The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-04-13
cDted to. by Congress and the peoplo.,a

This language has none of the sound of the
emancipation proclamation, nor of the recon-
8 structiop and amnesty proclamation, which
proposes that one tenth of the people of a4se-
ceded State, complying with the wishes of the
President, and surrendering on oath such lie
eaR ightssas he wishes them to surrender,
shall be helped to govern and dominate over
nine times their number who possess the same
constitutional rights, according to the learned
- Secretary, as the favored few. The Demo.
= Gratis, in keeping with the statesmanlike senti-
"a ments above quoted, oppose ell unconstitu-
81 fional coercion p~raetieed to make abolition
States to be ruled by a contemplate and pHr.
chased minority, at the expense OF the cardi-
nal principle of free government. They do
not contemplate as suspicious the time when,
I by such corrupt means, the chief officers of
our government shall be elected. They OPP
81 pose all such policy in the management of the
war IS recently sent into the State of Florida
IA band of brave officers and soldiers to fur
fsther the same Objectionable motive, if that
-ssready historian of the times, the public press,
- be truthful in its declarations. If truthful,
xasomebody must account to the country in this
world, or to God in the next, for twelve hum
"a dred citizens, or more, as is believed, siaugh-
tered and taken prisoners in an unnllitary
-ssenteFprise. 80 bss ~ .Efsa "a laga sz8feI
"a Let il be shownst to the conservative men of
this nation that the Administration is devot-
eddy intent upon preserving the mastery edi-
- fee of this Government, and honestly makes
~ war against the seeded States for that noble
eipurpose; aud 1 guaranty that no Democrat
viii oppose it. Any difference of opinion
Which might exist would exist only as a clti-
s.zen,s private thought. And even now, when
1--WE are forced by a weight of evidence which
must control the honest judgment, to believe
that our Federal Government restored to its
pristine condition is not the object of the
party which conducts the war, we do net at
tempt to throw any obstacles In its way. We
= counsel no resistance to it We do not seek to
stop the war. War is inauguiated as the pol
icy of the Administration, and for reasons ca
silly perceived, it can probably accomplish no
Isl object, good or bad, except by conquest, and
that does not promise to be immediate. With
all its usurped powers this Administration can
not live beyond its appointed time During
the short residue of the period allotted to it,
I, fer one, do not wish 1t to arbitrate the fu-
ture Of my country. If it is said that the
war was premature, let it be rccollected that
peace may be premature also. We say If a
sound constitutional party had continued in
the control of the Government there would
have been nc. secession, no war but they are
4Aupon us like destroying fends. Who shall
rescue the Unien in this emergency Who
shall adjust the terms of peace which must at
some time succeed to war go
IF the present administration should adj
Just the terms of peace according to the ideas
sFBhich now govern its policy, then would be
ablighted forever the hopes of all those whose
Eehearts are quickened By the love of free and
7; popular government. 1 believe, that with the
Democracy in power successful negotiations
for the restoration of the Union could be had;
bpt, manifestly, under the present Admins
tration no such negotiations can b. had, nor
If they were practicable would they be adopt
ed, for the administration is committed to
the voluntary scheme of reconstruction and
aeafnsf the Union. 4 q .
L.o- ~ ..e,E L,rlans 49, -o
the war, az well as a finite capacity compre-
Ann6s what is so near the Infinite. But as q
lesser EVIL / would suffer e yen its further. ac-
consultations during the time of abeyance, as
: sfhe only means whereby the peoples in the
exercise of their constitutional right, if that
right be not forcibiy taken from them, may
institute an Administration whose advent will
assure the accomplishment of their great de-
ere. Tie eliveabranch of peace, which it has
been well said should accompany the sword of
war, has been ignored in all this bloody war
of ours The maxim a thousand times ex-
epressedS& aNo7negotiations until the last
eI lars down his arms" What. a malicious
sentimeutii " by not negotiate on Just and
honorable terms to induce the ensmy to lay
down his arms Will you send millions of
your fellow citizens tothe slaughter upon a
mere point of etiquette ! Let a people whose
moral and political senses are awakened cor
rect this evil at the ballot-box.
Inasmuch as / have undertaken to COM
nent somewhat upon the conduct of the war,
I feel constrained to allude to another matter
of great moment which has stricken the pub
lie mind with surprise and regret, aud weak
ened the confidence of many in the integrity
Of the Administration
= Z said heretofore in my remarks that at the
commencemcntof the war the principal mill
stary talent and accomplishment of the coun-
try was possessed by men belonging to the
Democratic party. l repeat the assertion not
for the purpose of Sbo%asting, but because ii be-
comes an important consideration when we
seek for an explanation of the astonishing
course which has been pursued by the Presi-
dent in relation to the command of our ar
mics. Those Democrats of military capacity
were among the first to proffer their services
to the Administrator to aid in putting down
the rebellion and restoring the supremacy of
the Government and Union. They did not
suppose that they would be compelled to don
the complexion of the Ethiop to save their
epaulets, Nor that their tactics would be over
rnledby one having no military knowledge
whatever, though the Constitution had added
TO his civil function the theoretic capacity of
.Commanderzin Chief. Foremost among these
men who FASTENED to the standard of their
country, mapped out the War, planned lis
campaigns, and laid down the sagacious STRAIT
eey which, if supported and not interrupted,
would have accomplished the peoples object,
was that distinguished general whose mama is
so honcrably associated with the campaigns,
battles, and strategy which resulted in the re-
conquest and restoration of West Virginia
who saved against the persistent assaults Of
vastly superior forces, against the violation of
faith by the Administration to which he look
cd in vain for promised support, that most
gallant of all modern armies, the army Of the
Potomac. Under the m of any gen
erai of less than the highest military capacity
80. - rouId have heon lost Thanks for