Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-06-23

They cannot perish; and ~ the woes and
calamlties of the people thickcn and mag.
I Nifty by the friphtiul war in which thcv are
engaged, they increase more rapidly in val
nc to poaterity than the leaves Of the svbil-
line book. The baleful brood Of political
desIructiOnists who now unhappiIy possess
the high seats of national authority did not
then want public tranquility. They invoked
the storm which has since raiucd blood up-
on the land. They courted the whrlwind
which has proStratcd the progress Of o cen
tury in ruins. They danced with "a hcllish
| goc around the bubblinp cauldron Of civil
war and welcomed with ferocious joy every
hurttul mischief which hickered in It's lurid
and internal flames. COMPROMISE, which
| has its origin in the love and mercy of God:
which made peace and ratified the treaty on
/ Calvary between Heaven and the rcvolted
and rebelious earth; which is the funda-
mental basis Of all human association. and
| by which all governments the world ever
knew have created and upheld compromise.
which fools pronounce reaSOnsblc word,
aud sklliul knavcs cover with reproach
hecause they are enriching themselves at
the expense ~ the national sorrow and
blocd discarded by the North and accepted
.by the South when offered BY Mr. Critten-
DEM BY it domestic tranquility could have
been ensured. But an ultGrior and destruc-
/ tive spirit ruled the hour anc flooded the
nation with misery. And since the break
/ ing up Of the fountains Of the great deep
/ who Of this party have laborcd to tranquil
/ ize our disOrdercd affairs? Who has en-
deayorcd, in the name Of Christ. and by
| the omnipotent power of the principles
which He left His Father throne to pro-
claim aud for which He drank the worm
] ,rpp1 and Al, coll a.. L
| the fcrocious demon of civil war that has
howlcG 50 iierccly for the last three years
among the tombs Of our young aud heroic
dead! Not one. sir; not one. Wise and
/ Christian measures, looking to rcconcilia-
ton and peace and union, have been re-
peatedly spurncd By the Executive and
this legislative department which he holds
i'll duress. At no distant day, when the
horror OF this war can no longer bc borne.
the various propositions which have been
made and rejected in behalf Of enlightened
negotiation and constitutional restoration
will be gathered up and hurled at those in
power as an accusation more appalling. an
indictment more damninr than was ever
levelcd against murderer upon his trial.
Nor can they, in that hour of their fear
and calamity at which the righteous world
will laugh and meek hide their guilty heads
under the assertion that the South will not
treat for peace; yes, peace which shallrestore
the Union under the Constitution a. it was
written by the fathers, and as it has been
interpreted by the supreme judicial tribu-
nails Why came that wasted figure. that
gifted child Of genius, the pure and elevated
stephens, of Georgia, from Richmond on
his way to this Capitol in the midsummer
of 1868! Was it Il trifing cause that moved
him? All the world knows that his iudg-
mcnt and his heart clung fondy and to the
last to the old Government. in whose coun-
cils he had won so much honor. 1t is equal
ly well known that he has never embraced
the suicidal doctrine of State secession
c The right Of revolution is the ground upol
: which he stands. The malignant portion
5 Of the Southern press, too, such mischiey
t ous and damaging prints as the Examine
. and Enquirer at Richmond and the Regis
, ter at Mobile who continually cripple tn
j., interests and friends of humanity in thi
/ baleful contest assailed Mr.. Stephens TO
: his attempt at negotiation, which the,
averred would lead to reunion. Yet. witt
these things well known. and perhaps mucl
, more, which now slumbcrs in the secret
drawers Of the Executive, this messenger
of peace, this most acceptable midiatol
between an estTanged and misled people
was denied hearing-turned back in
silence; and the festival Of death comman-
ded to proceed. The book Of time in all
its ample folds contains no more revolving
or inhuman spectacle. Those who love war
for the mere sake Of war, when the same
ohects can be better attained by the gentle
and holy influences Of peace, and monsters
Of such lrightful dcprayity that blackest of
those numbering ministers, who in their
sightlcss substance wait on nature mis-
chief" appear as angels Of light and benev-
olcnce in the comparison.
Sir, will not here pause to dwell in de-
5 tail on the usages Of civilized nations il
conducting civilized warfare. But | chal
: lenge history that reverend chronicler o
5 the grave, whether in its sacred or profan,
= records, to produce a parallel to the Spiri
} and temper with which the party now il
- power has conducted the awful struggle il
t which we are engaged Commence at tn
. early daybreak Of the world, traverse al
: time, and explore all space, grope your wa,
= among the vast hecatombs of all tormc
. wars. examine the CORY stains Of every bat
t tie plain, ransack the archives Of kings. cab
} incts, and councils, and no instance, not on
{ can be found where a people claimin!
Christian civilization has waeed war o
J any kind against any foe in dumb, terociou,
, silence, without word, sign, or a look il
behalf of peaceful solution as long as We
have been engaged in this cruel conflict
blessed are the poace-makers, was not
spoken for the present administrators OF
, American affairs. They spurn the exam
pies and teachings of all Christian ages and
and enlightened people. They drink not
from the benevolent fountains whose water,
were unsealed to gladden. and refresh tho
, earth by the divine Nazarine on the Noun