Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-10-13

diers or serving the army,. theil
places to be supplied by either by
volunteers, at an expense Of hundreds
of millions in bounties, or by draft,
which is the great ground OF com
lplaint by the opponents of the Gov
ernment.
Nay, more, if either, the Chicago
platform or McClellan's acceptance
means anything. these negroes sre to
be returned to their masters, to fight
or labor on the other side, because
most of them coming from the bor-
Der States, does any one doubt, life.
turned to theif masters. they would
be at once sent into the rebel lines,
where alone such people have any
value? Upon the theory Of the Chi
cago platform and McClellan's ''eon
stitutional rights of States" Think
it would exhaust the resources of
statesmanship'' to show why,these
men should not be returned to their
former masters, as, indeed, was the
practice of General McClellan's army
Still further, does not General Nc
Clellan twice over in his letter and
platform promise new constitutional
guarantees to the rights of the South?
Is it possible that all these conces
sions are to be forced from the North
by secession and the point of the
bayonet.
That which specially affects the
mind of the old aud true Democracy
of the country in the Baltimore plat
form is its declaration as to slavery.
In the view l take of this question,
it seems unfortunate that such q
declaration was made, as it proves a
STUN bling block to many.
Why not treat the slavery ques-
ton according to the fact that slave
ry dies and is hurled wherever our
armies marehS No political action
can aid, no resolutions of conventions
can hinder that result. The war, if
prosecuted to the end, will accomp-
Iish all that the most ardent anti
slavery man can desire; so that if the
war goes on to the bitter end for tile
restoration of the Union, then slave
Ty is no more, and all declarations
that the war shsll Or shall not be car
rled on for the extinction of slavery,
are futile and worse than useless
The war eih extinguish slavery
whether we wish it or not Nay, it
has distinguished slavery by render
ing the slave worthless. In Charles
ton to- day. negro can be bought for
$4,000 in confederate money, which
sell for $50 for one in gold, making
the value of the negro 500. And
this too; with cotton at 81 IS per
pound in York. Before the war, the
same negro would bring $1,000 in
gold, with cotton at II cents in New
York.
Some different system IF labor
must be devised for the Southern
country in the future, and peace upon
any terms; even the acknowledgement
of the Confederacy, cannot prevent
it. If j am right in this view of the
subject-and upon this conviction l
have acted since i saw the fact III
Louisiana in 1S62-then what is there
in the Baltimore platform to which
any true loyal Democrat, who loves
his country, and is determined to
fight, if need be, for its integrity and
honor, can object2 ] see nothing -
BUT I'm the changes so rapid in admin
istrate policy made by this war, no
one will tie himself to any party cry,
Of party platform. -.
I haye but ole article in my politi-
cal creed at tire present time. l AN
for d sharp, thorough. and decisive
prosecution Of the war until the au-
thority of the Onion is acknowledged,
and its laws obeyed upon every foot
Of soil ever within the boundaries OF
the United States.
Believe me truly yours, :.
BENZ. F. BUTKER.