The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-04-26
SPIRIT OF III AGE.


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The calamities entailed upon this coun-
try for the past four years, seem sufficient
in the estimation of sober, enlightened
reason, to subduo passion and prejudice,
and allay bitter animcsity engendered by
political conflicts. But instead thereof,
hatred, envy, Jealousy and malice are the
paramount and controlling "graccs," both
socially and morally, Never has this
been exhibited so plainly during this
struggle, as within the last ten days The
prospect of a speedy return to the peace
able avocations of life was cheering to
every heart aud all were willing and
anxious to testify their joy at the glorious
cOnsummatiou. The opposition to the
policy of the Administration have moth
ing to regret in the course they have pur
sued. Honestly and sincerely did they
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battle against %incursions upon what they
deemed the inalienable rights Of freemen,
and deprecated usurpatlons of power,
both in the civil and military departments
Of the Government. The right of trial
by Jury, upon the charge or Indictment
of Grand Jury Of their fellOw-citizens
in States where civil law was in full op.
e%ratiun, and Courts ready to try-ofenders,
was too sacred a privilege to be tamely
surrendered. The arrest, and %eOnfne
ment in lcathsome bastileS, Of thousands
Of citizens, without charge or accusation,
and, after m onths Of Incarceration, where
the light of day scarcely ever beamed,
discharging them, without apprising them
why or wherefore they had been appre-
hended, were palpablo outrages upon free
men too monstrous in their character to
receive the passive acquiesceuce of mcn
who were ever ready to bare their bosoms
in defence Of Constitution, law and order.
The right Of public discussion, and the
privilege of differing in opinion with our
rulers, are sacred inheritances, transmit
ted by the fathers, and when they are
surrendered, farewell to representative
Government. goo
We do not boast Of our loyalty a; but
our calumniators cOnnot claim all the
glory Of the contest, If there is any glory
in it. Democrats have stood shoulder to
shoulder with the opposition in the shock
Of battle. Democratic efforts and Demo.
cratic money have saved you time after
time from CONSUMPTION. But why emu.
merate? Justice will eventually tri.
umph, and the plaudit, "Well done good
and faithful servant" will be heard by
those who deserve it,
Now, that the conflict seems over,
what are the indications surrounding us +!
Malevolence and i'll will on tho part Of
those who boast Of their moyalty" to the
policy Of the departed President. Pre-.
suming that their mission was as sacred
as that of the high Priests of old, who
alone were permitted to enter the inner
most veil of the Temple, they have assid
uous.y sought to debar q Democrat fron
expressing, publicly, his satisfaction AMI
gratitude that peace was about to retuil
! to q distracted land, and that the Uniol
of the fathers could not be destroyed b
$ domestic foes. Nowhere, perhaps, ha
this spirit been manifested more plainl
than in Ashland. There are mOrtals VIII
. seek notoriety Of some kind, and in orde
IS to obtain it, bow low at the shrine {
If meanness, and rival sin in their lusts. II
y who in the ministerial sanctum, far r,
moved from the exciting things Of eartl
Is perhaps at m~idnight's lonely hour, il
1T vokes the spirits Of the departed, now
tho abodes Of the blest, where all is pea,
y and love, to pronounce a great curse u
ID on offenders here below, and insults I
o intelligent audience, upon a funeral occ
y sion, with his carefully prepared mi
II %cious, midnight meditations, has a hea
he as full Of snaky venom, and filthy ma
GU cicus deviltry as +he murderer, BooT
er' He only lacks the courage to become
infamous. OF such a man, we may S
% with the poet
g Down TO the dust, and as thou rot'st avn
Even worms shall parish on thy poison,
TX. clay;
Nv Thy name, thy human name to every eye,
The climax Of all scorn shall hang on high
rs, Exhaited DER thy less abhorred compeerr
ms, Aud fostering in The infamy Of years" ?
ler. How, does such q battle,cry of b
md sounded from the pulpit on last Wsdr