Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-17
fellowship. The SrATEsMAN shall not be
imbued with the spirit of such morality

the ownership and control of this sterling
Old Democratic Organ ut a most eventful
and critical period in our Country's history.
Our American Union with its Free Institu-
tions is on the verge of destruction. 1t Is
not necessary now to specify the successive
steps by which this terrible crisis has been
reached. 1t has come upon us, and nowthe
all-absorbing question is: How can the
! Union be restored.and the Constitution pre-
served from the hands of the ruthless Goths
and Vandals that have assailed BOTH wheth-
er in open hostility, or under the mask of
pretended love of the Union and of Free
!, Institutions? Our answer is, that It can
only be done by a return to the principles
on which our National Government WAS
originally founded. The Government must
be administered on these principles, or rev
olution, anarchy, and final ruin must ensuc.
The Constitution-th bond of Union be-
tween tle States-must be maintained in
its full vigor and efficiency, while its re-
strictions and limitationso Of Federal author
( ity, are faithfully and scrupulously obscrv-
ed. AS the Union was first formed; as the
Government originally went into operation
under the Constitution; so must the one be
maintained, and the other administered.
Bring back the Administration of the Gov
ernment to the constitutional principles up
on which it was originally founded by the
Fathers of the Republic, and the American
!, people, after their long and sad experience
of the awful consequences. of departure
from these principles. will again become
united, as they were for more than seventy
years; the present insane and causeless war
will cease; the country will begin to recov-
er from the slaughter and desolation this
! unnatural conflict has caused, and enter
upon new career of greatness and pros
perity.
The work for the Democrat and the Con-
servative, for every true Patriot, at this mo-
mentous period, is to have the Government
administered solely and strictly upon the
basis of the Constitution. Restore its adj
ministration to that basis, and the Union
will be restored. Refuse or neglect to do
this; let it be, as it has been for nearly three
years, and is now, administered in disregard
and violation of the Constitution, and the
Union will be dissolved forever; the Consti-
tutional safeguards of our rights and liber-
ties will be swept away, and we shall be-
come a prey to worse than Mexican anarchy
and misrule.
! 1t will be the province of The STATES
MAN. under our direction and CONTROL to aid
in this noble and patriotic work of restoring
to our distracted and bleeding country a
Constitutional Administration of the Fed
eral Government, in all its branches-Legis-
lative, Executive, and Judicial; and thus
restoring the Union in the only way by
which. as has now become irresistibly evi-
dent to all men of candor and patriotism, it
can ever be restored, and the life of the
Nation saved.
Whatever conduces to this great end, we
shall advocate; whatever opposes it we
shall oppose. TO this test we shall endeavor
to bring all political questions; and by this
touch-stone we shall expect to try all can
didates for public office. In the Presiden-
tial contest this year, there is really but one
great issue or question to be settled by the
American people. It is this: Shall the Ma
tional Government be administered here
after upon Constitutional principles, or in
continued violation of those principles?
This issue marks the dividing line between
those who love the Union and would pre-
serve it. and those who hate and despise it \
and desire its overthrow. The STATESMAN
will stand with the former, and urge their
consolidation, union, and cooperation, in
one united and determined effort to rescue
the Union from the hands of the parricides,
North and South, that are raised for its
destruction.
On erery subject in Politics this paper will
continue to be--as it has been in the past
thoroughly and immovably Democratic.
Our glorious old Party, its Organization,
Principles, and Nominees, will ever receive
our cordial, hearty and unwavering sup-i I
port. We have been with the Democracy
of Ohio in every political conflict since age
first gave us the right to vote; and in the
impending battles against the enemies of
the Constitution and the Union, we shall
be found, as heretofore, under the old Demo-
cratic Banner.
With honest and patriotic intentions, and
unremitting diligence and effort-aided as
we shall be by able and competent assist |
ants-we hope to make The STATESMAN in |
future, not only worthy its reputation in |
the past but to improve it as NEWSPAPER
for general information, and as the medium |
of sound Democratic and Conservative prin-
ciples. We intend to report the news of the |
day, and notice every occurrence of inter-
est, as early, accurately, and faithfully, as
any of our contemporaries. Great care shall
be exercised in making selections. We shall
print reasonable proportion of that kind
of miscellaneous matter which renders
paper entertaining as well as instructive,
and gives it welcome into the family as |
most agreeable visitor. /
And now, in order to add to its efficiency
and usefulness, we ask our friends and the