Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-18

TO PERFECT UNION for the resettlement OF
all rights, under free parliament"
When this declaration was read in par
liament-though it was the false word of a
designing tyrant-yet the restoration of the
second Charles was voted by acclamation!
1t was alleged that the declaration not only
comprehended the motives but the condi-
tions of the recall. Perhaps the peoples
representatives were precipitate in not first
settling the conditions by ''free parlia-
ment." But the amnesty and declaration
were none the less powerful. Nor would the
same sort of declaration from Abraham Lin
coin be less powerful to restore the sovereign
States to their old allegiance, especially If
followed by National Convention and the
restoration of party not unfriendly to the
entire union of all the States with their
'.just rights" No distrust followed this
declaration of the English King. He came
to England. His journey to London was
one perpetual fete-one continued shout of
rejoicing! Faction ceased. History re-
cords that cavaliers were reconciled with
roundheads. Exiles showed no resentment
in the Joy of their return. A violent reac-
tion against revolution began; war ceased;
and the foundation was then laid for the
permanent stability which 1888 gave to En-
gland. .a.
On the contrary, what lesson may we
England, and the policy of the latter in
striving to subjugate the former! From
the time of the first and second Charles
under all rules-discontent and warfare
| has prevailed. The u.lion purchased through
perfidy and fraud, by appeals to the mer-
cenary motives of men, has been a mock
cry. When Strafford ruled Ireland, he
placed his captains and officers as burgesses
in parliament, who "swayed between the
two parties" and thus began the corruption
which ended in Irish subjugation. In spite
of the eloquence of Grattan and Plunkett
Ireland at length became dependency of
the British crown. True she had been de-
spoiled before the Union. From the time
when the Puritans overrun Ireland to eX-
terminate and destroy, sending thousands
into tropica' slavery and llany thousands
into that other country where crime breeds
no more of its offspring-down to the first
of January, siXty-two years ago, when the
| imperial standard floating from Dublin Cas-
tie announced to Ireland the depth of her
degradation, and from that period to the
present, there has been no union, no peace,
no Justice, no content for ireland. That
union, thus mis-begotten of force and fraud,
was weakness to England and ruin to Ire
land. In one rebellion alone-that of 1898
there were 10000 loyal lives lost, and 5O,-
600 insurgents, and property worth Sl5,-
100000. A conspiracy here, plot there, a
rebellion at the capital, a rising at the eX-
/ tremities, public waste, privat impoverish-
ment, general corruption, periodical starva-
| ton, political turpitude, and national bank
ruptcy-these are the features of national
thIaldom which Ireland presents for our
warning, when we talk of subjugation and
contiscation.
How much better would it have been for
both countries, had the sagacious advice of
Sidney Smith been followed, when he said:
How easy it is to shed human blood; how easy it
is to persuade ourselves that it is duty to do So
and that the decision has cost us severe struggle
how much, in all ages, have wounds and shrieks, and
tears been the cheap and vulgar resources Of the
lers of mankind. The vigor love consists in finding
out wherein subjects aggreved, in relieving them,
in studying the temper and genius of people, in
consulting their preludices in selecting proper per-
sons to lead and manage them in the laborou watch
ful, and difficult task of increasing public happiness
byallaying each particular discomfort.
The wiser statesmen of England once
learned this lesson. They strove to apply
it to America in the revolution of 1776.
Every argument in favor of an unrelenting
and DISCRIMINATING policy by the British
ministry was used and acted upon. Inv vain
Chatham, Barre and Burke appealed.
Chatham, though provoked at our contu-
macy, as we are provoked at the conduct
of the South, still felt that provocation
could no longer be treated as such when
it came from one united province, and
when it was supported by eleven provinces
more. Accordingly, in February, l775, he
introduced bill, whose conclusion was:
so shall true reconcilement avert impend-
ing calamity" We know the sequel; but
do we not heed the teaching? When in
1860 our wiser men strove to avert calami-
ties by true reconciliation, who prevented?
Who yet stand in the path of reconcilia-
tion, with flaming two edged sword, bar
ring all ingress to the blessings of peace?
Who clamor yet for dictatorial regime?
Who shout for death penalties, outlawrys,
forfeitures, and all the barbarous schemes
of vulgar despotism? Or who on the other
hand, still hope for victory without repri-
sails; success without the tarlish or breach
of the Constitution; equality of rights,
without irresponsible tyranny; free opin-
ions freely expressed--the only reward
which a union restored can grart, worthy
of the great sacrifices which the noble SOL
diers of the Republic have made!
Let us have done with juggling amnes-
ties and ambitious schemes, with philan-
thropic ferocity and enforced elections
Under no such policy, pitched in the key |
note of the Presidents proclamation, or
chaunted in the mellifuous tones Of the
gentleman from Maryland, (Mr. Davis can
the South ever be held in honorable alliance
and harmony? A Government inspired |
thus, would be out of all relations to the
States of the Union. 1t would have neither
''the nerves of sensation which convey in
telligence to the intellect of the body poll |
tic, nor the ligaments and muscles which |
hold its parts together and move them in |
harmony" 1t would be as Russia is to Po- |
land, as England to Ireland, the govern
ment of one people by another. 1t would
never succeed with our race. 1t would /!
never succeed with a territory, whose con-
tigurations are so peculiar and whose in |
terests are so varied as ours.
No citizenship is worth granting to those |
who dishonor themselves to receive 1t. No \
common bond of allegiance or nationality |
is possible on such terms. Mean and de- |
grading conditions which unfit the citizen !
f)r manly equality are more despicable than I
rebellion. You cannot expel the poison of
sedition by adding to its virulence. You
cannot draw men from crime by stimulat- |
ing the motive which led to it. Not thus
not thus were the early instructions in our
country assuaged. True, these rebellions
were pigmies to this gigantic outbreak, but |
the principle of their settlement is eternal.
1t is the very gospel of God; the very love
which saves mankind. Inspired thus I
what might be done If a wise and sagacious
Executive should extend the same benefi- |
cent policy to the factions which are bleed /
ing our beloved land? illjA