Marshall County Republican., 1864-09-22

OF those in authority t0 iAtsrfere, by mill
tary authority. With the freedom of cleo
tions." They do not even pretend to
state reason for such an insinuatiou, any
more than the Secession fconyention at
Charleston stated reason for their "nwell
founded apprebensions" that Abraham
Lincoln would interfere, by force, which
slavery in the States. ieqIo .etH 3
What more? They go on to, say that
the people shoald not abandon "the right
to keep and bear arms" and should "co-
operate in open, lawful organizations, for
the protection Of freedom of elections"
The secessionists of South Coroina said
Lincoln may assault slavery" therefore,
take up arms and declare Southern Iude-
pendence. The Indiana Central Com
mittee. (stealing the livery of Democrs-
cy. saws: "The Government mag inter-
.fere with the elections; therefore. organize
military bands and go armed to the
polls"
If they had said: There are well
founded apprehensions that Lincoln in
tends to establish monarchy. therefore.
rise in arms and prevent him"-the logic
would have been quite as good, and the
advice not one whit more wicked.
Did the General Government, or any
State Government, ever interfere, or at.
tempt to interfere, or talk of interfering.
with the liberty of elections in any free
and loyal State? Not even the nnLlush-
ing etfrontery of the Chicago Platformcrs,
who actually charge upon our Government
the horrible cruelties exercised by the reb
els on Union prisoners-not even their
reckless hardihood dared to allcge it,
They confined themselves to the assertion
that the Government did interfere in the
elections in Kentucky AMI the other non
seeding slave States; and this is their
threat: "A repetition of such acts in the
approaching election will be held as
revolutionary" and resisted as such.
A preiext more fiimsy and false never
disgraceda party. 1t is fac as notori-
ous a. the existence Of the rebellion itself,
that Kentucky and the other slave States
alluded to. swarm. or have swarmed, not
with secrect traitors only. but with armed
rebels; that the Government has been
compelled to send tens of thousands of
troops into these States to make war with
these armed rebels; nay, that at this very
moment, kentucky is so ovcrrun with
Davis's predatory bands that no loyal
mans life or property is sale. Under
such a state of things was the Government
to allow every man, whether rebel or
loyalist. whether in arms against the
country or active in its defense, TO go to
the polls and vote? Were we to have
votes from each of Morgan's guerillas?
Was Jefferson Davis to have q hand in
our elections?
The Chicago platformers may think
that he onght; but the Loyal people of this
nation are OF a different opinion. Ii the
Federal Government had not so far inter.
fered in the elections of these slave States,
as to see to it that open rebels known to
he snch. did not vote, they ought to hare
been impeached for sinful neglect, or
objectionable folly.
Bat how did they interfere? By requr-
ing of those whose loyalty was more than
doubtful. an oath of allegiance; by what
the Chicago platform denounces as "the
of unusual test oaths." The
oaths are just as unusual as rebellion is;
and just as necessary in the war against
rebellion as Springfield rifles or PARROT
guns.
Was the Government, in slave States
where SO leligerent state Of things
existed, not TO demand an oath of allpgi-
ance as the qualification of voter? Was
it to permit mon who refused such an
oath-therefore refused to acknowledge
this Government-wa 1t to permit such
men to vote for officers of the vey Govern
ment they rejected? 1t would be Just as
safe to import regiment or two from
Lees army. and let them take part in the
elections of Western Virginia.
And because in these States-tainted By
tie disloyalty which usually springs from
these States that have been
the stalking ground of armed treason-be
cause iD them common sense precautions
have been taken to prevent open rebels
from voting. is it therefore to be alleged
that here. in Indiana. or in any other free
and peaceful States. the Government will
"interfere. by military power, with the
freedom OF elections?"
The men who allege such a baseloss
sbsurdity do not believe one word of it.
They know--none better!-with what
tenderness President Lincoln has always
treated even avowed seceSsionists. They
know-none better!--that his sensitive
in regard to the right OF free speech
have been carried to the very verge of that
line where forbcarance is a culpable weak
ness, endangering the country. On the
same day that the Democratic Com
mittee's Address was issned-the 18th of
Dayton Empire, Vallandig-
hams orpan in Ohio. had an editorial in
which, after alluding to reports that
Governor Morton was gaining on his
they declare that nothing else
could be expected If Mcdonald continued
to take the untenable middle ground he
assumed, adding; "Once concede that
State may be coerced; that war is
justifable in any emergency by the
Federal Government to constrain the
obedience Of sovereign but refractory
States, and tile aOhole argument is coace-
ded-" e,tg.....-,s...... st..,-.,a
What does this mean? 1t means:
Jefferson Davis in the right; President
Lincoln is-in the wrong. The war is un- !
Just, nefarious., The Southern Copfedeia-
ov 10 optif1oI fo voooop;t;op. and ,ya ora