist with our
GOOD right arms all farther attempts at
the enforcement of lawless, arbitrary pow
er BY tribunals and authorities unknown
to our Constitution and laws.
RESOLVED, That we believe in that trite
and truthful saying, Resistance to ty-
rants is obedience to God"
Resozved, That as the issue is one OF
War or Peace, We entertain the hope that
the forthcoming Chicago Convention will
nominate none other than q Peace man
upon a Peace Platform.
Resozued. That the proceedings of this
meeting with the resolutions, be published
in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus
Crisis and Ashland Union.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
H. HAMILTON, PRESS.
p M HAMDRFrT Sec'v