The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-08-23
written for the Lancaster 6aEeite.)
COMMUNICATION.
LANCASTER, August 18th, IS

Editor Of the Ga-ette;
Your omission to publish the letter
Of the Hon. Thomas Ewing upon the
subject of the Philadelphia Convention,
might have attracted but little atten,
tion had you not seen fit to assign as a
reason therefor, that the letter was "a
beacon TO light ead lure you into the
Copperhead democratic camp, and an
aid to tne restoration OF the Nation s
worst enemies to political power, and
that there was an instructive aversion
felt toward it by the great body of
American Union patriots as leading
surely TO oonsummstion most of all
to be dreaded by every true friend Of
the Republic"
do not believe you have single
patron or reader who will not condemn
this unmanly notice Of an article you
dared not pablish,, as unfair to the ven .
Grated citizen whom il insults, and un-
just TO your patrons who generally es
teem the words OF wisdom and coun-
sci uttered by this great Statesman up
on any political question as Of more
value, interest and Importance than
the individual views of the Editor of
the Gazette. While you seem to con
cede to Mr.. Ewing, larger experience
in statesmanship, moro knowledge Of
public affairs and somewhat greater
intellectual ability than you possess,
you claim for yourself either trucr
patriotism and more honesty than he
possesses or else superior judgment in
determining what is loyal and patri.
otic.
As it is well known to your patrons
that Mr.. Ewing, by reason of bis abil-
ity and experience was not only re-
cognized as the greatest and most in
fuential leader of the Union party in
Ohio, but was the close driend and
confidential adviser of Mr.. Lincoln
from his Inauguration, till his assassin
alton, and also that until within the
last six weeks the Gazette and its Ed
itor agreed with Mr.. Ewing in his en-
dorsemenL of President johnson and
his policy, and that both Mr. Ewing
and the Editor Of the Ga=ette endors-
ed resolution unanimously adopted
by the Union party of Fairfield coun
ty on the 23d of February last and
published in the Gazette, which as.
serted the Presidents policy us set
forth in his Veto Message on the first
Frcedmans Bureau Bilicto be patriot.
ic and right,-the inquiry naturally
arises, which has changed, Mr.. Ewing
or the Editor Of the Gazette and also
which is still the patriot, which still
clings to the principles upon which
the Union party was organized and
won success
1t cannot be said that the issue now
between those who adhere to the faith
of the Union party rs it existed un-
changed throughout the war, and those
who follow radical leaders and princi.
pies born TO the condition of affairs
since war ceased, was unknown in
February when the Union men OF Ian.
caster all endorsed tho Presidents Is
policy in public meeting. For it was
in consequences Of the making of this
new issue on the 10Th and 10th of Feb.
ruary last, between the President and
Congress, that public expression of the
opinion of the Union men of this city
was evoked On the 18th of Februa-
ry last in the veto message the Prcsi.
dent said,
"Tbe Bill under consideration re-
fers to certain of the States AS though
they had not "been fully restored in
all their constitutional relations to the
United States" 1t is hardly neccs.
sary for me TO inform Congress that in
my own judgment, most OF the States,
so far at least as depends upon thoir
own action haze alreddy been tuiiy re.
stored, and are to be deemed as entitled
to enjoy their constitutional rights as
members Of the Union. hold it my
duty to recommend to you in tho in-
terests Of peace and in the interests of
Union the admission Of cccry State to
its share in pubiic tcgisldtion, when how
ever insubordina,e insurgcnt aud re
bellious its people may huvo been, it
presents itself not only in an attitude
OF loyalty and harmony, bit il the
persons Of representatives hose loydity
cannot be questioned mder any eriSttAg
Constitutional or iegai test"
In response to those views and sug
gestions Of the President, Congress
took this action. On the Goth OF Feb
ruary, Mr.. Stevens, from tho committee
on reconstruction reported this con
current resolution -
Resolved, by tho House Of Ropro.
Bontatives, (thc Senate concurring, J
that in order to close agitation upon u
question which seems likely to disturb
tho action OF the government, Us well
as to quiot tho uncertainty which is
agitating the minds OF tho people OF
the eleven States, which have been do
clared to be in insurrecton, no senator
or representative shall be admitted into
either branch of Congress, until C0a2ress
shall hare declared such State entitled to
representation" which was passed at
once in the House of Representatives
by a large radical majority and passed
the Senate, eight Union Senators yo-
ting against it.
Thus was ma 10 tho direct issue
which is now the only ono dividing
men or parties in the United States;
and which simply the question whcth
or Congress has the power to exclude
State from The onion, or declare a
Stale out of the Union by its own act
OF secession, or prescribe what shall
be tho political faith aid opinions of
Tho rnnnln nG N GL.L. - -.