Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-25
"a Grave Question.

Republican brethren discuss various sub
jects-Impeachment Reconstruction, Tar
if, Finance, and the. alarming prevalence
of Licentiousness, As they discuss these
questions, the impression is fastened upon
the mind that the country financially, bus
iness-wise and morally is in a most de-
plofable condition. This is their affirma-
tion, and the public stand ready to verify.
But few more days, and it will be six
years since ABRAHAM LINCOLN was inaue
gurated President of the United States
the first President ever elected on such a
sectional issue as Washington in his Fare
well Address with tender solicitude earn
estly warned the American people to frown
out of existence upon its first dawning, be-
cause if permitted to become oyerpowering,
calamitous to the country would be the
attendant circumstances. AT a later day,
that grand old man-the infiexible patriot
and incorruptible statesman-ANDREw
JACKSON, raised his clarion voice
against this sectionalism; and yet at
day later, HENRY CLAY, known in aAmer-
lean politics as the great Commoner, gave
point and emphasis to this warning, when
political Abolition and its spawn, Freesoil,
as things that should forever receive the
execration of all who loved their country
and desired the perpetuation of its free in
stitutiOns. In a partisan sense, neither
WASHINGTON nor CLAY were Democrats; !;
but they were patriots. They were men
who loved their country, and according to
the measure of their ability served the
country. From an altitude that mere poll
ticians do not reach, they looked into the
future, and there saw trouble to the coun-
try. This trouble was not in the shape
and form of Democratic ascendency ;, it
was not in Whig Jascepdency; but it was in
the success of sectionalism which disparag-
ed union by "many artifices." The mass of
the Democratic party were mindful of
these warnings; they besought the people
not to be beguiled into the support of the
Republican party, because it was inspired
by that sectionalism that was baneful to
the uttermost, and hence provocative of
attempted disruption OF the Union.
What was the reply? Said the leaders
in this sectional enterprise 1t is false that
our principles are not in harmony with the
best interests of the country. We seek
the country,s good and nothing beyond.
Under Democratic rule, corruption has
fastened itself upon the Government. For
years the country has been disquieted by
slavery agitation. Prosperity droops. Put
into our hands the Government, and we
will, strengthen the cords of Union; will
quiet slavery agitation; will restore econo-i
my and purity in the administration of the
various departments of Government. To
the landless we will give lands and to the
homeless we will give homes, without
money or without price, and the morals of
the country shall be promoted. The ma
jority of the Northern people put faith in
these assurances, and putting faith in them
they turned their backs upon and closed
their ears to the pleading warnings of
WASHINGTON, JACKSON, and CLAY, speak
ing to them, as it were, from the grave in
the language of pure unselfishness.
Well, for six years the Republican party
branded by WASHINGTON, JACKSON and
CLAY s7sectional-have had the control of
the Federal Government. What is the re-
suit? Were WASHINGTON, JACKSON and
CLAY alarmists? Were they mere pigmy
politicians who sought to play the states
man, and penetrate the future? Were
their warnings against sectionalism
prompted by dotage, and, therefore, child
isIf? Were these men Lilliputians, and are
the SUMMERS, STEVENS, WADEs, CHAMBERS
and SCHENCKs, GULLIvERs in mind and
craftsmanship? Practically, dismember-
ment has done its work. That section of
the countryside South-which WAsHNG-
TON said would, in perfect union, "seeing
its agriculture grow, and its commerce ex-
pand, /" contribute, In different ways, to
nourish and increase the general mass of
the national navigationn-is denied voice
and participation in the Federal Govern
merit. Not only this, but in a few days at
most that section of the country, which
formed a glorious part of the Union in
days. when WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON,
JACKSON and CLAY played a n COM
mandingi part in American statesman
ship, are to be cut up into five military dis
tricts, and the people thereof to be ruled
by military power and Negroes. This is
I the way the Republican leaders are redeem
! ing the pledge they made to the people, in
1850. if entrusted with power, that they
would strengthen the chords of Union.
. Our people are.now taxed from 25 to 60
per cent. more than the heaviest taxed peo-
pie. who live, move and have their being
where the pretense of a Government exists.
This is the way the Republican leaders re-
deem their pledge of giving to the landless
lands and the homeless homes, without
money or price. The memory of man
irunneth not to the contrary when such
depression rested upon all depart
!meuts OF business as now rests upon it.
This is the way the Republican lead
ers redeem their pledge, that they
would give to- the country. plethoric
prosperity. Never did corruption so -four
ish in the administration of governmental
affairs as now. This is the way the Repub-
llican leaders redeem their pledge of re-
storing to Government simplicity and in
Ftegrity. Aud to crown all, never was Ii
centiousness so bold, so defiant, so wide
spread as now, sapping the morals and lay
ing the foundation for a debiitated and
diseased generation in the hereafter. New
,er before were the penitentiaries of the
country so filed as now. This is the way
an which the leaders of the Republican
party redeem their pledge, that under their
rule the morals of the country would be
improved.
All these things resolve themselves into
ga grave question:" and that 'grave ques-
question" is, how much longer should our
people continue this Republican party in
power yL rl stt