Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-06-29

anu tue manner Ot prosecuting the war
Not responsible for anything done or omitted
by the late Administration, whereof the
Democracy complained, now that the war
is ended, he begins his chief mapjstrncy
without past difference in principle or presr
cnt separations as to policy. In any event
he i entitled. at the hand. of the Dnpo-
cratic party, to fair, candid aud charitable
consideration Of the several measure. which
he shall propose, though most a,Wully.
at the same time, it will be the duty Of that
party to render strict, firm and fearless
judgment upon thcm and to act according
as they shall be found TO merit support or
to demand opposition. 10 j., indeed. al
ready to be lamented that, although Gen
cral Sherman may not have had the author
ity-and he claimed none for himself. refer
ring all to the Executive his plan of paci-
ilcatlOn and reunion was not promptly con
iirned by the Presidents 1t was concise,
comprehensive, complete; proving him not
less wise and great IN the science Of states
manship, than grand and triumphant in the
arts ofwar. And itwould have made peace
immediate and sincere ''percc trom He Pa
tO0,oc to the Rio Gr1Hdc. This was his
proud congratuatory boast to his army at
the end Of the great struggle, and not Of any
victory in the field Defeating the armed
military hosts Of the Confederacy, his aim
at the close, was to conquer the hearts Of its
people also, and to be exalted thu, as the
Hero Of Peace-the only true heroisln in
civil war;
Upon the great question of Reconstruction,
as the Democratic party Is without power,
so it is without responsibility. 1t can but
accept or reject whatever measures may be
proposed. If the policy which the Pregi-
dent may recommend shall appear, upon a
calm and deliberate scrutiny, best adapted
III general to secure speedy, complete,
cordial and lasting paciiication upon the
basis Of the Federal Union of the States, it
will III my judgment, be fit and just that
the Democracy, waving all minor points Of
detail, lend to him Il liberal, earnest and
! patriotic support in carrying it into cxecu-
/ ton. If, upon the other hand, it be such
as can but make that solitude which cOn-
querors call peace or, worse. If possible,
! that peace which hangs like a black and
heavy pail over Hungary, Ireland, Poland,
| then it will be the duty Of the Democratic
party, With determiDet frmness and fear
/ es,ness, interpose such constitutional and
legal opposition, through the press and in
/ publicassembly, as may be ust and efficient.
till either the President Shall be impelled
to change both his cabinet and the meas
ures to which they may have advised him
or the people, peaceably, through the ballot
shall be enabled to secure pacificatiOn and
union by change Of administration and o
I policies. say change in part, or il
whole, Of the Cabinet, in advance Of til,
election; because, remembering the pecu
liar circumstances under which the otIic,
fell to the President, his advisers, "th,
Ministry, are rather to be held responsible
than himself
As to the hitherto vexed question o
i slavery. allow me to saw lornyself. that from
the very first to the last with con.istcnr,
4 and persistence, | opposed all agitation o
the subject not for the sake Of the institu
ton repeat it, not for the sake OF the in
stitution- but because ! had been taught
| by the Fathers to believe, and did truly be-
licvc, that it could end only in civil war and
/ dlsunlon; temporary or ctcFnaI-Whcthcr
! right or wrong, let the history of the last
/ four years decide. The price has now been
weighed out and in part pad. \ heavy
score yet remains; But | will not essay to
reckon up and adjust the appalling account
OF debt and taHMlons, OF suffering, crime
and blood IN the past or yet to come. Again
! accept the facts; reloced, indeed, il un-
der, the new order OF things, We and our
| children may ENJOY the same measure ot
private happiness and public prosperity
which was permitted to Us and our fathers
under the Old Union part slave and part
free And now, II without slavery, re,
union and ,paciiicatlon real, sincere and
lasting, together with welfare and security
to the people of all the States, can be made
sure, let slavery utterly perish. But in no
event let the question stand any longer in
the way. | still would prefer the Union,
the Federal Union, the Old Union-yes.
''thc Union as it was, under the Constitu-
ton as it is to either slavery or the aholi-
ton ofslavery. Fanatics at home, and en-
vious supplanting statesmen abroad. may
not be able or willing to comprehend thi,
conviction every true and liberal minded
American patriot will.
The fatal mistake of the South-hGr
"blunder," which false morality pronoun-
ces worse than crime, was in ignoring the
great American idea Of One COUNTRY-an
! impulse, not n theory, nota mere q, a,pirution
of national vanity, but commar dmcnt
written by the finger of God upon the river.
and the mountains, and the whole face OF
the land, and craven thence on the hearts
of the peonle. Itwas this. otanti- slavery.
which held the border slave States in the
Union. and stirred for GOOD or evil the whole
>. North and West to such exertions of mil
itary. naval and financial force. as never be
fore were put forth by any nation. And i
was this grand and pervading national senti
mont hedrcd NV tho sanction of destiny