The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1864-01-21

sent not tire interests Of their citizens but
tie wills and interests of the power that
creates and sustains them. The nine
States thus controlled would balance in the
House Of Representative in the choice OF
President and at all times in the Senate.
New York Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois.
Indiana, Massachusetts,, Missouri. Ken
tucky. and Wisconsin, with a united popu-
latcn OF L., 5333 ,3S3; which Is more than
one-half of that Of our whole country
The enc tenth who would accept the proc
lamation ior the price Of power would not
only govern the States made BY Exeou
tive DEGREES, tr- they would also govern
the North. While the plan is harsh to the
body Of Southern people, i, is still more
uni ust towards the North. Fourteen hun
drei men in Florida would balance in the
Senate the United States the power of
New York Less than 7G.U0C voter, in the
nine States named in the Pre- .ident's Proc
lama.ion would WELD power sufficient to
weigh down that sf the nine most populou,
States in the Union
We should thus have, with the nom;-
Ia, States of Eastern and Western Virgin
IA, system Of rotten borougls which would
govern the Union and destroy the rerre-
sentative nature of cur government. This
in connection with existing inequalities in
State representation, would be danger
ous invasion of the rights Of majority Of
the American people. It would enable
an Administration to perpetuate its pow.
er.
Il is fact full of significance that eve
~ measure to convert the war against
armed rebellion into one against property
and personal rights a, the South, has been
accompanied By claims to exercise military
power in the loyal States of the North
The proclamation Of emancipatio at the
South, and the suspension Of the writ of
habeas corpus ar the North: the eonf-ca-
tlcn OF private property in the seeding
States. and the arbitrarv arrests, impris-
onments and hanishmen. Of the c;t!zens
u the loyal States; the claim to destroy
political organizations at the South, and
the armed interference Of government in
local elections have b an at the North
contemporaneous events.
These acts at first were justified upon
the ground that they were necessary to
save the national existence We now ind
that new and more extreme claims L. arbi-
trary power are put forth. when it is de-
ci;red that the strength Of the rebellion is
broken and that cur armies are about to
trample gu: every vestige of its nccndiary
fires. More prerogatives are asserted III
tie hour Of triumph than were claimed az
Il necessity IN days OF disaster and danger.
The doctrine Of southern 6sorga :zaton
and revolution is doctrine Of national
bankruptcy. and of national ruin; II is a
measure for lasting military despotism
over one third Of our country, wh;ch Will
be tie basis for military despotiSm ,er the
whole land. ltdoes not contemplate the
return Of cur soldiers t. Their families or
relief from the cost and sacrifices of war.
l. vii make an enduring drain upon our
homes, and impose crushing bur.hens uDon
eur labor and industry. 1t will open a
wide and lasting field for pecuation and
fraud. 1t tends 10 rerpe:uate power by
making and unmaking States as the inter
ests of factions may dictate It will be a
suorce of internal disorder and disauc u lie.
and national weakness in our external re-
lations. itwill give dangerous allies to
invaders ofour soil
If this war is TO make socia, rcvolu
ton and structural changes in great States
We have seen only Its beginning. Such
changes are the work Of time Ii they are
to be made by military power, it must be
exeit.d through long periods. Whether
white OF black troops are used, the diver
sion from labor and the cost of war will be
equally prolonged, and we have just enter
ed upon course of certain cost. and un-
certain results. No such changes as are
now urged have ever in the worlds histo-
ry been made without struggles lastin.
through more than one generation OF men
What has government accomplished in
the territories wrestei from rebellion bv
the valor of our armies? Has it pacified
them? Has it received the arts Of peace.
Has quiet and confidence been restored9-
Is commerce renewed Are they no, h Id
as they were conquered, at the expense
and ireasure of Northern blood? Are NOT
our armies wasted ly holding under arm
ed control those who, under wise anG
generous policy, would have been friends
The spirit which PROMPTS the harsh meas