Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-06

convention, Oh 1ueSuay, May 3lSC:
BosToN, May q, 1864.
DEAR SIR:--I deeply regret that it Is out
of my power to attend the Cleveland Con-
vention. Allow me to suggest one or two
things which hoped to urge on its attcn-
ton. .f#
| Without denying what the friends Of the
| Administration claim--tbat 1t has done
something toward crushing the rebellion
my charge against it is that 1t has not done
half that it should and could have done to-
ward that end, had it used the means in its
hands, with an earnest and single purpose
to close the strife thoroughly and forever.
1t has thought more of conciliating rebels
than of subduing them. 1t has ayowedly
forborne tine lawful and efficient means, Ito
wit, the abolition of slavery,) until it was
! thought indispensable, and even then has
| used it in half-hearted, hating way,
wishing to save the feelings of rebels. We
had three tools with which to crush the re-
bellion-men, money, aud the emancipation
of the negro. We were warned to be quick
aud sharp in the use of these, because every
year the war lasted hardened the South
from Rebellion into Nation, and doubled
the danger of foreign interference. Slavery
has been our great trouble in the past, and,
as every man saw, was our great danger In
StllIs
Seize at once the God-giyen opportunity to
end it, at the same time that you, in the
quickest shortest and cheapest manner, an
initiated the rebellion! . ...
For three years, the Administration has
lavished money without stint, and drenched
the land in blood, and it has not even yet
thoroughly and heartily struck the slave
system. Confessing that the Use of this
means is indispensable, the Administration
has used it just enoughto irritate the rebels,
and not enough to save the State. In sixty
days after the rebellion broke out, the Adj
ministration suspended hdLoas corpus on the
plea of military necessity-justly. For
three years it has poured out the treasure
and blood Of the country like water. Mean
while, slavery was too sacred to be used;
that was saved, lest the feelings of rebels
should be hurt. The Administration
against slavery, and up to the present
moment, has decided to exhaust them all
before it uses freedom, heartily, as means
of battle. ....s.
MIR. Lincoln's friends tell us that If he is
reelected, he is reelected to pursue the
same policy and obey the same Cabinet
What will be the result of another four
years of such policy? Unless the South is
recognized, the war will continue; the tax
alton needed to sustain our immense debt,
doubled by that time, will grind the labor
ing men of the North down to the level OF
the pauper laborer of Europe: and we shall
have government accustomed to iespotic
power for eighty years-a fearful peril to
Democratic institutions.
Mr.. Lincoln's model of reconstruction is
the experiment in Louisiana, which puts all
power into the hands of the unchanged
white race, soured by defeat, hating the la
boring class, plotting constantly for aristo-
cratic institutions. To reconstruct the rebel
States on that model Is only continuing the
war in the Senate chamber after we have
closed it in the field. Such reconstruction,
leaving the South with its labor and capital
at war, puts the whole payment of the debt
on the Industrious North, and in that way
it will hang on US for century. Such re-
construction makes the freedom of the negro
sham, and perpetuates slavery under a
softer name. Such reconstruction, leaving
the seeds of discomfort and division in the
South in place of power, tempts and facili-
tates another rebellion, at the instigation or
wit III the aid of French Mexico. Such re-
construction dooms US to second or third
rate place among nations, and provokes for
eign insult and aggression.
There is no plan of reconstruction possi-
WllIlu INCubl y cal Is uIllCoS VIC dullllI Jllc
black to citizenship and the ballot, and use
him, with the white, as the basis of States.
There is not in the rebel States sufficient
white basis to build on. If we refuse this
method, we must subdue the South and hold
it as territory until this generation of white
men has passed away, and their sons, with
other feelings, have taken their places, and
Northern capital, energy and immigration
have forced their way into the South
Should we adopt that plan, and wait for
those changes, twenty years must elapse
before we can venture to rebuild States.--
Meanwhile, n large and expensive army, and
the use of despotic power by agovernment
holding halfits territory and citizens as sub
jects, make every thoughtful man tremble
for the fate of free government. A quick
aud thorough reorganization of States, on
Democratic basis, every man and race equal
before the law, is the only sure way to save
the Union. 1urge it not for the black mans
sake alone, but for ours-for the nations
sake. - . ....f. r.... 3
Against such recognition Of the blacks,
Mr.. lincoln stands pledged by prejudice and
ayowal. Men say, if we elect him, we may
change his views. Possibly. But three years
has been long time for a mans education
in such hours as these. The nation cannot
afford more. AT any rate the Constitution
gives us, this summer, an opportunity to
make President man fully educated.
TheAdministration, therefore, regard as
civil and military failure, and its avowed
policy ruinous to the North in every point of
view. Mr.. Lincoln may wish the end
peace and freedom-but he Is wholly un-
willing to use the means which can secure
that end. II Mr.. Lincoln Is reelected, do
not expectto see the Union reconstructed in
my day, unless on terms more disastrous to
liberty than even disunion would be. If /
turn to Gen. Fremont, see man whose
first act was to use the freedom of the negro
as his weapon. SEQ one whose thorough
loyalty oDemocratic institutions, without
regard to race--whose earnest and decisive
character, whose clear-sightedo statesman
ship and rare military ability, justify my
confidence that In his hands ll.will be done
to save the State that foresight, skill, decis-
ion and craftsmanship can do. ggrIig1
Think the Convention should incorporate
in its platform the demand for an amend-l
mentof the neutrality-suspicious. slavery
everywhere within the Republic,and forbid
ding the States to make any. distinction
among their citizens, on account Of color or
race. / think it should demand a recon-
struction of States as speedilya possible, ON
the basis of every loyal man, whiteor black,
sharing the land and the ballot. 9sg9 ri1s0l
But II some of these points are not COW
cred, Ishall supportits action with all my
heart, If it's puts the name of Fremont or.
Butler on It's fags Fremont Is my first
choice, but / can support either ofithem;
and ndthisisanhour such perilto the Republ
I; chat tl,ft.ir man, ahotrlf ar all