Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-03-11
The Neutral Party.

In the House the other day MIR. Scotield,
of Pennsylvania, made admirable speech,
from which we make short extract:
1t was said the other day by the gentleman
from kentucky MIR. Smith, that there were but
two parties in this country-patriOts and trait
ors l beg leave to differ from my friend. l
think there are three patriots traitors and neu-
trails.
Three years have passed-years fraught, as it
seems To us at distance, with great ruin to the
South, with loss and heavy sorrow, as we know,
to the North How stand the three parties
now? The disuniOn emblem is still upbOrne,
less firmly than at first; and the area on which
its hateful shadow falls is two-thirds less than
in the beginning. Still it flies its signal word
division" All the proclamations and mes
sages of Davis, his governors and generals, all
the laws and resolutions Ofhis Congress and
State Legislatures talk of nothing, ask for moth
ing but division. Will the gentleman from
New York T Mr.. Wood who talksto us SO much
about peace, take notice that in all those official
documents if they can be called official, division
is the only aim and end proposed?
But where stands the neutral party; the par
ty of "ifs," sands" and excuses? Have you
| been here for three months now, and do not
know that there they stand pointing to the
| D0lnOCfdIlC SluG Vi J-dS SOOOO
| three wears ago occupying the same position of
| bloodless neutrality? They have not changed
their ground though they give different rea-
son for holding it. They do not now say that
coercion is unconstitutional They do not now
generally say that it is impossible nor that any
| thing you can give to the rebels by way ofcom-
promise will make their condition any better
| than it was before they rebelled. They gener-
| ally concede that the rebellion must be sup
pressed by force of arms or the Union be divid-
/ ed But they say the President is always so
| unfortunate as to select unconstitutional means
to effect what they now see, though they did
not at first, is constitutional purpose. And so
they remain spectators; spectators in a war
which involves the life of this nation and the
| fortunes offorty millions of people whose in
terests are associated with it. More than that;
| it involves the fortunes of the oppressed and
middle classes all over the world; for ours is the
| worlds representative Republic. But to do
them Justice, must say, they are not indifferent
| spectators. There they stand, glass in hand,
| or "nose all spectacle bestrid," looking anXiOns-
| ly for some fortunate mistake in council or some
cheering disaster in the field, which will fulfill
their evil predictions and Justify their position
/ of neutrality before the world. Their music is
a line of Yankee Doodle and half line of Dixie,
| filed out with the "rub-a-dub-dub" ofcomplaint
and evil prophecy.
But, although neutral, they are not idle
| They have great deal to do. They have to see
| that this war is conducted with Christian ten
derness on our part, though met with savage
atrocity on The other. They have to see that
| treason tainted slave-earned wealth escapes
confiscation, though it impose heavier burden
| on the honester earnings of loyal men. They
have to see that your credit is decried and the
taxes necessary to support 1t denounced, and
then to complain to the country that illegal ten
ders" are not equal to gold. They have to see
that favorite general has an unlimited and un-
trammeled command, and that he is not held re-
sponsble for opportunities neglected or battles
lost They have to see that possible, at leas
all constitutional objections are thrown IN thu
way of the exercise of the elective franchise by
the Union soldiers in the field, and that tn,
freest elections are secured to the unpardOnet
secessionist in the rebel and border States
They have to see that practical amalgamatioI
goes on undisturbed by any unconstitutlona
interference with the slave system of the South
while they falsely charge theoretical amalgama
ton on the virtuous people of the North. They
have too to see that that portion of their follow
ers who overestimate the abilities of the negr'
or underestimate their own, or perhaps have
proper appreciation of both, are held to party
vassalage by constant dread Ofnegro emulation
They have TO see that their weaker brethren
are educated into the belefthat the negro is on
ly fit for slave and can never be anything else
and then to distress them with apprehension
that they may yet be compelled TO compete witt
him in the industrial and professional pursuit.
of life, where brains, not color, will aseribe t.
each his Just measure of success.
These are only specimens of the multitudiou
labors of this neutral organization. If were Il
90 on with full catalogue would exhaust you
patience and my strength