Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-20

81 We have had now nearly three years of
Abolition rule, and what sad and melan-
choly picture our once prosperous, united
and happy country presents! "What shall
we do to be saved ?' is on the lips and in
the hearts of all true lovers of our once
Democratic-R Republican Government. The
best, the bravest, and the wisest of our
statesmen and people tremble in view of
the yawning gulf opened before them.
The chains of despotism are slowly but
surely being drawn around us. The per-
sonal freedom we once enjoyed is. almost
gone. Free thought no longer finds free
expression. The simple unostentatious
"White House, where WAsHNGToN, JET
FERsoN and JACKSON administered the
Government and protected the rights and
liberties of the American people, is now a
Palace from which are issued edicts to tram
mel the free thought free speech and free
press of a patriotic people, and to stop
.complainings about the wrongs committed
against public liberty, under the pains and
penalties of imprisonment in filthy dun
geons or exile from home and friends.
Wholesale robberies of the public treasury
are committed by high officials, in
open day. who are screened from
deserved punishment; and those that de-
nounce them are stigmatized as Cooper
heads" 'rebel sympathizers," "disloyal
persons" etc. Towering and magnificent
editices are being erected upon all hands
throughout the country; costly and gaudy
apparel faunts through our streets, on the
persons of those who but short time ago
were bankrupt, almost in INDECENT circun-
stances. Unaccountable fortunes have been
made in very short space of time; and
how? Not by honest and persevering in
dustry and frugality; but how have they
been made? They have been made out Of
the public moneys, by pets and parasites,
who are distinguished for their loyal Aboli-
tionism, and who, regardless of the suffer-
ings of tax-ridden and over-burdened
people, are content with the ill-gotten gains
they have so UNANIMOUSLY accumulated.
Who will hereafter say that the people OF
this country are not patient and forbear-
ing people? They are the wonder of the
world, and even of themselves. Their pa
tience and forbearance are now regarded as
moral heroism. Three years ago, they would
have repelled it as an imputation against
their love of liberty, had they been told
that they would 5becalled on to submit to
SO much.
,Itis the opinion of many wise men, that
Mr.. LINCOLN and those who serve under
him, are trying an experiment. to learn
how far they may go-how far liberty
loving people will permit them to go. Years
of toll and deprivation can replace the
stolen money into treasury now ON the
verge of bankruptcy; but lost freedom can
not be reclaimed without oceans of blood.
"The priceof Libertyis eternal Vigilance"
Our Fathers fought seven years war to-
achieve it; and it may be lost in far less
time than that
The point at which the encroachments
of arbitrary power shall stop, is the only
question left to be determined. Our peo-
pie will endure much; but they will never
allow this Administration to perpetuate its
power by the use of the musket and the
sword around the polls at the next Presi-
Dental election. Threats have been made
by irdiscreet friends of Mr.. LINCOLN, that
this would be attempted. We hope that
there is no intention on the part of the ''Gov-
ernment''9 to undertake it. Yet we fear
that the animus of those who rule in Wash
ington is to be inferred from what they did
in Delaware, Maryland, and other Border
States, at the late elections. The exhibition
of tyranny there may have been feeler, to
see how the people would act under it. The
experiment has been so far a success, that
there may be disposition to extend it.
1t isoften the case, that when our neigh
Dor is oppressed we sympathize with him
in his affiiction, and content ourselves with
that, so long as zoe are not thus afflicted. A
State may be oppressed with the heel of
despotism; but SO long as other States are
seemingly not so oppressed, the citizens
thereof are satisfied with the knowledge of
such exemption. This general feeling will
be put to the test at the next Presidential
election, when the people of all the States
vote on the same day. Then, if tyranny be
attempted it will be general throughout
the country. On that day, the question will
be decided, whether the people are content
to lose their voice in the Government, and
resign it into the hands Of a President sus-
tanned by an army at his command There
is not one right thinking man in the whole
country to-day, who is in favor Of the Cow
crnfnent as made and administered by our
Fathers, who will not say, that, if the scenes
enacted in Delaware, Maryland, etc, at
their-late elections, shall be attempted to be
re-enacted at the next Presidential election,
the people without party distinction will
never submit. If they do, it is useless to
talk further about ours being a Free Gov
ernment, and our People being Free Peo-
pIe. flour Government is to exist as it
was established, and as it existed until the
Inauguration of Mr.. LINCOLN, the next
election must determine it.
We trust that wise coinsels may prevail,
and that no attempt viii be made to pre-