The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-20
VVho Is Rospsnslsls Esr the warl


country into causeless, wicked and ca.
lamitOus war, history must hold The Re.
publican party responsible. 1t cannot es-
cape the responsibility. Itsresponsibility
is recorded in "letters Of living light" by
witnesses whose testimony has not and
cannot be impeached. It is natural that
the heartless conspirators should endeavor
to shift the responsibility from their own
shoulders to the shoulders of the Demo.
cratic party. It is natural that they
should shrink from discussion Of the
ExSecA, ~. :.Aes.>xssM to evade it with .
sneer. 1t is natural that they should deny
the damning charge and pervert history
to establish their impotence. But Il is
useless Greeley bOasted that he twas
educating the North to hate the South ;"
aud our troubles would easily have been
adjusted without war, but for the educa-
ted hatred Of a portion Of the Northern
people against the South, on account of
slavery. That portion unfortunately tri-
umphed in the election of a sectional
President, devoted to them and their pol
ICY, and eager to carry it into effect at
the sacrifice of the Union. 1t was thought
that the South deserved chAstisement /;
that they would meekly submit to insult
and oppression; they were known TO be
numerically weak, without an army or
navy or the munitions Of war; and the
Republicans took the rod Of vengeance in
to their own hands, without much regard
to consequences. They were in power /;
they bad possession Of the purse and the
sword and they would make the oppO-
nents Of their platform, which they de-
clared was " worth fifty Union," swallow
it or drive them out of the Union. They
would listen to no compromise they re-
jccted all peace propositions with scorn ;
they had resolved on unconditional ap-
proval of their sectional platform or war.
Nothing else would satisfy them. In vain
the legislatures Of Virginia, Pennsylvania
and Kentucky implored them to accept
the Crittendcn Compromise. In vain were
monster petitions presented to them from
oil sections of the country, signed by the
ablest and purest citizens, begging them
to adopt it. In vain did the people ap-
peal to their sense Of justice, their human
ity, their patriotism. They were deaf to
all rcmOnstrances, petitions, appeals. To
humiiate the South and cmancipate the
negroes was their mission, and they would
accomplish it If it destroyed the Union,
shrouded the country in mourning and
cost sea of blood. When few Of them
were disposed to follow the dictates Of
reason and humanity, they were ordered
by Greeley, Garrison & Co. to "yield not
an inch" and they weakly obeyed. Men
who recommended compromise and re-
conciliation were sneered at and slandered
and tauntingly called " Union savers. n
In addition to all this, it must be remem-
bered that every proposition for CON-
promise was offered by Southern members
and rejected by the Republicans.
We assert, on the authority Of the Con-
gressioraI record, that the Republican
party is responsible for and might have
prevented the present devastating civil
war. 1t might have saved the lives OF
hundreds Of thousands Of the best men OF
the nation, and thousands Of millions Of
the peoples money. 1t might have left
the country, us it received it from the
hands Of the Democratic party, free pros
porous and powcrful-respccted abroad,
loved ut home. For proof Of what We
say, read the following from the speech
Of Stephen A. Douglas, delivered in the
United States Senate, January Sd, 1861,
upon tho compromise measures then
pending before the Senate, and recOllect,
while reading, that his statement has new
er been contradicted
al believe this 10 be fair basis of amicable
adjustment. II you of the Republican side are
not willing to accept this, nor the propositions
of the Senator from Kentucky, 4 Mr.. Crittenden)
pray tell us what you are willing to do?
address the inquiry to Republicans only for
the reason that 10 The Committee of thirteen, a
\ few days ago, every member from the South,
including those from the Cotton States MeSsrs
ToOmbs aud DaviSO expressed their readiness
TO accept the proposition of my venerable
friend from Kentucky (Mr. CrittendeD,) as q
6nal settlement OF the controversy, If intended
and sustained by the Republican members.
Hence the sole responsibility of our disagree
ment, and the only difficulty in the way Of ON
amcable adjustment is with the Republican
party"
"A fair basis Of amicable adjustment"
Mr.. Douglas assured the country, the Re-
publicans would not accept. Hence the
sole responsibility of the war rests upon
their shoulders. They cannot evade it,
ignore it or deny it. The proof is clear,
positive, unchalIcnged.
RENENBER.-Let the people remember
that the convention of shoddyites and of.
fice.holders that nominated Mr.. Lincoln
for the Presidency, indorsed all the arbi-
trary arrests, the abrogation of the liberty
of the press, freedom Of speech and Of
person, and the interference of the militia
~ with free elections, as answering
fidelity to the Constitution and the prin-
ciples of American liberty" Let them
remember that it indorsed the wholesale
corruption of the Administration. and
thus encouraged the swindlers who are