The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-04-20

not 10 serve u scCouo vi M w S"AN, sAiN
in manner which none of your support
ers then misunderstood; but your words
were evidently designed to bear double
meaning, so that, if you should find the
sweets of office more enticing than you
possibly anticipated, you might change
purpose without seeming TO violate your
promise. Candid people will see In this
a good deal more evidence Of cunning
than of honesty.
The whole truth is this: you are lead
ing the nation quietly to its destruction
by deceiving the people as to the dangers
which threaten it. In the irSt part OF the
campaign of 1862, you gained advantages
which you were unable to utilize or even
retain in 1863.
You sacrificed the entire West for the
capture of Vicksburg, and then you pro-
claim to the four winds that the Missls-
sippi is free, while not single steam
boat can navigate it without being attack
ed or perhaps burned, and without every
passenger having the fear OF death or
captivity before his eyes.
To serve the ends of your cause, you
have made a hero out of man upon
whom YOU have lavished every thing, who
had every obstacle removed from his path,
and who was promptly furnished with re-
Inducements and supplies, while Rose
Grams could get none and who has scarce
ly been able to hold, with the immense
resources at his command, the ground
which his predecessor gained In spite OF
you by his own talenss.
You have offered us the distressing
spectacle of the sacrifice OF merit to ca
price and personal political interests, and
this in a republic, in the name and under
the plea of popular sovereignty.
And to cap the climax We are obliged
to hear definitions like this: An uncon-
ditional!y loyal man is one who. although
not satisfied with the measures taken 10y
the Government, approves them all and
gives his constant support.
1t seems almost Incredible. Are we IN
Constantinople, in St. Petersburg, in
Rome. or in Paris? Are we the descen-
dants, of those proud Saxons who refused
to succumb TO any yoke, or the ltlegltl-
mate offspring of cardinals seeking to Sc,
cure fortune and greatness by perpetual
worship? Are we really the descendants
of those disciples of Luther and Calvin,
who. rather than subject their reason to
an authority which they despised, pre-
ferred to expatiate themselves to those
shores, where through the agency OF lib
erty, they founded our national greatness
which you are now striving to down In
sea of cowardice and adulteration, cor
ruption ard incampeteney? Were our
ancestors to visit the earth they would
certainly be sure to see that, eighty years
aftei the Revolution which gave life and
liberty to the nation, the Lincoln party
could find no other definition of loyalty
than blind submission to the DEGREES OF
the Government.
But we have exercised this blind and
mute submission during three years; dur
ing three years we have kept-and what
is more generous than silence? @
@ Some true radical patriots said not long
since, awe have lost confidence in Ere
mont. What has he done or said for a
year past?"
What could he do? What could he
says He has done for you what Butler
and Sigel has done; what we have all
done; he has been charitable enough to
keep silence, and that is more than he
should have done. In this face of SO
much incapacity and corruption, patriot
ism alone has kept US silent. Each time
that fresh defeat or Trash concession
to foreign powers brought an indignant
exclamation to our lips, we restrained its
utterance. And yet have much grief, and
love, and admiration, accompanied each
hecatomb of these unknown heroes, mar
.tyrs to their country, who have fallen,
through the incompetency and the cold
and incapable ambition of the men whose
mission it was to lead our sons to victory,
but who, being blinded by political con-
=siderations for their personal advance
ment, led them only to proftless death.
And you have not displayed more tai
ent or energy abroad. Napoleon has
trampled upon the rights OF friendly
republic; he has insolently notified US OF
the blockade of the Mexican coast, and
thrown the Monroe doctrine in our face
We ask, then, who is master now in Amer
ica, he who lays down the law, or he who
submits to the same. is it Napoleon Ill.
or The successor of Washington
God alone, by bestowing upon the
country inexhaustibls natural wealth, and
that ardent patriotism, which makes every
soldier hero, has saved the country from
the ruin into which your selishness woulo
plunge it. This is the secret of the dif
ference between your currency and tha
Of the South. HH 7Ha 81
We have been imposed upon Ions
enough. The ruin which you have beer
unable to accomplish in four years, woul'
certainly be fully censummated were yoI
to remain in power four years longer
Your military Governors and their Pro
yo.t Marshals override the laws, and th'
echo of the armed heel rings forth a
clearly now in America as in France o
Austria. You have encroached upon ou
liberty without securing victory and W
must have both.
You have dishonored us abroad b.
shameless Misrepresentation as to GU
/ true condition. Places that we occupie,
lin 1862 are now again in the hands of tn
rebels. and God knows whether you
preparations for the approaching cam
paign are adequate. Corruption has en-