The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-01-20


make or accept peace upon any other than
honorable terms, or without the promise
of permanent adjustment and endurance.
We cannot negotiate with rebels In arms, |!
or admit Of anything from them but un-
conditional surrender and submission
Much we can pardon to the masses of the
people, but the leaders must reap of the !
harvest they have sown. The past has
its pnnishments that may be mtigated or
forgiven; but the future must have full
and ample security.
1t is simply folly to talk of suppressing
this REBEL on and restoring the uuity of
the country without first subjugating the
military power of the Confederaey, or
relieving the people of the seeding states
from its controlling infuence-and in
many cases, oppression, 1t does not fol
low that the destruction of the military
power of the South is the subjugation Of
the people. In many cases it will prove
their acknowledgements. There is loyal
sentiment and population in nearly, if
not quite all the Southern States. Where
too strong, or too open in its manifesto
tions, the military power has essayed, by
every possible means, to keep in subjec-
ton. Men holding and expressing loyal
sentiments, have been fined, imprisoned.
hunted into the forests and mountains,
and many of them suffered death; while
their families have been impoverished and
ruined. Political leaders = designing
men, who had secretly plotted the over
throw of our government-leG a few-but
actually forced majority of the South
ern States into secession and rebellion
and the military power now holds them
there
Future history will record chat, per
haps with two exceptions, the ordinance
of secession would not have been carried
in any of the seceeding States, if the peo
pie could have been permitted fair, un,
controlled election, by ballot, upon it
But they wore overwhelmed by fraud and
force--and then they were told, according
to the improved theory of State Rights,
that whenever majority of State had
resolved to commit treason, the minority
were bound not only, to submit, but to
share the sin and shame. Those whom
argument failed to convince, the military
dcspotism has silcnced, for the time be-
J ing.
There has been a great deal said about
the North seeking to eu1jugate the South.
1 We have sought nothing OF the kind
The political and military leaders OF this
rebellion it is who have subjugated the
people Of the Southern States; trampled
upon their political rights, and involved
them in the crime of treason, with its ac-
compartment Of civil war. The triumph
of tho Northern armies, and the restora-
! ton OF the old Government, is, in truth,
/ tho deliverauce OF the people. of the
South, and they will 50 nail it hereaf-
ter.
There are but two ways in which the
restoration OF peace aud the Union is to
be accomplished first, the unconditon-
al surrender of the leaders, and the "a ban
donment Of the rebellion; or second, the
continued progress and conquest of our
arms, until the military power OF the Con
iederaey is broken and the heart OF the
rel cllion Is crushed. All intermediate
plans or schemes are mere pali&tivc<, that
like our compromises Of the past fifty
years, will only serve to procrastinate ex
lsting evils; restoring peace that will re-
quire constant watchfu.ne>s and cunces- :
sions; and prosperity that will be depend
ent upon almost annual sacrifices to avoid
future demands and Instructions. La
view of the permauence % our govern
ment and the integrity OF our Union, there
is no such thing as compromise with
rebels in arms against bo'h Turn from
it as we may, the great truth is apparent
to every reasoning mind, that SUBMISSION
or sUBJUGATtoN. for the leaders of this
rebellion arc the only effective means ot
restoring psa,e and good government
again.
TIE FIRST of these is not likely to occur
IN the present postNre of affairs; nor Us
long as hope, however blind aud unrea-
sonable, will serve to shield from despair
the fortunes OF the civil aud military
heads of the rebellion. The second
therefore, constitutes QUE only certain
means of success. In its progress to this
end, our gallant army has q two-iold mis-
sion to fulfil. The first is to press back
step by step, if necessary, the military
power of the Conicderacy from the
uSurped soil of the seeding States; and
eventually to subdue thatpower, and bring
it to terms of peace. The second to de-
velope the principal of loyalty in the re-
lieved people, and protect them in its ex-
ercise and enjoyment, while they restore
the civil functions of their State Govern
ments, and unite them again with their
sister States under the provisions of the
National Constitution
| 1t is objected, perhaps, that the loyal
people Of the south are too few IN num-
bers to assume, or to be trusted with the
powers OF the State Governments. y
fair test will demonstrate this assump-
ton to be unwarranted. In addition to
the large body who in almost every
Southern State, opposed the ordinances
of secession, many thousands have been
converted by the progress, and many
thousands more will be released and flock
to the standard upon the suppression of
the rebellion, and the subjugation Of its
military power. The lessons of priva-
tions, suffering and misery entailed upon
the people of the South by the wicked
leaders in this war will suffice, at least,
for the present generation; and with