The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-01-21

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tentative Of armed reb, llion. We were
not prepared for the FIRST onset. We had
armies 10 gath, T, aud arms aud munitions
to provide for them; a navy to collect,
whence rcbe leaders, while in power,
had scattered it, aud equip it fer strife !;
aud It was only with tho lapse Of time
that We realized the magnitude aud
strength Of the rt tbclion, aud the clabo.
rate ard ctlectual means thot the leaders
had taken for its prosecution and tuc-
cess. When oil these things are care
fully considered, our people should not
bc surprised at the duration of the con.
fict, or the cost Of tlood and treasure 1t
| has involved
! BY no act Of wrong or oppression did
the people OF the Northern States pro.
woke this rebellion. It. has 70 warrant
or justification Whatever. We had u.
,ringcd upon no right guorcnt, I'd to the m
by the Constitution ol the land. We
had assentedto to all the compromises they
presented To us, ard kept cur faith
while they violated, repealed or destroy
ed them a pleasure. While the great
mass Of our people, Of both political par.
tics, rciraincd from interfering with their
/" peculiar Institutions" we FIST family
protested, md then more rCsolulcly
declared aCainst its bcirg made an en-
ginc OF political power, and, for this pur-
pose, extended over territory that other
lwise should be free. We urged the
I Southern rcvplc 20 coriinc that 4" instlu-
ton" within its existing limits, and take
with II all the guarantees the nation
could give for its quiet and pcHceablc en-
lJoyment Tut we could not contest that
the blghting Influence of slavery should
be spread over tree territory, merely to
create slave States, in order to preserve
the balance oi political power" For
this check TO their political ambition, the
leaders inaupuratcd this gigantic rebel.
lion and large portion Of their people
took upon themselves its consequences,
in an armed attempt 10 destroy Gov
crnmcnt under which they had been pros
porous and happy to dissolve n Union
Of States thut had been their protection
and slrength-without contemplating the
possibility of failure, or the fact that
success must impovcrish rather than ben.
eft their condition.
According to the magnitude of this
rebellion, the result of restoration OF
our Government and Union will be potent
in lis influence, not only upon ourselves,
but the civilized world. II involves the
question of mans capacity for sclrroy-
ernment. The issue il on trial whether
a Government, resting solely with the
people, and controlled by delegated pow.
ers possesses the elem snts Cf strength
nA ,,pftV o., tt..,IT Z.
sovereignty in such an emergency as n
great revolution or rebellion inuueurute d
among portion of its own people for It's
destruction, When this fuci shull be
demonstrated, as the loyalty of the great
mass of cur people gives unms;uk lc
evidence that il ill be, il establishes NJ
once the stability of pur form ofgoyern.
ment, II vindicates the integrity aud intel
/ igencc Of our people, it will stand forth
us n warning to future ATTEMPTS at re.
bellion, while il will constitute a page In
history that the patriot and phinnlbro-
/ pist of other lands may contemplate with
pride aud hopcfu lness.
As we have not provoked this war, but
sought rather TO avoid II, we are not re
sponsiblc for its consequences TO its pro.
jectors and their followers. If the peo-
pie Of the Southern States feel its bur
thens aud devastating influence il is be-
cause they have invited them; ir sorrow
and suffering and misery have been
brought to their hearthstoncs, il il be.
cause they would not be content with
peace ard prosperity; II oppression and
! tyranny are the features OF the rowcr
they have invoked to rule them, it is be.
cause they suffered themselves to be sc-
duced from the Government that hud Sc
long protected and blessed them; if they
are STEPPED in debt, impoverished and
ruined, il is because they have preferred
these to u condition Of uffluence and
plenty; il their agriculture Is smit ten
and their commerce is destroyed, il is be-
cause they have nssai.ed the interest that
has fostered the one, and attempted to
strike down the flag that has protectcd
the other; if their institution Of human
slavery is now dying in their midst, it Il
because they have snitten IL with theiI
own hands-bccause they made il uu
element of rebellion - because they
sought to change its character from a
domestic institution under the protection
OF the Constitution aud laws, TO the pi.
gantic form of political power that
should rule and dcsolute the land. The
fruits of the tree they have planted; and
the hand that reared it can alone be cen.
sured for their bitterness. Time rcpen.
tonce, and loyalty will, in most instances
relieve them from the consequences Of
their FOLLY and crime. Peace, prosperity,
and plenty may come again; but they
can rot expect the nation 10 restore ali
they have destroyed. They can not rea-
sonably ask that we should restore to life
and vitality again the active agent of this
rebellion. They can not claim for the
institution Of slavery any further privilege
or immunity than the people Of the
Northern States may see proper to ex.
tend to II.
As we approach the end Of this con-
test It is natural that portion oil our poo.
Pile should display some anxiety to untici.
pate ii, with plans and propositions that,
upon superficial examination, may prom
ise to hasten its adjustment.
We want peace-the North as well as
the South, but we have not passed the
terrible ordeal Of the last three years, 10
nhkc oT accept pehce upon any other
than honorable terms, or without the
promise Of permanent adjustment and en-
durance. We can not negotiate " th 70.
bels in arms, or admit OF anything from
them but unconditional surrender and
Submission. Much we can pardon to
the masses OF :he people, hut the le aders
mnst reap Of the hOrves, they have sown.
The past has IL puniShmenls that Inuy
be mitigated or forgiven; bat tho future
must baye full aud ample security.
II is simply folly to talk of suppres.
sing this rebellion and restoring the uni |
ty OF the co, ntry, without first subjuga-
ting the military power of the Confede-
rscy. or relieving the people of,he seee.
ding States from its controlling influence
land. In many cases, oppression. Il
toes not follow that the destruction Of