The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-20

cases doubled the amount Of thestax. Even
in these cases the object has not been fully ac.
complished. It is argued that it is better to
continue thus to divide, between State and
people this contribution, so that in what the
one fails the other will make good. The true
and just response is
BY no act OF wrong or oppression did the
people OF the Northerh States provoke this re-
4belliep no varrent of justification
yha.eFer We had infringed upon no right
guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the
land. We had assentcd to all the compromises
they presented to us, and kept our faith, while
they violated, repealed, or destroyed them at
pleasure. While the great mass of our people,
of both pofItica. parties, refrained from inter-
fering with their 'tpeculiar institution" we
first family protested, and then more resolute-
ly declared against its being made an engine
of political power, and, for this purpose extend
ed over territory that should be free. We
urged the Southern people to conine that Gin
within its existing limits, and take
with it all the guarantees the nation could
give for its quiet and peaeeable possession.
We would not consent that the blighting in
tHuence of slavery should be spread over free
merely to create Slave States, in or
der to preserve sthe balance of political pow
err For this check to their political ambi
tfvzT+he 4ca6ers fnaug6fated this gi5untiere
and a large portion of their people
took upon themselvessits consequences in an
armed attempt to destroy the government un-
der which had been prosperous and happy
to dissolve o Union of States that had been
their protection and strength,owithout con-
templating the possibility of failure, or the
fact that success must impoyerish rather than
benefit their condition.
According to the magnitude Of this rebel
linn. tbo roonlf of a rosforotion 0f anr Gov.
eminent and Union, will be potent in its in.
1uence, not only upon ourselves, but the civil
lied world. 1t involves the question of ma rs
capacity for selfgoyernmcnt. The issue is on
trial, whether a goyernm emit, resting solely
with the people, and controlled by delegated
possesses the elements of strength
and unity to protect itself and assert its SOW
ereignty in sue an emergency as a great rev.
olution or rebellion inaugurated among a por-
ton of its own people for its Instruction.
When this fact shall be demonstrated, as the
loyalty of the great mass of our peopfe gives
unmistakable evidencethat it will be, it es-
taLlishes at once the stability of our form of
government,-it yipdicates she integrity and
intelligence of our people,-it will stand forth
as a warning to future attempts at rebcllion,-
while it will constitute a page OF history that
the patriot and philanthropist of other lands
may contemplate with pride and hopefulness.
As we have not provoked this was, but
sought rather to avoid it, we are notFresponsi-
BILE for its consequences to its projectors and
its followers. If the people of the Southern
States feel its burthens and devastating infu-
ences, it is because they invited them if sor-
row and suffering and misery have been
brought to their hearthstones, it is because
would not be content with peace and
IF oppression and tyranny are
the features of the power they have invoked
to rule them, it is because they suffered them
selves to be seduced from the government that
had so long protected and blessed them if
they are.steeped in debt, Impoverished and
ruined, iii because they have preferred these
to- a condition of ~afiuence and plenty if
their agriculture is smitted, and their COM
merce destroyed, il is because they have ass
sailed the interest that has fostered the one,
and attempted to strike Town the flag that
has protected the othcr,-if their institution
of human slavery is now dying in their midst,
it is because they have smitten it with their
hanes-because they made it an element
of rebellion, and because they sought to
change its character FROM a domestic institu-
ton, under the projections of the Constitution
and laws, TO the gigantic form of political
power, that should rule and desolate the land
The fruits are of the tree they have planted;
and the hand that reared it can alone be CEN
sured for their bitterness. Time, repentance
and loyalty will, in most instances relieve
them from the consequences of their folly
and crime Peace, prosperity and plenty may
come again ; but they cannot expect the ma
ton to restore all they have destroyed. They
cannot reasonably ask that we should restore
to life and vitality the active agent of-this re-
bellion. They cannot claim for the %institu-
ton of slavery any further privilege or immu-
nifty than the people of the Northern States
may see proper to extend to it.
As we approach the end of this contest, it
is natural that q portion Of our people should
display some anxiety to anticipate it, with
plans and propositions that, upon superficial
examination, may promise to hasten its adj
We want peace-the North as we'll as the
South; but we have not passed the terrible
ordeal Of the last three years to make or &C.
cept peate upon any other than honorable
terms, or without TIE promise of permanent
adjustment and endurance. We cannot ne
gotiate with rebels in arms, or admit of any
thing from them but unconditional surrender
and submission. Much we can pardon to the
masses of the people, but the leaders must
reap Of the harvest they have sown. The
past has its punishment that they may be
mitigated or forgiven ; but the Future must
have full and ample security.
It is simple folly to talk Of suppressffng this
Rebellion and restoring the unity Of the coun
try without ~subjugating the military power Of
the Confederacy, or relieving the people Of
of the seeding States from its controlling in
fuence-an1 ir many eases, oppression. Ii
does not follow that the destruction of the
military power of the South is the subjuga-
ton of the people. In many cases it will
prove their enfranchisement. There is a 10y
al sentiment and population in nearly, if not
quite all the Southern States; Where toe
s military 0 power W ef has essayed, by every possible
mean $, to keep it in s~ubjugat;on. Men hold
ing and expressing loyal sentiments, have
been fined, imprisonen, hunted into the forest.
and mountains; and many of them suffered
ath;-while their families have been inn