The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-02-17

gers for many years (for Presidential
bribes and the like) to give over the in
terests of this nation, in its every de-
partment, to the very men who are IN ar
med revolt against US For forty nine
out of the seventy years during which
the Government has existed, Slavery has
filled the Presidential chair; and, for thir
teen wears more, it has dictated the con-
duct of that Office. 1t has controlled
with absolute sway the army and navy of
the United States; it has distributed the
political patronage in all departments of
the Government; it has prescribed every
man, in every section of the country who
held slavery to be an evil; it has dictated
the legislation of Congress; it has soiled
the ermine of the Supreme Court; it has
depraved the organization and action of
political parties, and through them, it has
sought to make Slavery permanent po-
litica power 1t has grasped at the com
plete control of the Territories of the
United States, to create the basis of new
extensions Of political power All this
it has achie ieved and aimed at: yet, during
its entire and controlling life, it has been
an interest distinct from, and hostile to,
the other great interests of the nation
and the Slave holding class have consti-
tuted less than one-fftieth part of the
population of the United States; and; in
every legitime regard, the slave interest
has been far inferior to every other in
terest of the Government. With this in
terest the fortunes of these leaders are
leagued Unhapily, lamentably, such
is an unvarnished, incontrovertible his
tory of the acts, conduct and antecedents
of the controlling spirits of what is cal
led the Opposition Party. Can such men
be trusted?
And the painful fact is forced upon US
that these very leaders, and for this very
end, are now lifting the canvas of a tat
tered tent where a war stained hero re-
poses, on a distant shore, all over cover
ed with laurels, and whose deeds reflect
back the radiance Of the stars that smile
upon and honor him: a man whose glory,
whose thoughts, whose fame, whose use
|
active service of his country. The ma
ton has rewarded him promptly and
unanimously-by the highest badge of
distinction in its official power, and, AS
this, so far any external recognition
goes, no Jewel is so dear to the soldier.
Even were he a trained civilian, to re-
move General Grant from such a field
would be a revolt aginst the plainest
maxims of prudence. What will such an
Opposition do with such man? Do they
propose to black ball him with their pos
itively infamous record? To associate
his name with that of such men as Val
) landigham and Fernando Wood? Will
they crawl over and around his new
made fame, befouling it with their Shiny
tread? VIII they seek to sting the inn
} mortal part of him to sudden death, as
by the venomous bite of the tabled asp?
: Or do they design to subject his reputa-
} ton to the more and disgusting and in
!, sidious process by which the vampire is
said to suck the life blood of its vic
tins?
If General Grant were to consent to
become the political leader of such par
ty, at a period like this in our political
affairs, then would his deserved and gilt
tering renown fade and disappear in
night that would know no roseate morn
ing. We say this because we have de-
monstrated the fact, which is now the re-
: corded history of our nation, that the
leaders of the Opposition mean no good
They are not only true to their political
antecedents with the rebels: but. from
the beginning of their opposition to the
J war policy of the administration. their
exclusive aim has been, now is, and to
, the end will continue to be, to grasp the
J spoils of the treasury and the political
power Of the people. 1t is painful to
pursue this speculation, as connected
with General Grant; nay, it is absolutely
revolving. Long, long be it before SER
pents shall rear their envenomed heads
on the moss grown base of Grants mon
t ument, Let US all devoutly hope that
the proud fabric may stand, until it shall
, moulder into imperishable worth.
We have dealt at some length upon
what We call the Opposition party. for
the reason that we wish strongly to i'm
press all Union men with the great neces-
sity which exists, that they shall make
sure that the destinies of this country
shall fall into no peril, such as would at
tend them in the ambitious. selfish and
unrighteous keeping of these political
f freebooters- Nor are we without strong
= hopes that we have presented such pic
ture of the past conduct of these un-
} scrupulons men, as will awaken many an
honest (so-called) conservative to rub
: his eyes, to shake off his lethargy, to
arouse fully recovered from his heavy
: and dreamful sleep to see with quicken