Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-24


They complain that when we call for vOlun.
teers We present the alternative 0f draft, as
if when the ship has been scutild the cap
tain ought to leave the sleeping passengers to
90 to the bottom without calling upon them
tie take their turn at the pump.
They are not content with plotting sedition
in secret places, but they go up and dewn the
public streets uttering treason, vanly sc eking
tC provoke arrest in order that hey may COM
plain of the denial of the liberty of speech. The
impunity they everywhere enjoy under the
protection of constitutional debate, shows
at one and the same time, that their COM
plants are groundless, and that the Union in
the element of moral stability is stronger
than they know.
The chief complaint against the President
is that he will not accept peace on the basis
of the integrity of the Union, without having
also the abandonment of slavery. When and
where have the insurgents offered him peace
on the basis of the integrity of the Union !?
Nobody has offered it. The rebels never
will offer it. Nobody on their behalf can
offer it. They are determined and pledged
to rule this Republic or ruin it. | told you
here year ago, that practically slavery was
no longer in question-that it was perishing
under the operation Of the war; That asser-
ton has been confirmed.
The Union men in all the Slave States that
we have delivered are even more anxious than
we are to abolish slavery. Witness Western
Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Louisiana, Ten
nessee, and Arkansas. Jefferson Davis tells
you in effect the same thing. He says that it
is not Slavery, but independence and Sover-
eighty, for which he is contending. There is
good reason for this A hundred dollars in
gold is only years purchase of the labor of
the working man in every part of the United
States. At less than half that price you could
buy all the slaves in the country. Neverthe
less, our opponents want distinct exposition
of the Presidents views on the ultimate solu-
ton of the slavery question.
Why do they want it 4? For the same rea-
son that the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted
an authoritative resolution of the questions of
casuistry which arose in their day, One Of
those sects believed in Kingdom to come,
and the other altogether denied the resurrec-
ton of the dead. Nevertheless, they walked
together in loving accord in search of instruc-
ton concerning the spirit world. Master"
said they, there was man of our nation
who married a wife and died, leaving six
brothers. These brothers successfully mar
ried the widowed woman, and afterwards died.
And last of all the woman died also. In the
resurrection, which of the seven shall have
this woman to wife ?"
Now what was it to them whether one or all
should have the woman to wife in Heaven
1t could be nothing to the Sadducees in any
case. What was it to any human being on
this side of the grave =? What was it to any
human being in Heaven except the woman
and her seven husbands ? Absolutely moth
ing. Yet they would have an answer. And
they received one. The answer was that
while in this mortal state, men and women
shall never cease TO marry and to die, there
will be in the resurrection neither death nor
marrying or giving in marriage.
Although altogether unauthorized to speak
for the President upon hypothetical questions,
| think can give an answer upon the SUBJ
which viii be explicit, and l hope not alto
gether unsatisfactory. While the rebels con-
tinue to wage war against the Government of
the United States, the military measures af-
fecting slavery, which have been adopted
from necessity, to bring the war to a speedy
and successful end, will be continued, except
so far as practical experience shall show that
they can be modified advantageOusly with a
view to the same end.
When The insurgents shall haze disbanded their
armies, and laid doan their arms, tie way utI
instantly cedse--dnd all tie a0ar measures then
existing, including those 'chich affect SLAVERY, wiH
cease also; and all the moral, economical and po-
itieaI questions, as aOeR questions affecting STA
very as Others ,oltich shall Mea be eriSti1lg, be-
t'oeen individuals, and States, and the Federal
Gooe,1tnlept, 0hether they arose before tie civil
soar began, or Ohetta they geD ont Of IL, sUil,
6y force of tie Consultations, pass ooer to Tie ar
6itranaeat of courts Of taO, and TO The councils Of
legislation.
l am not unsophisticated enough to expect
that conspiratOrs while yet unsubdued, and
exercising an unresisted despotism in the in
surrectionary state, will either sue for or even
accept an amnesty based on the surrender of
the power they have so recklessly usurped
Nevertheless, / know that if any such con-
spirator should tender his submission upon
such terms that he will at once receive can
did hearing, and an answer prompted purely
by desire for peace, with the maintenance
of the Union. On the other hand, l do ex-
pect propositions of peace with a restoration
of the Union, to come, not from the Confed-
crates in authority, nor through them, but
from citizens and States under and behind
them. And expect such propositions from
citizens and States to come over the COnfed-
crates in power, Just so fast as those citizens
and States shall be delivered by the Federal
arms, from the usnrpation by which they are
now oppressed All the world knows that so
far as am concerned, and, believe so far
as the President is concerned, all such appli-
cations will receive just such an answer as it
becomes great, magnanimous and humane
people, to grant to brethren who have come
back from their wanderings, to seek shelter
In the common ark of our national security
and happiness.
The sun is setting. So surely as it shall
rise again, so surely do think that the great
events we have now celebrated prelude the
end of our national troubles, and the restora-
ction of the national authority with peace,
prosperity and freedom throughout the whole
land, from the lakes to the gulf, from ocean
to ocean.
And so bid you good night and may God
have you, with our whole country, always in
His holy and paternal keeping.
-0 The Registry Of Voters.