The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-08-08
For the Pioneer
Democracy versus the National
Debt.
NUMBER

NUMBER I.
Of course, it is thoroughly under
stood that the Democratic party is
opposed to our national debt. In
this opposition this party, usually
SO remarkably inconsistent, has al
ways been quite as remarkably con-
Esistent. 1t most zealously and per-
sistently opposed it's creation it has
ever since even more zealously and
persistently opposed its payment,
and advocated its practical repudia-
ton, indirectly it is true, for they
have SO far been too weak to show
their full hand.
On the other hand, the Republi-
canUnion party having deemed it in
dispensably necessary that this debt
should be created as the only prac-
teal means of procuring defensive
material with which to preserve the
integrity and even the life Of the
nation, when imperilled by the un-
provoked and premeditated murder
Gus assaults of traitors, now regard
it as sacred, and accordingly advo-
cate the utmost good faith concern
ing it's payment. This difference in
policy between these two parties
now constitutes one of the main po-
litical issues before the people.
In submitting a few thoughts upon
it, we shall take it for granted that
it will be conceded that the late war
could not have been successfully
prosecuted by the nation without
money; and that this money could
not have been procured in the nee
essary quantities, without creating
the debt with which we are burden
ed. Hence upon this branch of the
inquiry, the only question that can
be raised is, was it proper and right
| for the Government to prosecute
this war?
And, to proceed with this inquiry,
who committed the first overt act of
hostilities in this war? History
answers, "The Rebels" Were those
acts grevious, and sufficient to JUS
! tify the Government in striking in
its defense? The history and prac-
tice of all nations answers eyes,
and that any other course would
have indellibly branded the nation
with pusillanimitys' Again, were
those first overt acts of hostilities
even precipitated by sudden and
] well grounded apprehensions of an
4 assault by the Government or ad-
ministration No; but on the con
trary, the Southern senators and
4 representatives, boldly proclaimed
upon the floor Of Congress, at the
time, that the rebellion had been
constantly growing and maturing
for thirty years; as rapidly and de-
terminedly when it's own party and
friends had control of the Govern
ment, as when they had not; and
that the actual commencement of
fhostilities was only the result Of the
maturity Of their preparations, and
a supposed opportune moment to
strike.
Again, had our Government been
Ipusillanimous enough to have at
tempted it, was there any chance OF
a compromise? No; but on the
contrary, the leaders of the rebellion
repeatedly proclaimed that com
promise could not be Effected, though
they should be dUoaced q blank sheet
on ,ohich to aortte their oacm terms.
1 In this dilemma, what was the
Government-the loyal people OF
the Government to do? There was
but one of two courses left them.
viz: to shut their eyes and take the
blows between them, as the rebels
saw proper to intiict them-to hold
every thing at their mercy-or to
draw and defend.
Had the rebel States simply Sc
ceded and set up government OF
their own, refusing only to have
anything farther to do with us, there
might possibly have. been some show
of propriety in letting them go-in
allowing them to steal the best hall
of our commonwealth, rather than
go to war about it,
| But when they first stole the best
Ihalf of the Government, and then
actually pitched into us with fire
sword, as if it was their settled de-
termination to drive us out of the
balance of it, we had no alternative
but to fight.
In the early days Of the war, and
more especially before, Stephen A
Douglas was the oracle of, and the
| god worshipped by, the Democratic
party. In his Chicago letter of May
| 10, 1861, according to the Demo
cratic Union of the 30th of the same
month, in which it is published, (anG
which, of course, makes it authen
i tic, after first treciting the manner
in which the war had been precipi
tated by the rebels, he said-and
they came near being his dying
words-s'In view of this state OF
4 facts, there was but one path of duty
to patriotic men.
i It was not a party question, nor 6
4 question involving partizan policy:
it was question of Government OF
. no Government; country or nc
country and hence it became the
imperative duty of every Union man
4 every friend Of constitutional iber
i ty, to rally to the support of oul
Il common country, it's government
{ and flag, as the only means of check
/ ing the progress ofrevolution, and O.
preserving the union of these States.
This war, then, was forced upor
J, the government, so that it had no al
ternative but to fight or give up ev-
erything, even to the respect of ma
{ tions. 55s-..ss 5sacssr l2Te