Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-13
raEpArR no PEACE AND UNION.

the following iudicious remarks on this
,gbiect which We insort o'. showing that
the great National Democracy are every
where animated by the same hopes aud
ideas:
The Presidents proclamation i'scme-
thing more than an act of amnesty. 1t
proposes to destroy State institution
to take away the property Of an entire
class of people; and to impose test oaths
not known TO the Constitution or laws,
but which require the cleotor to swear
obedience to tho ncts OF an individual --
If this is war Of vengeance, disunon and
destruction, Mr.. Lincoln is pursuing the
right course lrit Is to preserve the Con-
tulutiou and make a Union, not only in
name but ono that is worth something
to the people a Union in which friendly
feelings are manifested in every section
then he is pursuing the wrong course,
A proclamation Of amnesty would be
proper. Then following the course OF the
patriots who formed the Union, the States
should DO required to "ratify," or ac-
knowledge and sustain the Constitution
Of the United States and the laws made in
pursuance of its provisions This is our
plan. 1t would bring Kentucky, Tonnes
see, Maryland and Missourihearhy into the
Union. They are nov held rather by
force than good will or constitutional Oh
legations. 1t would set North Carolina
ablaze for the Union, and soon bring her
under the Stars and Stripes more speed
ily indeed than she came into the sup
port of the Constitution originally Vir-
ginia would feel the effect, like an cleo
trio shock, over her desolated plains and
her sons on every hand would declare that
this is the only guarantee we osk, Louis
lana, Texas, Arkansas and Georgia would
bo reused in the commotion Of the public
mind, and every day would add many to
the Union ranks, which would soon bear
down all opposition.
Then, how long would Alabama, Mssis-
sppi, Florida. and South Carolina, stand
the Union pressure? As in the days Of
Andrew Jackson, who made Union ap-
peals to them, declaring that all therrigh!s
should be maintained, and grievances,
if any there were, should be redressed,
they would rally the Union banners.
We should have a Union, then, "of hearts
and Of hands" 1t would be glorious and
valuable. But Union like that between
Austria and Hungary, would be a curse,
for it would drain the liie-blood Of the
free States, and a century would not see
the end of the efforts to raise armies to
keep down the South nor the desolation
that would come 10 the homes and hearts
Of our people.
1t is the policy and the destructive
measures Of the party in power, that drive
toe people of the South to desperation
And these measures will result in scpara
ton Of the States, or no human being now
living will ever witness a cessation of hos
tilities. We would avoid such results and
preserve the Union, not in hatred, but
in friendly accord.
Those who assume that war and test
oaths, and abolition proclamations, with
confsoation and vengeance, can subduC
the Southern people and unite the States
in few months time, arc as much migta
ken os they were when they claimed tina
$4,000 men could march over them an,
settle the business in NINETY days =
Ninety years Of continued warfare unde
such a policy, will leave matters in
worse shape than they are now.