The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-06

B.
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most cruel, merciless and devastating of
all wars-a war of races; a war which
spares neither age, nor sex, nor condition
a war which canlknow no peace. .until one
race or the other has been swept from
the earth, war which would make the
West and North, as we'll as the South, a
scene of fearful blight and desolation.
THE CONFLICT BEGUN.
We are told in tone of rejoicing, by
certain distinguished gentlemen, that in
the South the conflict of races has already
begun, and that our own race will be driv-
en- to the wall-that is; be exterminated
And that, in the new order of things, a
Negro aristocracy will be created, and
that Negroes. will occupy. seats on the
Supreme bench, and in the halls of the
National Legislature What is this
proposition? f.fza 49,, s.t. !. ,g.
That six millions Of our own race, men,
women and children, shall be trampled
into the earth, in order that an aristocracy
of four million negroes shall be,establish-
ed upon their graves ] - -. .es
And can it be that policy so mon
strous in itself, SO atrocious in It's concep-
tion--a policy equally inhuman, uncon-
.stitutional and unchristan,. can receive
the sanction of the enlightened citizens
of Ohio 2 CAN'T be true that the people
of Ohio desire the determination of our
countrymen, ofthe South, and, that the
black mans home shall be. built upon the
white mans grave? ?; :, Forbid it Heaven
And in the name of our country; in the
name of, civil liberty; in, the. name of all
We hold most dear on earth, 1 invoke the
spirits, OF. the mighty dead-of Washing
ton and Adams, of franklin and of j ef-
ferson, of. Hamilton and of Madison,
against the horrid proclamation against hui
nlanity, against the Constitution, against
the Divine spirit of Christianity itself.
e5 CIVIL LIBERTY. 9J Ge
Although commenced my military ca
reer at fifteen years of age, was taught
from my earliest youth to revere the cause
of civil liberty, and view the continued
suspension of the writ of habeas corpus
and the trial of citizens by military com.
missions, in direct9violation of.the Con
stitution, and as dangerous infringement
of the liberty of the people. 80
THE PUBLIC DEBT AND TAXATION. 4
The National debt is estimated at fou
thousand million dollars, and Genera
Cox proposes the, purchase of district o
country containing thirty million acres o
land, in order to create a negro depend
le1cyo Tam wholly opposed to that 0
any other >scfiea5e catctffdfed to inereas
the burthens of. the people, and am in ia
vor of and equitable system of taxation
and of reducing the expenses of the Fed
eral and State Government to the loves
practicable point consistent with necessar,
expenses.
! OUR POLICY IF SUCCESSFUL.
And now, Mr.. President, should it b
the will of the people to confide the affair
of the State to the care of the Democrat
party; what is to be our policy? 8
Believing that governments are institu
ted not for the benefit of a party, but fo
the protection and common good of tn
whole people, the Democratic party wi
/ be equitable and just in the administra
tion of public affairs. Magnanimity
good policy in peace as in war. and PAL
ty incapable of magnanimity is unwofth
of being trusted with power. One wron
does not justify another, and he is an uf
wise politician who wopId demand publ
vengeance for private injuries. Our onl
desire is the maintenance eofconstitution;
law, so that the blessings of civil libert
may be secured for ourselves, and for ou
fellow citizens of all parties, And shoul
the people of Ohio call me to the pei
formance of the responsible. duties of I'll
chief magistrate, it will be my earne
study to discharge the obligations inc
dent to that position, with strict, impart
ality; and to the full extent of my ofici
ability to secure the rights of civil libe
ty to every citizen of the State. Ours
land of law, and the magistrate is n,
less bound to respect its provisions tha
is the private citizen; and if he violate
the fundamental law which he is sworn
, support, he should be held to strict,
(. accountability than he who assumes +
) such additional obligation. 's.A -
We are entering upon one of the mo
important political campaigns ever know
in this or any other State. The questit
has been asked me what are the prospect
Can we succeed? 1t has been my fo
: tune to see many an ,enga cement on Il
battle field, but this is the first time in n
: life that l have been put at the head of
civil column; and thought am not boas
full, I must say that / never knew IL
f strength Of the respective forces witho'
: being able to predict victory or defeat
/; And as l have studied the ground Of tn
a contest well, I tell you that the morale
S the enemy is bad, their strength broke
and their flag will soon be dragging
$ the dust, ifyou, the representatives
e the people will do your duty. ha'
e spoken of the gallant men who went fort
: to sacrifice life and limb in defense of Il
: Constitution and Union-but not of Il
: nigger-and while they were thus battlir
: in the field there was another army
e home of civilians, patriotic and devote
e to the principles of the old flag, battlir
for Constitutional liberty. What y
e want is for these two armies to join ham
e and hearts and beat down on the mongr
hordes. | would say to soldiers and ci
= L r., :, - ~ ~ matt ~ ,a,l n :, :;