The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-03-02
WO0DSFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO MARCH g. 1854

ing lucapaDle OF SetJllnS upon any deHn-
ite line of policy in regard to the rebel
lion.
Two theories in regard to it, have and
now, divide the American people. One is
that the Southern States are still States
of the American Union; that their several
constitutions and laws, though silent in
| the presence of the rebel power, will upon
the suppression of the rebellion revive,
and the people return to their former
rights.
The other theory is, that they are no
longer States in the American Union, in
the sense of the constitution, but the
rebellion having acquired the strength and
consistency of belligerent power, the
status of the entire population has been
changed, from citizens to aliens, and they
do not return to their rights upon the
suppression of the rebellion, but only to
such as the supreme Legislative power
may give them.
Had Mr.. Lincoln adopted either one
of these theories and adhered to it vigor-
ously. he might long since have ended
the rebellion.
Had he chosen the first, he could, be-
fore this, have brought back the States.
with their institutions and laws, slaves and
all.
Had he adopted the ether, and sustain
ed Fremont and Hunter, the friends of
freedom KNOW, that the rebel armies
might long ago, have been overthrown. and
the whole rebel territory in possession of
the United States, with the manacles Of
every slave stricken off, from the Susque
hanuah to the Rio Grande.
This vascillation and indccision Of the
President, has been the real c;u.e why
our wcll-aPpointed armies have not sue
ceeded in the destruction ef the rebel
.ion.
He has constantly been going between
these two theories, taking no positive
ground for either, but holding on to the
skirts of both.
Whether from the feebleness of his will
which has been unequal to the alternate
pressure of the respective leaders of these
theories, or whether from the want of in .
;cllectual grasp, he has really been unable
to comprehend their philosophy, or from
the want of political principle and indif-
ference to truth, he has with that SPECIES
Of cunning, which charactcrizes certain
class of lawyers, sought to ride both
theories, for the purpose of securing his
reelection.
=. The cant about l." Honest Old Abe was
at first amusing, it then became ridiculous
but now it is absolutely criminal.
Honesty signifies nothing unless there
is capacity to WELD the power. In the
language OF Wendell Phillips-who cares
for the honesty of the President. unless
he be capable; it is not honesty but copa=
cuY that is wanted.
When the nation again places in the
hands Of a commander-in chief the lives
Of all It's able bodied men, and all its
material wealth, it will want 4 better guar
antee than the anecedents of our jocular
President furnish that the power will be
welded ably, efficiently, and surely, for
the perpctuity of the Union.
Should Mr. Lincoln be forced upon the
country in defiance of the better iudg
ment of the Republican party, and the
Democratic party be judicious in planting
candidate for the prosecution of the war,
upon the first theory above Indicted,
(Which is their thcory.) Mr.. Lincoln will
be most unquestionably defeated, unless
he should be tempted in an evil hour, to
use the military power III his hanus by
suppressinr the freedom Of elections in
the loyal States. A victory won by the
sword would be no victory, but lamenta-
bic defeat to the friends of liberty.
| A convention of patriots, if wise, will
never nominate tor the Presidency mill
tary leader in actual command OF an army
much less the commander -in-chief, whe
now has more than half d million OF sol
diers under his command, and if necessa'
ry to success might have a million before
the next Presidential election.
The temptation to military candidate
to use the sword to secure his own elec
ton is too great, the warnings of history
too impressive, for the American people
ever voluntarily to consent to so hazard
Gus an experiment
Never before in our history has such {
combination Of high qualities been requir'
ed as will he needed in the administration
! of the Government for the next foul
years.
The war has created debt the magni
tude of which is astounding to consider
The interest alone will oppress the people
for scores of years to come; at the same
time the means of discharging the deb
will By the necessary operations of tx
war, have been fcariully weakened. 81
many hundreds of thousands Of men hav,
been called from their industrial pur
suits never to return to them; so much o
the material wealth of the country ha
been destroyed; so many fields for th'
production of its great staples laid waste
indeed its whole labor system has beel
perverted or disorganizcd!
To recover the nation from this sta',
of utter exhaustion, and restore it to it
wonted prosperity, will demand an orde
of Intelligence which is be,towed upol
but few men in any country at the sam
time, and the mightiest intellect in ou
land might well tremble in assuming sucl
responsibility. We want in our comm:
President an advanced thinker; states
man profoundly versed in political AM
economic science, one who fully eompre
hends the spirit Of the age in which W
live.
ME A nah in Poughkeepsie, N. York