The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-06-07


Another subject remains upon vhoIh
the Democratic party can yield not one
jot or little. By every principle Of IL
being, by its very name, by its Vhvle req
ord, it is inexorably committed to hostil-
i'y to all violation Of freedom Of speech
and Of the press to arbitrary arrests and
military commissions for the trial upon
any charge, of citizens in States and
places where the judicial tribunals, viii
tialby Jury, are unobstructed to ann
ed or corrupt interference with elections;
and to the whole host of other wrongs
done to public liberty apd private right
There can never be peace, qniet, or
dearest, most needful 10 the human heart,
beyond even physical hsalth to the sya,
tem-the sense of security, till all these
shal have been removed from US. But
upon this chefest question Of constitu.
tional liberty, the Democratic party no
longer stands alone A largo majority Of
the muses. of the Republican party, some
among th;ir most influential presses, and
many Of the ablest and bravest public
men of that party, as the votes and the
powerful and manly speeches in the Sem
ate and House at the late session attest,
are wholly with us. If tho President
would, by one word, secure the largest
public confidence, let him forthwith re.
store the habeas corpus and put an erd to
all these instruments Of tyranny and op.
preston.
As to the "Monroc doctrine" I do not
doubt that its speedy enforcement would
tend more than any ottcr cementing
agency, to unite the people Of all sections.
Without the vindieaton Of that doctrine,
the mission Of Manifest Destiny will have
been but half achieved, and the
blood and treasure spent in our civil war
largely expended in vain. Upon the
Monroe Dcc.riue, England Is estopp,d to
NIKE any issue with US, and must remain
at peace. I-r
have said nothing upon questions Of
Finance--debt, taxation, tariffs, disor.
dered currency and impending bankrupt!
cy. These are the inevitable penealiies
O. war. But they are mischieip which
have scarcely yet been felt Sufficient.
abundnntly sufficient unto the day will be
the evil thereof. e hat ,Yrd
Concerning the Democratic party as an
organization, With new policies arising
out Of the issues Of the hour, many Of
them 10 endure for lifetime, il is 81.
sential, iu my judgment, that new vi.
tality also be infused into IL. In num-
bers it is moro powerful than at any forn,.
cr period. That it was unsuccessful, has
been, at times but the fate of all partiess
In the character, ability, eloquence, 10
teglity and love Of country Of its public
men, and the general intelligence, hou-
esty and patriotism Of its mt sses,, it may
challenge comparison with any party,
But for seven years, and more, il has
lacked unity Of purpose, and therefore
energy Of action. During the war espc-
cially, with the cnntrol Of but two ,Staiea
out of TIE twenly-three which adhered
to the Union without power, patronage
or influence in the Federal 'Admihistrs-
tiop, and therefore without any special orr
gauization or agency authorized or per-
mittcd to prescribe conmon line Of pol.
icy and prompt united action upon tbs
new questions daily arising; aud wilha
the most vigorous and vehc msnt centrel
authority against it, ever known, WELDING,
alike the camor Of patriotism and tho
cry of religion, acting in politics, upon
military principles and through military
instrumenialities, and 70 the whole pow,
er of the purse and that purse the entire
wealth Of the country. and the whole
power Of the sword ard that sword the
entire fighting population Of the country,
adding a supervision and constraint over
press, speech, person, railroad, highway,
steamer and telegraph, all the modes OF
action and Of locomotion and every vehi,
Gle Of thought, such alone as the fabled
Briareus might be supposed able to exert;
with every appliance Of both Church and
State, and Of social land business orsani.
cation combined against il, il is rather
amazing that the Democratic party did
not perish, than wonderful that il should
exhibit signs Of partial paralysis. To-
day, indeed, it lies powerful but sinei,
mass, yet needing only new life-blood
Of fresh vitality, the "promcthean irc,'
10 be infused into il. There are those
yet among the living who were actors, es-
pecially in Jackson's day, and many,
younger than ! am, who remember whom
the party was a POWER in the country,
exercising all tho energy without any
part Of tho terrorism Of the late Adminu .
| istration. "Oh, for IN hour Of Old Dun,i
dee r. Without more Of courage, more
vigor, more audacity, il. you please, in
graphing with great questions Is Ii form
or years, the Democratic party cannot
ought not to survive, and must give way,
to some other younger. ard more vital Or
ganization. Ifit is to remain ia its pres
ent comatose state, at now the beginning
Of new epeeh in public affairs, i were
far better that it should be buried out Of
| sight at once. Certainly do not advise
that il shall move without occasion. and
waste its superhupus vigor upon the aif;
l"Rightly to be great is, not tosstir with
/ out great argument and II may be
i months before policies AMI issues ar sp|'i
ciently defined to require il to act tt an
But the tepose ofseoaseions power ahd
| the letharcy bf Threatened dissulotion nrG