The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-10-05
Importance of the Issue.

1t Is not to be disguised that there is
large number of persons both at the north
and at the South, who have not finally aban-
doned the hope of the ultimate triumph of
the principles of the late rebellion. They
hope to secure by the success of their views
at the ballot-box, that which they failed to
accomplish by armed force. 1t may depend
upon the decision ofPensylvania on the 10th
of October, whether the war shall prove, at
last, failure-whether its fruits are to be
only "debt, disgrace and slaughter" or
whether it is TO have substantial results in the
death and burial of slavery, state sovereignty
and the right of secession.
1t is well-established fact, that the con-
test was long protracted by reason of the
hope and belief entertained by the South, that
they would receive aid and sympathy from
the North. 1t is now all important to the
South, that they should be assured that this
hope is fallacious, and that the North will
adhere unfalteringly, to the doctrines, prin-
ciples and views which carried them tri-
umphantly through the fsur years of bloody
war 1t is best to let them know at once
forever. that there is no hope for the final
triumph of the doctrines and measures, for
which they contended in the field.
The men. among US who were first to urge
upon the Government to hold the rebels in
the light Of beligerents, are now the first to-
strive to relieve them from the consequences
and penalties of their belligerency. Those
who were constant in their predictions that
the "war would never end" and that the
"South could never be conquered are now
most ready to insist that the war is over, and
that its objects and results shall not be seured.
but that rebels shall be instantly restored to
all their former rights under the Constitution
and laws of the country. These same men
who are now appealing to the soldiers for
their votes, officially denounce as 'murderers,'
all those engaged in trying and furnishing by
military commission, the authors of the whole
sale slaughter of their companions in arms.
All this and more they do with full knowl-
edge of the laws of war, which declare that
these men have forfeited all their rights un-
der the Constitution, and that they now licl
PROSTATE at the feet of the victor, as con-
quered, overthrown and subdued bellgerentsI
with just such rights and no more, as kind
and merciful Government NAV choose to
vouchsafe to them. Let the people rally to
the polls and sustain by their votes, the great
cause so nobly and bravely defended and sus-
tanned by the soldier in the field. The future
will then declare that the "Great War of
Freedom" was not failure" but our child
rem to the latest generation, will learn to read
with the warmest glow of patriotism, those
pages of our nations history, which describe
the skill and heroism of officers and soldiers
Of this great struggle, and never cease to ven-
crate their memories. The greatness, power,
resources and energy of free people dis
played in our great struggle for the preser-
Vation of the nations life, will only be equal
ed by the future greatness, prosperity and
success of the nation purified, regenerated
md reclaimed by the fiery ordeal through
which we have just passed.
BY order of the Committee.
JOHN CESSNA,
Chairman