The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-07
THE CRISIS PAST-THEF FUTURE OF
THE COUNTRY.

In all the ages of mankind history has
never recorded such sublime spectacle
as the people of this Republic have just
presented There have been other re
publics. there have been assemblies and
representatives of the people: but never
before did greatnation assemble on one
day to determine by the simple deposit of
ballots. the greatest, most momentous
question which the sovereignty of ma
ton can decide. Never before was the
collected will of the people deter,nfned
and uttered in one grand national act.
1t was the determination of the course
and character of the American Rapublic.
through future generations. The world
has seen no such spectacle; and Europe
will learn from the issue and results of
this act more than it has learned-great
as that is--of the genius and character
which free institutions have impressed
upon the country 1t is evident that the
election has been conducted not only
freely, but quietly, and that even in places
where we might have expected some dis
turbance there has been peace and quiet
ness. There has been no interference of
the military There has been. apparent
". less than the usual number of affrsys
and accidents attendant upon n National
election. The act. and the result, is.
morally and politically, u sublime lesson
to the world.
This much all. whether Of the victori-
Gus or the defeated parties. may justly
claim. We have set an example 10 the
world of what free Republic can do,
even amidst the greatest dangers, which
will be salutary to all mankind.
" hat is the result? " hat have we
done? We have done all tha. we intend
to do and Providence has not merely IA
vo-ed us, bat laid us under the most
solemn obligations, that this favor and
power shall be used for the general We
fare. And let the minority remember
that morally they are under the same
obligations The case has been decided
against them bv the only authority which
had the power to decide il: and there is
a moral obligation upon them not only TO
accede to That decision, but give the adj
ministration of the country patriotic
support till the general mind Is conyinc-
ed If il ever should be- that the meas
ures of the Government are wrong -
This is not only duty, but it is the part of
wise policy.
Let US now examine the political re
suit OF the election. Mr.. LINCOLN all of
whose views are known and carefully de
0neu Is re elected DN . inaJOEliS SO
overwhelming that it gives vast moral
as well as political weight TO his admins
tration. The sum of his policy was
clearly defined in his note To whom it
may concern" This policy is defined in
two words-the conquest of the rebels /
and the abolition of slavery No other 4
conquest of the rebels, however. need be 1
made. or is desired. than that expressed /
in Mr.. LINCoLN's first proclamation
that those in insurrection against the /
Government Of the United States should 4
submit to the Constitution and laws there /
of. The abolition of slavery in insur /
recrionary States, was begun and is con
tinued as war measure, and if peace is .
restored is is unquestionably true that +
its effect on slave property not liberated .
by our armies, must be adjudicted upon 4
by the Supreme Court In looking 10
the effect of the war on slavery, we
should recollect distinctly tha. the Con
stitution only recognizes any part of this
nation tno matter how large part, ,wheth-
er embracing States or not, in arms
against the Government az an ,nsurrection
Such thing as State being in arms a.
gainst the government, is not recognized
In the Constitution st all: That the
President has no Constitutional right TO
treat with the Confederate Government
1t all Its An usurpation to do it Mr..
DAVIS 10 to the President only one of the
citizens of the United States, who, by