The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-13
F-ctsFl' OF szcDry ware; Ese eCher 20
sEse suiGicTs' and sailors Cen
vcnii0n :2e Cleveland.
DEEPsKILL. ThursdaY. Aug. 81.


DEEPsK1LL. Thursday, Aug. 80.
GENTLEMEN am obliged to you for
the invitation which you have made to me
to act as Chaplain to the Convention Of
sailors and soldiers about to convene al
Cleveland. | can not attend it, but hear,
tily wish il, and all other conventions. Of
what party soeyer, success, whose object is
the restoration of all the States late in re-
bolllon to their federal relations.
Our theory of government has no place
for State except in the Union. 1t is
justy taken for granted that the duties
and responsibilities Of State in federal
relations tends to its political health, and
to that Of the whole nation Even terrific
rics are hastily brought in, often before
the prescribed conditions are fulfilled. as
if it were dangerous to leave a great com
munlty outside Of the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senator's and Representa-
tlveS OF Tennessee been admitted at once
on the aSsembiagc of Congress, and in
moderate succession. Arkansas, Georgia
Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia,
the public mind of the south would have
been far more healthy than it is, and those
States which fingered on probation to the
last would have been under more saIutary
influence TO good conduct than if 4 dozen
armies watched over them.
Every month that we delay this health
full step complicates the case. The exclu-
ded population, enough unsettled before.
grow more irritable; the army becomes in
dispensable to local government. and su>
rercedes It; the government at Washing
ton is called to interfere in one and another
difficulty, and this will be done inaptly and
sometimes with great injustice for our
government, wisely adapted to its own
proper functions, is utterly devoid of those
habits and unequipped with the instru>
ments which fit a centralized government
to exercise authority in remote States over
local offairs Every attempt to perform
such duties has resulted in mistakes which
have excited the nation But whatever
imprudencc there may be in the method,
the real criticism should be against the
requisiton Of such duties Of the general
Government
The Federal Government is unfit to cx>
ercise minor police and local government,
and will inevitably blunder when It
attempts it. To keep half score Of States
under federal authority, but without na-
tional ties and responsibilities to oblige
the central authority to govern half the
territory of the Union by-federal civil Off
GERS ana by the army. is policy not only
uncongenial to our ideas and principles,
but prominently dangerous to the spirit
Four government. However humane the
ends sought and the motives, it is in fact
4 course of instruction, preparing our
government to be despotc, and fam;iariz :
Ing the people to Il stretch of authority
which can never be other than dangerous
to liberty.
| am aware that good men are withheld
from advocating the prompt and successive
admission Of the cxiled States by the fear
chiefly Of its effect upon parties, and upon
the freedman.
1t is said that, if admitted to Congress,
the southern Senator's and Representa-
tivcs will coalcscc with northern democrats
and rule the country. Is this nation,
then. t. remain dismembered to serve the
ends OF parties Have we learned no
wisdom by the history of the last ten years.
in which just this course of sacrificing the
nation to the exigencics Of parties plunged
us into rebellion and war.
Even admit that the power would pass
into the hands of party made up Of
southern men, and the hitherto dishonorcd
and msled democracy Of the north, the
power could not be used just as they
pleased The war has changed not alone
Institutions. but ideas The whole
country has advanced far beyond
what it has been at any former period
\ new party wou!d, like river, be obliged
to seek out its chtnnel " the already cx>
isting slopes and forms Of the continent.
We have entered new era of liberty.
The style of thought is freer and more
noble. The young men of our times are
regenerated. The great army ha' been a
school, and hundreds Of thousands of men
have gone home 10 preach a trucr and no.
bier view OF human rights. All the INDUS
trial interests of society are moving with
increasing wisdom toward INTEL geuce and
liberty. Everywhere, in churches, in lit
crature, in natural sciences, in physical
industries, in social questions, as well as
in politics, the nation feels that the winter
IS over. and new spring hangs in the
horizon, and works through all the ele-
ments. In this happily changed and adj
vanced condition of things, no party of the
can maintain Itself. Every
thing marches, and parties must march
| hear with wonder and shame and Scorn
the fear of few, that the south once
more in al ustment with the Federal Gov
ernment will rule this nation The north
is rich. never 50 rich the south Is poor.
never before 50 poor. The population OF
the north is nearly double that OF the
south. The industry Of the north, in di>
versity, in forwarduess and productiycness.
in all the machinery and education rcquir-
ed for manufacturing, is half a century in
advance Of the south. Churches in the
north crown every hill. and schools swarm
in every neighborhood while the south
has but scattering lights, at long distances
ike lighthouses twinkling along the edge
Of a continent of darkness. In the pres
ence of such contrast how mean and era
ven is the fear that the south viii rule the
policy of the land That it will have an
influence, that 1t will contribute, in time.
Al