Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-22

RssOlred, That we approve the determination OF
/ the Government of the United states not 70 COM
promise with rebels or to offer any terms o. pes.e
al surrender Of their hostility and return to tneir
lust allegiance 90 the Constitution and laws OF Tire
United States. and that We call upon the Govern
nlent 20 maintain this position and to prosecute
the war with the utmost possible Tlgor 70 the
complete suppression OF the rebellion IN ful reli-
heroic vslor and the undying devotion OF the
American people 20 their country and its free in
stitutions.
While we all agree that hatred and resent
ment ought to have no share in the final set
Element of our differences, it is declared that
the lawful authority of the Government must
be vindicated in such a manner as to leave
the fundamental obligations of the citizen to-
ward il no longer in doubt. In other words,
if you have a matter of principle or of policy
to discuss, to defend, to carry, there are the
means to discuss, to defend, to carry it. If
you succeed, well and good If you fail, you
must try again by the same means or give up.
But whoever rises in rebellion against the
will of the majority, constitutiOnally express
ed, must be brought TO submit to it uncondi-
tiOnally, so that every man, woman and child
throughout this broad land may know that
nothing, nothing at all, can be made by foreibly
resisting that will. This point once sternly,
infexibly established, no man will hence
forth be tempted to embark in an enterprise
which Is so perilOus and also so hopeless.
But the peace of the Republic must not
rest upon submission alone it must be pac-
ed upon a solid foundation, by securing the
hearty cooperation Of the now rebellious peO-
pie in the future development of the restored
Union. Then, indeed, peace Will be perfect.
And this great object is subserved by another
proposition submitted by the Union party
1t is this:
ResOIUed, That slavery the cause and now
constitutes the strength OF this rebellion, and
il must be always and everywhere hostile to the
principles Of republican government, justice and
the national safety demand its utter and complete
extirpatiOn from the soil OF the republic; and that
we uphold and maintain the acts and proclamatioRs
by which the Government, in its own defense, has
aimed death blow at the gigantic evil. We
favor, furthermore, of such an amendment to the
Constitution, 20 be made by tie people, in confor
nifty with its provisions, as shall terminate and
prohibit the existence of slavery within the
limits or jurisdiction OF the United States.
The abolition of slavery was urged upon
US, first, as a measure of justice by the great
moral laws of the universe second, as a war
measure, by the necessities of our situation
and third, as the great measure OF reeOncilia-
ton, by the necessity of placing our internal
peace upon the basis of political, social, and
economical harmony. To discuss it as a
measure of justice or as a war measure is not
my object at present; but discussing it as a
peace measure, boldly assert, that there is
nothing that can bring about sincere, hearty,
and lasting reconciliation but the abolition of
slavery.
First, then, as to harmony in our political
system. Was it not the profound and eter-
nal ant gOnism between slavery and the fun
damental principles of our policy, that brought
forth the strife which at last resulted in open
rebellion: The friends of despotism in the
old world were IN the habit of sneering at our
democratic experiment, and of predicting its
failure and when the rebellion broke out,
they exulted over US and said, that the ex-
pertinent had already failed. They exulted
too soon. The experiment was not in danger
of failure because our political system was
democratic, but because there was one element
in il which was anti-democratic, and that re-
belled against the rest. They have indeed
exulted over us too soon for we cast out the
unclean spirit, we place the democratic ex-
pertinent upon the course of a consistent,
harmonious, and healthful development, and
its success will be surer than ever
Secondly, as TO social and economical har-
mOny. What is il that the non-slaveholders
of the South, the overwhelming majority of
the Southern people, are fighting for? Not
their own interests, but the interests and as
piratiOns of the slavehOlding aristocracy.-
This aristocracy, by Its wealth and superior
spirit and intelligence, hold the non-slave-
holding majority in a moral subsection, little
less absolute than that of the slaves them
selves. And upon what does that aristOcratic
rest? Upon the system of sla-
very. Destroy slavery, and you will enamel
pate not Oily the blacks but the whites also.
Loud cheers) In the place of the great
aspiration of slavery, which is dominion, you
will place the great aspiration of free labor,
which is equality for the equality of the
citizens is nothing but the recognized dignity
of free labor. Great applause.) The yoke
once lifted, the Southern people once eman-
cipated they will not let broken-down aris-
tocraey think for them, but they will think
for themselves, like freemen; they viii have
the aspirations of freemen, centered in truly
free Institutions, which are to be found in the
Union. Their new dignity ana their new as
piratiOns will demand the sehool-house, and
the sehOOl-house will make them look back
with contempt upon their former wretched
ness, aud open the charms of new prospects
and a new activity full to their view. These
new prospects, this future of independence,
and selfrespect, will make them
forget the past, in which there was nothing
but degradation. Nor is this ALL The down
fall of slavery will open the road to property
to the poor labOring man. Slavery was
huge Unsuitable land-eater. Slavery abolish
ed, the great landed estates, based upon and
supported by slave-labor, will 90 TO pieces,
and the pieces will fall into the hands of the
poor laboring man. Instead of the grand
palatial mansion, surrounded with miserable
negro-cabins, and instead of the wretched
howell inhabited by the poor white, we shall
soon see the neat white cottage in the midst
Of small but fourishing fields, and the interi-
or of that cottage will be adorned not with
the bOwie-knife and pistol, but with the book
case and every evidence of progressive civil
ization. This will 60 quickly as thought, for
the Southern people will not be left to work
out that development alone. Thousands and
thousands of Northern men, who but recently
had been roaming over that country with
sword and bayonet, and on that occasion had
made the discovery of the truth, will invade
it again with spade and plough, and machin-
cry, and capital, and knowledge, and a spirit
of progressive improvement. These invaders
will be the peaceable neighbors of the inva-
ded, and each one will work for the other in
working for himself; and all will be one peo-
pie. Thus Southern people will be reorgan-
lied, regenerated by the emancipation of the
large majority, also, from the rule of a power
full few. The acrimony of the rebellion will
be blotted out even TO the remembrance the
people will no longer have time to think of
the differences of an unfortunate past, for
they will have to think of the problems of a
busy present and hopeful future. (Cheers.)
But what of the late slave-lord? Will he
forget his rancor also? What if he does
,oss His class uas alwavS waak in pumhars