Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-27
Truth VIII Out.

| 1HURLOW w EED, now 0ulCOr OF the ~ e1C
York Commercial Advertiser, and veteran
Republican politician, and HORACE GREE
LEY, of the Ne0 York Tribune, have got
into an animated discussion over each 9TH
er's patriotism. GREELEY, over his own
signature, in the Tribune of the 24th, de-
votes an editorial specially to Mr.. WEED
We have nothing whatever to do with the
controversy so far as it relates to them
selves. There are some things in GREE
LEY's editorial that are noteworthy. They
are not.new but they have pretty much
passed from the recollection of the public,
and it is proper they should be revived
WEED had quoted froman editorial of GREE
LEY's, published March 49, 1868, wherein
he had deprecated the perversion of the
War from War for the Union to a War
| for Emancipation. In this connection he
then said:
"7here are citizens, otherloiSe aceH informed,
| tolaOse party prejudices impeL them to believe
ttd this is a a1Gr for the nigger, rather than for
the Union; and that prejudice eceakens the arm.
of the nation. We seek, therefore, to dispel
| it, and we trust not without success"
Mr.. GREELEY now says that that was his
"view from first to last-it is that which "
he "expects to live and die in.''
1t was that perversion of the War that
needlessly prolonged it, and contributed to
the monster debt that like an Internal
nightmare sits upon the business and in
dustry and enterprise of the country. It
caused the killing and manning of thous-
ands of the good and the brave of the coun-
try, when it could just as well have been
averted. Itwas most criminal-most dis
astrous-most indefensible, consequently.
All persons well know, who will but
revive their recollection, that the War, with
its train of incalculable calamity to life,
limb and Constitutional Government, could
have been averted; but that the Repub-
lican politicians, in whose power it was to
avert it, would not. On this point GREE
LEY's testimony is important. Says he in
his rejoinder to WEED:
s SssThe moment Mr.. Lincoln's election was
assured, the North was summoned to make
new concessions to the Slave Power or
fight for the Union. To our amazement,
T. w. was found backing this demand
nay, urging that the Republicans should
consent to run the slave line clear across
the continent, and concede all our territory
lie
Slavery forever! To do this, was to insure
the ultimate conversion of all Mexico and
Central America, with CuOa, into addition
al Slave States of our Union. To this fear
full concession - to dny concession that
would give Slavery another foot of Free
SOil-we were intensely hostile. Yet stocks
were falling, business paralyZed, local cleo
tions going heavily against us in Northern
communities that had just given large ma
jorities for Lincoln, and all industrial in
terests shrinking from the prospect of
vast Civil War. If Doll could then haze
been had on the question the Free States aoO1.Ld
haze giUen q popular majority for the CTitten-
den Compromise. 1t aoas oar task to stem this
heddLong torrent, and save the Nation from
committing gigantic crime. We did this,
perhaps not so wisely as another might,
but with such wisdom as we had. We
said in substance-'Not another inch of
free soil to Slavery-rather let the South
go, if there be no other alternative" Let
those who did better (not Il. W. take
credit for their superior sagacity or cour-
age.n ID
There! If the people would have had an
opportunity, between December, 1860, and
the 1st of April, 1861, they would have ad-
iusted matters between the North and the
South without the firing of a gun-with-
out drawing one drop of blood-without
the loss of one life. The people wanted
an opportunity to do this. They wanted
the Republican United States Senators and
Congressman to so settle it. They thought
it right to settle it. They did not look up
on it as humiliating to settle it. The Re-
publican party managers would not 90 it.
GREELEY so testifies. This is in accord
ance with the written and spoken history
of the times. 1t lives, and although at
times it may almost fade from the memory
of men, it will never be forgotten.
Accused, then, before God and man,
should stand the men who and the party
which refused in the winter of 1860 and the
spring of 1861, to answer the demands OF
the people to settle the disagreement be-
tween the North and the South on the basis
Of the Crittenden Compromise, and thus
preserve Peace, Union and Constitutions
Liberty. Upon their souls rests the guilt,
the crime, the outrage, the infamy, the
desolation, the poverty, that through the
War has cursed this once fair, prosperous
md happy land.
May God have mercy on their wicked
souls.
1t was the Democratic party that plunged
.he country into the War, soas IL Read
what GREELEY says, and never more out
age Truth by any such allegation.