Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-08-13
The End of the war.

that this administration is unable to make |
peace, and that no end of war is to be look
ed for during the sidency of Mr.. Lin
coin. That policy which gave and still
gives to the originators and leaders Of
secession and rebellion their entire hold
on the people Of the South is to be con-
tinued as long as the present incumbent
governs the national course. Is il not
worth the while Of sober men to look this
fact straight in the facet What peace
does Mr.. Lincoln look for, if any! Two
yearo ago he listened to the loud cry Of
rampant aboliionism, and thought, ap-
parently, that it was the voice Of great
people, who would stand by him if he ad-
opted their views and obeyed their behests.
He obeyed. Now be evidently imagines
that the same voice continues to sound,
and that the same people will reeleot him
on the principle of war to the extinction
of slavery, whatever the cost, however dis
tant the accomplishment. He is mistaken
or we are. There is q widespread and
increasing feeling in the Republican party
in favor of the return to constitution and
to reason. 1t is time to stop this policy
of giving the enemy strength aud cohes.
ion. If there had been good sence to the
amount of grain Of mustard seed in the
counsels of the Administration. wo should
long ago have seen the attempt made TO
divide instead Of uniting the rebels. If,
in 1851 or 1862, the policy of the Admin.
istration had been strict adherence to
the Cri.tenden Resolutions, there is no
doubt now remaining that peace party
would have risen in the South, wonld
have gained strength under the pressure of
the adversities of war, would have become
powerful in many of the States, and would
have so far weakned the strength of the
rebel leaders that they would by this time,
perpaps long before this time, have been
compelled 10 seek terms of peace and sub.
mission. No calm review of the history
Of the past three years can fail to make
this apparent. We do not accuse Mr..
Lincoln Of q contrary design; but we do
solemnly impeach the men who led the
Republican party, before God and their
country, OF the deliberate determination to
prevent restoration of the Union, and to
exclude the population of the Southern
States, at least for this generation, from
voting power in the national councils. Is
there a man of sense who doubts the truth
Of this accusationl Ifthere be, let him
pause now and review the past and he
will give his verdict, beyond question.
against the radical political leaders, as
moral traitors of the most wicked kind
1t was lamentable weakness Of Mr.. Lin
coin that be believed these men to be the
representatives OF a peoples mind. He
was thus led into the grandest errors Of
modern, nay of all political history. To
accomplish their objects, the liberty Of the
citizen was small sacrifice in their view.
So long as they held power they feared
nothing, and they resolved to hold power
until the end of their lives, and transmit it,
if they might, to their children. They
had this advantage, that the people had
been accustomed, by party habit and al
lance, to follow party leaders. They
know that they could lead on masses with
them, by this habit of follow.my-leader
partisanship. But they miscalcuated the
extent to which this wosld enable them to
60 1t was easy to laugh at debt, to de-
ride the horrors of war, to persuade men
that the future was brilliant before them.
But now that debt is felt, that war str etches
its clouds Of gloom over all the land
clouds with crimson streaks portending
either day of storm or setting sun, =
the people are awakening to the character
and design of the men they have followed
Would to God that the Presto could
catch some of the wisdom that begins to
inspire the people!
The war cannot end under the admin
istrasion Of Abraham Lincoln, unless he
abandons his evil counselors, changes
his whole policy, revokes his proelama'
tions to all whom it may concern, and
takes the Constitution as hi, guide and the
object Of his sworn support. The issue il
presented plainly to the people-war till
the abolition of slavery is fully accom-
plished, or peace under the Constitution
What has been the success Of the attempt
to abolish slavery by force thus far !! The
solemn fact is, that by the regular figures
Of the census, by the laws of natural in
crease, there are probably more negro
slaves within the lines of the rebel army
to-day than there were in the entire United
States when the war began! The de-
crease, if any, can be but very small. AND
Of the liberated, thousands have perished
by starvation and neglect.
Lfthere be any truth in figures, it is no
to be questioned that the United Statel
could purchase at his or her full price, ,and
liberate every slave now 10 the South, fo
a less sum Of money that will be added t.
the national debt before Mr.. Lincoln cal
: abolish slavery by his plan We nigh
safely add that the entire black population
of the North and South could he made fre
and transported in comfort and luxury t.
the shores Of Africa, the whole cost of free
dom, transportation, and coloniring beiu