The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-01-22
Volume l0-No. 35.

controlled by delegated powers, pos
sesses the elements of strength an,
! unity to protect itself and assert it
sovereignty in such an emergency a.
a great revolution or rebellion inaug
urated among portion OF its owl
people for its destruction. Wher
this fact shall be demonstrated, as th,
loyalty of the great mass Of our peo
pie gives unmistakable evidence that
1t will he, it establishes at once the
stability ofour form of government
1t vindicates the integrity and intelli.
gence Of our people--it will stand
forth as n warning TO future attempts
at rehellion-while it will constitute
II page in history that the patriot and
lphiIanthropist of other lands may
contemplate with pride and hopeful
ness.
As we have not provoked this war
but sought rather to avoid it, we art
not responsible for It's consequences
lto its projectors and their followers.
II the people of the Southern States
fccl It's hurthens and devastating in
uuences, it is because they have in
Vited them; if sorrow and suffering
ana misery have been brought TO their
hearth stones, it is because they wo' d
not be content with peace and pros
perity; If oppression and tyranny are
The features OF the power they have
invoked to rule them, it is because
they suffered themselves TO he seduccd
from the government that had SO long
protected and blessed them; if they
are stepped in debt, impoverished
and RUNE |, it is because they have
preferred these to II condition of aillu-
ence and plenty; if their agriculture
Is smittcn and their commerce is de.
stroycd, it is because they have as
salleA the .ipterest ,tAqtBss. ,GastRred
the FLAG that has protected the other;
if their Institution of human slavery is
now dying In their midst, IL il be-
cause they have smitten il with their
own hands-because they made it an
element of rebcllion--hccause they
sought to change its character from n
domestic institution, under the pro
the Constitution and laws, to the gi-
gantic form Of political power that
should rule and desolate the land. -
The fruits are of the tree they have
planted; and the hand that reared it
can alone be censured for their bit
terness. Time, repentance and 10y
atty, will, in most instances relieve
them from the consequences of their
folly and crime. Peace, prosperity
and plenty may come again; but they
cannot expect the nation to restore
all they have destroyed. They can
not reasonably ask that we should re
store to life and vitality again, the
active agent OF this rebellion. They
cannot claim for the institution of
slavery any further privilege or i'm
munity than the people of the North
ern States may see proper to extend
to.it.
AS we approach the end of this
contest, it is natural that II portion
of our people should display some
anxiety to anticipate it, with plans
and propositions that, upon esperfi-
cial examination, may promise to
hasten its adjustment. We want
peace-the North as well ~ the South:
but we have not passed the terrible
ordeal OF the last two years, to make
or accept peace upon any other than
honorable terms, or without the prom
ise ofpermnnent adjustment and en-
durance. We cannot negotiate with
rebels in arms, or admit Of ANYTHING
from them but unconditional siIrren-
der, or submission. Much we can
pardon to the masses Of the people,
but the leaders must reap Of the liar
vest they have sown. The past has
its punlshmcnts that may he mitiga.
ted or forgiven; but the future must
have full and ample security.
1t is simple folly to talk of srp
pressing this rebellion and restoring
the unity of the country without first
subiugating the military power OF the
Conred0racy, or relieving the people
of the seeding states from its con
trolling iniuencc--and, in many cases,
oppression. 1t does not follow that
the destruction Of military power of
the south is the suhjugation Of the
people. In many cases it will prove
their Acknowledgement. There is II
loyal sentiment and population in
nearly, il not quite all the Southern
States. Where too struug, or too
open in It's manifestations, the militia
ry power It essayed, by every posi-
bic means, to keep it in suhjcctior -
Men holding and expressing loyal
sentiments have been fined, inprison-
eel, hunted into the forest and moan
tains; and many of them suffered
death;---whilc their families have been
impoverished and ruined. Political
MISUNDERSTANDING men, who bad sc
cretly plotted the overthrow Of ON
govcrmment--lcd few-but actually
farced Il majority Of the Southern
States into secession and rebellon--
and the military power holds them
there.
There are but two ways in whirh
The restoration Of peace and the I'm
ion is TO be accomplished;-frst, tbGI
unconditional surrender of the lead
ers, and the abandonment of the re,
bellion;--or second, the continued
progress aud conquests OF our arms.
until the military power OF the Con