The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-03-09
8. The passage of a confscation bill

| 10. The admission of the State oi
Western Virginia on condition of abol
ishing slavery.
IL. Prohibiting the existence of sla-
very in all the Territories of the United
States.
II. The passage of law forever pro-
hibiting any person connected with the
rebellion from holding any Office of honor
or profit. e.4.4
13. The compensatory emancipation
scheme of the President.
IA. The passage of an act indemnify
ing the President and his subordinates
against prosecutions for the commission
of illegal and unconstitutional acts.
Sir, unwise. unjust, iiliberal, and un-
constitutional as much of this legislation
was, it did not satisfy the requirements
of these radical gentlemen; on the con-
trary it operated but as stimulant to
demand the adoption of more unreasona-
BILE and dangerous partisan measures.
They now boldly announced their policy
to be 'sta1, fight, emancipate," as the
trinity of the nations salvation. They
assured the President that if he would
issue his presidential edict proclaiming
the slaves in the rebellious States and dis
tricts forever free, the highways would
throng with patriots more ardent and de-
voted than were the crusaders; that
- Father Abraham would behold the
embattled hosts of abolitionism coming
six hundred thousand strong te overthrow
the armed legioRs Of the rebellious South.
They assured the country that it would
witness nn exodus Of these children from
the house of their bon lage unparalleled
since the days that Israel's dark-eyed
daughters celebrated with timbrel and
dance the exodus of Gods chosen people
in the oldeu time. The President, being
neither Washington in wisdom and
nor Jackson in resolution
and statesmanship, complainingly yielded
to the pressure, and in an evil moment
hearkened to the voice of this abolition
siren. In violation of the fundamental
principles upon which this Government is
and upon which it has been so
administered from the days
of Washington down to the days of
Abraham Lincoln, in violation of his own
party platform which he declared was .
law unto him; in opposition to the avow
ed policy and object of the war; and in,
the exercise of an arbitrary power which
no king or emperor of Europe could
WELD without producing revolution, save
perhaps the Gar of Russia or the Sultan
of Turkey, he declares hye-one sweep of
his pen that the entire social and indus
rial systems of the South, as they had
existed for more than century shall ex-
ist no longer, and that three million ne
gro slaves shall be forever free.
And now, sir, after the observations
and experiences of eighteen months,
wish gentlemen to tell me where are the
grand results that were to compensate this
nation for yielding to such extraordinary
arbitrary power? Where have the high-
ways thronyed with the embattled hosts
of abolitionism painting for revolutionary
battlefelds? Where are the solemnl y
promised six hundred thousand men?
Sir, prior to the date OF this proclamation
volunteers to the number of nearly thir-
teen hundred thousand had responded to
The call of the administration. Neither
Greece nor Rome in their pamiest days
ever boasted such mighty armies; and the
eagles of Napoleon were carried III tri-
umph beyond the Danube and the Po, and
into the very heart of the old commercial
metropolis of the northern Caesar with
less than halt of the mighty host that
voluntarily went forth to fight in the s..
cred cause of the Union. The hopes OF
this great nation were concentrated in the
stout hearts and strong arms of that mil
lion and quarter of brave men. But
the proclamation was issued, and with il
came a change in the entire object and
policy of the war. With it came dissen
sions and divisions in the North. With
it came a destruction of the freedom o.
speech and of the press. With it came {
suspension of the writ of hdoeds corpus
and denial Of the right of trial by jury
/ With it came military orders and inva
sions of free homes, arbitrary arrests
mock trials, bastiles, and exile. Ant
with it ceased volunteering. That same
Congress was compelled to go to the des
potisms OF the Old World and drag ou
| from their musty records an unconstitu
tional CONSUMPTION law, to compel oul
people to advocate, aid, and carry out |
newly inaugurated war policy. AS ne
cessary consequence to that extraordinar.
act of the President, that cid Constitu
ton about which the people Of the coun
try had boasted SO long was torn in frag
ments and scattered to the winds; and a.
power became concentrated in the hand
of one man. ts
/ But, sir, if this unwise radical polio,
produced these disasters with US at tn,
North, it was infinitely more disastrou
in the States of the South. The Presi
dent had assured us in his message tina
there was majority of the people of tn
{rebellious States in favor of the Union
L ask gentlemen on the other side of tn
House to tell me now where is that Uniol
majority? Where to-day are those Uniol
men whose hearts beat responsive to tn
music of the Union? Alas! the result o
). your proclamation and of your radica
policy was to fill the defeated armies o
the South and unite their people witt
increased hostility to the Union of thei
fathers. That was its effect. Sir, j
seems strange that, Notwithstanding tn
effect of that policy having been SO disas
trous, gentlemen are determined not t.
let the experience of the past be ligh
to guide them in their present or futur