Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-01-01

t|It ttf WAsHfNe4oFi Dec, ~, 1862
The Presidents remedy iof the 'roaicraiion|
ofthe Union has undoubtedly consolidated all
the friends Of the Government. i have never
witnessed moro cordial nnd eRthueiastic unity
i0 any party or combination Of men. These
who have been clsssed asftdicals o1 the slavery
question, as well as those who have been denoin-
mated oonsorvatves, earnestly endorse IT,
II was gratifying towatcl tho effect Of the rea-
soning OF the message Introductory 20 the great
remedy, "Tbe Proclamation. =" The difficulty
with which the President had 10 struggle in at
tempting 10 reach reasonable solution Of the
tremendous question growing out ofthc fact thai
slavery began the war, aud that the war could
never be happily closed unless slavery is fatalr
ly struck or wholly extinguishcd. could he best
realized by observing the intense and nlmust
painful interest with which his argnment and
closing suggestions were heard. A sense ofpro-
found relief seemed to speak from every loyal
face; and when those who have the great work
oflegislatng in some degree, upon the Preei-
dents recommendations, came TO discuss the
Message and Proclamation In their social cir.
ces, il was most pleasing to note their gratitude
to the Chief Magistrate for what he had so no.
bly, and ably done, and their fervent expression
Of their determination 10 stand by him 10 the
last For undoubtedly we have been surround-
ed by sea of troubles, IN regard to what iscali-
ed Reconstruction" aud "restoration," The
boldest have hesitated, and many OF our most
experienced statenlen have quailed before the
task Of debating this subject. Some, indeed,
have run into wild extremes in consequences OF
the confusion, and have proposed alternatives
far more patriotic than practical; and others
have caught at the hope that there was no path
TO lead the nation out Of this labyrinth offurieO,
or TO rescue il from the profound morass of what
seemed TO be inevitable dissensions. All men
looked for leader TO give the word, and with
unfaltering hand TO apply the key TO that mys-
terry from which 80 many retired in dismay.-
The President, wisely appreciating the fact that
upon him devolved the duty of initiating pol.
icy, spoke the brave word at the right time, and
with modesty only equnlled by the dignity oil
his utterances, invited the country and the coun-
| iry's Congress 20 consider his counsel. How
simple how true, how humane, and how consti-
tutional his remedy is perhaps best established
by the manner in which publicists and states-
men ofheretofore adverse opinions receive it
In this remark l think l may include many
who yet call themselves Democrats The mere
partisan will, of coures seek to find flaws IN the
proclamation, but the patriotic public man VIII
ponder well before assailing proposition which
contains so much that cannot be fairly chal-
lenged and 40 little that can be fairly criticized
What Democrat, for instance, will deny that
| the leaders the rebellion should be forever
deprived Of citizenship, and should be inexora-
bly, punished for their ireason2 Who that claims
! to be loyal man will say that the liberated
slaves of rebels shall be remanded TO bondsgel
Who will ask that any plan Of reconstruction
shall be offered to the people Of the South by
which the patriotic Union pioneers Of the South
shall be ground TO the earth, and probably mur-
dered by the restoration of the rebel fiends in
human shape to their former power2 But the
subject increases on my hands, and must close
in order to catch the mail. OCCASION AL