Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-01-14

i"N N''''N"'Pi"pV WIN priuo anu nOpe1ul
ness
As we have not provoked this war, bni
sought rather to avoid, we are not responsi.
bic for its consequences to its projectors and
their followers. III the people Of the South.
/ ern States feel its burthens and devastating
influences, it is because they have invited
! them; If sorrow and suffering, and misery
have been brought to their hcarthstones, il
is because they would not be content with
peace and prospcrity-if oppression and
tyranny are the features of the power they
have invoked to rule them, it is because they
suffered themselves to be seduced from the
government that had so long protected and
blessed thcm;-but if they are stepped in
debt, impoverished and ruined it is because
they have preferred these to condition of
atfluence and plenty;-if their agriculture is
smitten, and their commerce is destroyed, it
ir because they have assailed the interest
that has fostered the one, and attempted to
strike down the flag that has protected the
other;-if their institution of human slavery
is now dying in their midst, it is because they
have smitten it with their own hands-be-
cause they have made it an element of rebel
lion-because they sought to change its char
acter from a domestic institution, under the
projections of the Constitution and laws, to
the gigantic form Of political power that
should rule and deSolate the land. The fruits
of the tree they have planted; and the hand
that reared 1t can alone be censured for their
bitterness. lime, repentance and loyalty,
will, in most instances, relieve them from
the consequences of their folly and crime
Peace, prosperity and plenty may come again;
but they cannot expect the nation to restore
all they have destroyed. They cannot rea-
sonably ask that we should restore to life and
vitality again the active agent of this rebel
lion. They cannot claim for their institution
of slavery any further privilege and immu-
nifty than the people of the Northern States
may see proper TO extend to it.
As we approach the end of this contest it
is natural that II portion Of our people should
display some anxiety to anticipate it, with
plans and propositions that, upon superficial
examination, may promise to hasten Its adj
justment
! We want pcace-the North as well as the
| South-but we have. not passed the terrible
ordeal of the last three years to make or ac-
cept peace upon any other than honorable
terms, or without the promise of permanent
adjustment and endurance. We cannot ne
gociate with rebels in arms, or admit Of any
thing from them but unconditional surren-
der and submission. Much we can pardon
" llitlSStN VI tllC puO tiiS
must reap of the harvet they have sown.
The past has its punishments that may be
mitgated or forgiven; but the future must
have full and ample security.
1t is simple folly to talk Of suppressing this
Rebellion and restoring the unity OF the
country, without first subjugating the mill
tary power Of the Confederacy, or relieving
the people of the seeding States from Its
controlling infuence-and i'll many cases,
oppression 1t does not follow that the des-
tructon of the military power of the South
is the subjugation Of the people. In many
cases it will prove their enfranchisement.
There ie IL loyal sentiment and population il
nearly, if not quite all the Southern States
Where too strong, or too open i'll its mani.
testations, the military power has essayed
by every possible means, to keep it in subiec.
ton. Men holding and expressing loya
sentiments, have been fined, imprisoned
hunted into the forests and mountains; anC
many Of them suffered death;-while theil
families have been impoverished and ruined
Political misunderstanding men, who hat
secretly plotted the overthrow of our Gev
crnment--lcd fow-but actually forced ;
ma iority of the Southern States into seces
sion and rebeion-and the military powe
now holds them there.
, Future history will record that perhaps
with two exceptions, the ordinance Of seces
sion would not have carried III any OF tn,
seeding States, if the people could have beer
permitted fair, uncontrolled election, b,
ballot, uponi it, But they were overwhelmed
by fraud and force-and then they were told
according to the improved theory Of Stat,
, Rights, that whenever a majority of Il stat
had resolved to commit treaton, the minorit,
l are bound not only to submit, but to share
, the sin and shame Those whom argumen
r fail to convince, the military despotism ha
r silenced, for the time being.
5 There has been a great deal said about tn
North seeking to subjugate the South. w
have sought nothing of the kind. The po
p litcal and military leaders Of the rebellion
| is who have subjugated the people Of tn
Southern States; trampled upon their poll
teal rights, and involved them in the Grim
Of treason, with its accompaniment of civ
war. The triumph of the Northern armies
and the restoration Of the old Govemmen
y is in truth the deliverence of the people o
! the South; and they will so hail it hereafter
f There are but two ways in which the res
. toraton of peace and the Union is to be aC
/ complshed: First, the unconditional SUI
9 render of the leaders and the abandonment
+ Of the rebellion-or second, the continues
progress and conquest of our arms until tn
: military power of the Conlederacy is broke
E and the heart of the rebellion crushed. A
r intermediate plans or schemes are mere pa
f liatives that, like our compromises Of tn
/ last fifteen years, will only serve to procra'
@ tinatc existing evils; restoring peace that wi
/ require constant watchfulness and conce'
n ions; and prosperity that will depend upo
= almost annual sacrifices to avoid future dc
: mands and instructions. In view of tn
i pcrmunence of our government and the il
tcgrity of our Union, there is no such thin
c as compromise with rebels in arms again'
S both. Turn from it as we may, the gre;
n truth is apparent to every reasoning min
# that SUBMISSION or SUBJUGATIoN for I'll
# leaders of this rebellion are the only effectiN
J. means of restoring peace and good govern
n mcnt again.
!. The first of these is not likely to occur
It the present posture of affairs; nor as long
!, hope, however blind and unreasonable, wi
i serve to shield from despair the fortunes
$ the civil and military heads Of the rebellion
d The second, therefore, constitutes our onl
II certain means OF success. In its progress
n this end, our gallant army has two 70
q mission to fulfil The first is to press bacl
# step by step, if necessary, the military pow
ID of the Contederacy from the usuIped soil
N the seeding States and eventually to su
\ due that power, and bring it to terms
,e peace The second to deyelope the prime
,e pie of loyalty in the relieved people, al
te protect them in its exercise and enjoymer
l. while they restore the civil functions Of the