The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-09-22

pardon of the trespasser But what makes
this Chicago policy more contemplate, and
even ridiculous, is that it is nothing differ
ent from the policy with which the same
parties now contracting actually ushered in
disun:op 1862, in the closing hours of the
Administration Of James Ruchanan. Yes,
my dear friends, when we of this Admins
tration came into our places, in March, 1861,
we found there existing just the system
which is now recommended at Chicago,
namely: 1st, a reasonable confederacy in
arms against the Federal authority I'd, a
truce between the Government of the United
States and the rebels, q veritable armistice
which was so construed that while the ma.
tional ports and forts were thoroughly in.
vested along the sea coast and rivers by the
insurgents, they could be neither reinforced
nor supplied even with food by the Govern.
ment; Sd. languid debate with view to
an ultimate National Convention, which the
rebels haughtily despised and contemptL.
ously rejected. What were the alternatives
left us? Either to surrender ourselves and
the Government at discretion, or to summon
the people to arms, terminate the armistice
adjourn the demoral izlns debate, and ere
possess" ourselves of the national forts and
ports. And now has all the treasure that
has been spent and all the precious blood
that mas been poured forth. gone, for moth
ing else but to secure an ignominious re.
treat, and return at the end Of four years to
the hopeless imbccility and rapid process Of
national dissolution, which existed when
Abraham Lincoln took into his hands the
reins OF Government
Every one of you know that but for that
accession of Abraham Lincoln just at that
time the Union would in less than three
months have fallen into absolute and rre-
trievable ruin.
will not dwell long on the complaints
which misguided but not Intentionally per-
verse men bring against the AdWinistration
of Abraham Lincoln. They complain Of
military arrests Of spies and lurking traitors
in the loyal States. as II the Government
could justify itself for waiting without pre-
ventiv e measures. for more States to be in
vaded o: to be carried off into secession.
They complain that when we call for VOL
unteers we present the alternative Of a draft;
as if when the ship has been scuttled the
captain ought to leave the sleeping passen-
gers to 60 to the bottom without calling upon
them to take their turn at the pump.
They are not content with plotting sedi-
tion in secret places, but they 60 up and
down the public streets uttering treason,
vainly seeking to provoke arrest in order
that they mag complain of denia, of the
liberty Of speech. The impunity they ev-
cry where enjoy under the protection Of
constitutional debate, shows at one and the
same time that their comp laints are ground
less, and that the Union, in the e,emsnt Of
moral stability, is stronger than they know.
The chief complaint against the Presi-
dent is that he will not accept peace on the
basis of the integrity OF. the Union, without
having also the abandonment of slavery
When and where have the insurgents offer.
ed bin peace on the basis Of the integrity
Of the Union. Nobody has offered it. The
rebels never will offer it. They are deter.
mined and pledged to rule this Republic or
ruin it. told you here a year ago tha t
practically, slavery was no longer in ques-
tion-that It was perishing under the opera
ton of the war; That assertion has been
confirmed.
The Union men in all the slave State
that we have delivered are even more anxi-
Gus than we are to abolish slavery. Wit
ness Western Virginia, Maryland, Missouri,
Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas. JEFF.
erson Davis tells you in effect the same
thing. He says that it is not slavery, but
independence and sovereignty. for which he
is contending. There is good reason for
this. A hundred dollars in gold is only
years purchase Of the labor Of the working
man in every part Of the United States.-
At less than half that pIice you could buy
all the slaves in the country. Nevertheless,
our opponents want distinct exposition of
the Presidents views on the Ultimate solu.
ton of the slavery question.
Why do they want it? For the same
reason that the phe r;eoos snd S.dd,,ooo.