Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-14
what Was Ihe object Of She War
on the Part Of the GOvermmemtT

eral ofthe Southern State asserted the right
to withdraw from the Union, claiming that
twas right reserved by them on entering
into Che same. Each State being sovereign
and Independent at the time of the adop-
tion of the Federal Constitution, South
Carolina and other States OF the South
claimed that among the rights reserved py
them, was the right to secede from the
Union at any time when in their judgment
It was for their interest to do so. Sec
tional agitation In the free States, culmin-
ating In the election of Mr.. LINCOLN In No
vember, 1860 (not by the strength of the
sectional party, but by the unfortunate di'
vision Of those opposed to sectionallsm)
was seized upon by the discontented meu
of the South to put 10 force the doctrine o
secession, which, be it remembered, they
all the while claimed was apeaceable, legal
and constitutional remedy reserved by them
In originally entering the Union, for the
I redress Of grievances.
Before the Inauguration Of Mr.. LINCOLN
several States in the South had held Con-
ventiOns, and proceeded, according to theiI
I theory, to dissolve their connection with
the Government Of the United States, and
to set up a Provisional Government fol
themselves, and which they inaugurated al
Montgomery, In Alabama, electing JEFFER-
SON DAVIS President for the time being.
These proceedings were based in every
instance upon the assumption that the elec-
tion Of Mr.. LINCOLN was evidence that the
Southern States could not exist In the
Union on terms Of equality with the free
States. The Convention that nominated
Mr.. LINCOLN was without representation
from the South, the Republican party OF
the free States having assumed such ground
that no party or body of men in the South
could unite with them-and Mr.. LINCOLN
himself having asserted in public debate
with DOUGLAS In Illinois, that he did not
believe the Union could exist part slave and
part free.
In the progress Of events the insurgents
fred upon Fort Sumter, and after contest
of some days, the Federal troops surrend-
cred. Mr.. LINCOLN then called for $4,000
men to be furnished by the States remain
ing In the Union, to put down the revolt
and repossess the forts and other property
seized by the insurgents. Under this call
men of all parties rushed to the standard
Of the Union, and Mr.. LINCOLN also con-
vened Congress to deliberate upon the con-
dltion Of public affairs.
Congress declared by unanimous vote
that the object in raising troops and prose-
cutting the war was not TO subjugate the
people of any State-not to overthrow the
institutions of any State-not to crafty
passion or resentment-but simply to put
down armed rebellion, and when that was
accomplished the war should cease, leaving
all the States with their institutions unim-
paired.
Such was the platform upon which the
people rallied In defense of the Union
against secession, and In favor of the unity
and equality of the States under the Federal
Constitution.
After conflict such as was before 1t un-
known in the history of the wo. Id, the re-
bellion was put down, at a sacrifice Of life
and an expenditure ofmoney fearful to con-
template. The rebel military force sur
rendered to GRANT and SHERMAN on terms
dictated by the Government, and all was
accomplished that was designed when
troops were called into the field. Follow
ing after the surrender as soon as possible,
the rebel States met in Conventions, repu-
dated all their ordinances, &C., adopted in
the interests of secession, and proceeded to
select, and did select their Senators and
Representatives to enter Congress, and thus
renew their old relations to the Federal
Government.
In the progress of the war, unfortunately
for the country, class of men, rank dis
unionists at heart, but who were protesting
unbounded loyalty, had obtained and now
possess majority Of the seats in the Sen
ate and House Of Representatives in Con-
gress; and when the Representatives from
the South appear, these men refuse them
admission as Representatives from their
States, and aver that the Southern Repre-
sentation shall be kept out until they have
accomplished by force and fraud such
amendments to the Constitution as will Sc
cure to these Northern Disunionists the
supreme control of the Government for
all time to come.
At this juncture the President says that
he disagrees with Congress that the States
Of the South never we're out of the Union,
and now that the rebellion is broken, their
Representatives who can qualify by taking
the required oath, ought to be admitted.
The President is anxious, nay determined,
that the original pledge of the Govern
ment to the people Of the United States
and the whole world shall be redeemed; and
the Radicals In Congress are desperately
bent on resisting the restoration of the
Union of the States under the Constitution
The President stands by all the pledges
made when the war began, and insists that
the war having ceased and the rebels laid
down their arms, the Union, with all the
dignity and equality of the States, is re-
stored. The Radicals in Congress say no
the Union as it was never shall be again
The white race Of the South must forever
be disfranchised and its property confiscat-
ed, and the negroes Of the South must have
the ballot so that they and we can contro
the Government, and build up for ourselves
magnificent empire, in which the whit
Iahorera of the North and the rebels of th,