Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-12

or rebellion insugursted among portion
Of its own people for its destruction.
When this fact shall be demonstrated, as
the loyalty Of the great mass of our people
gives unmistaksble evidence that it will
be, it establishes OF once the stability Of
our form Of government,-it Vindicates
the integrity and intelligence Of our peo-
ple,-it will stand forth as 8 warning TO
future attempts at rebellion,-whilei it will
constitute page in history that the pat
riot and philsnthropist Of other lands may
contemplate with pride and hopefulness.
AS we have not provoked this war, but
sought rather to avoid it, we are not re-
sponsible for its consequences to its pro-
iectors and their followers. If the people
Of the Southern 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 hearthstones, it is because they would
not be content with peace and prosperity;
---if oppression and tyranny are the fea.
lures Of the power they have invoked to
rule them, it is because they suffered them
selves to be seduced from the government
that had so long protected and blessed
them;-.-if they are STEPPED in debt, imPoV-
erished and ruined, it is because they sfflu-
ence have preferred these to q condition of
afiuence and plenty;--ii their agriculture is
smitten, and their commerce is destroyed,
it is becouse they have ssssiled the inter
est that has fostered the one, and attempt
ed to strike down the flag that has protect
ed the cthel:---if their institution Of human
slavery is now dying in their midst it is
because they have smitten il with their
own hands because they made it an ele-
ment Of rebellion, because they sought to
change its character from domestic insli-
tuition, under the protection Of the Consti-
tuition and laws, to the gigantic form Of q
political power that should rule and desc
late the land The fruits are of the tree
they have planted; and the hand that rear
ed it can alone be censured for their bitter
ness. Time, 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 reasonably ask that we should re-.
store to life and vitality again the active
agent of this rebellion. They cannot claim
for the institution Of slavery any further
privilege or immunity than the people Of
the Northern States may see proper to ex-
tend to it.
AS we approach the end Of this contest
it is natural that portion of our people
should display some anxiety to anticipate
il, with plans and propositions that, upon
superficial examination, may promise to
hasten its adjustment.
We want pesce---the North as well as the
South; but we have not passed the terrible
ordeal Of the last three years, to make OF
accept peace upon any other than honora-
BILE terms, or without the promise of per-
manent adjustment and endurance We
cannot negotiate with rebels in arms, or
admit Of any thing from then but uncondi-
tional surrender and submission. Much
We can pardon to the masses of the people,
but the leaders must reap Of the harvest
they have soWn. The past has its punish
ments that may be mitigated 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 subjugsting the
military power Of the Confederscy, or re-
lieving the people of the seeeeding States
from its controlling inauence-snd in
many cases, oppression. 1t does not fol-
low that the destruction Of the military
power Of the South is the subjugation Of
the people. In many cases it will prove
their enfranohisement. There is 6 loyal
sentiment and population IN nearly, if not
quite all the Southern States. Where too
strong, or too open in its manifestations,
r7iIifarv pamor has nuanuad hv
possible means, to keep it in subjection.
Men holding and expressing loyal senti-
ments, have been fined, imprisoned, hunted
into the forests and mountains and many
Of them suffered death-while their fami-
lies have been impoverished and ruined.
Political lesders-desighing men, who had
secretly plotted the overthrow of our Gov
ernment-led feW-but actually forced
majority Of the Southern States into
secession and rebellion-and the military
power now holds them there.
Future history will record that, perhaps
with two exceptions, the ordinance of se-
oession would not have been carried in any
Of the seceeding States, if the people could
have been permitted fair, uncontrolled
election, by ballot, upon it. But they were
overwhelmed by fraud and force-and
then they we're told, according to the i'm
proved theory of State Rights, that when
ever q majority Of State had resolved to
commit treason, the minority were bound
not only to submit, b1t to share the sin
and shame. Those whom argument failed
to convince, the military despotism has
silenced, for the time being.
There has been great deal said about
the North seeking to subjugste the South.
We have sough. nothing Of the kind. The
political and military leaders of this re-
bellion it is who have subjugated the peo-
pie Of the Southern States trampled upon
in their political rights, and involved them
in the crime Of treason, with its accom-
paniment Of civil war. The triumph of
the Northern armies, and the restoration
of the ed Government Is, in truth, the de-
liversnoe of the people OF the South; and
they will 80 hail it hereafter.
There are but two ways in which the
restoration Of peace and the Union is to
be accomplished fret, the unconditional
surrender Of the leaders, and the abandon
ment Of the rebellion or second, the
continued progress and eonquests Of our
arms, until the military power of the Con-
federacy is broken, and the heart Of the
rebellion crushed. All intermediate plans
or schemes are mere pslliatives, that like
our compromises Of the past fifty years,
will only serve to procrsstinate existing
evils; restoring peace that will require
constant watchfulness and concessions;
and prosperity that will be dependent
upon almost annual sacrifices to avoid fu.
ture demands and insurrections. In view
of the permanenoe Of cur government and
the integrity Of our Union; there is no such
thing as compromise with rebels in arms
against both. Turn from it as we may,
the great truth is apparent to every reason
ing mind, that SUBMISSION or sUBJUaATIoE,