Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-03-10

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crate explanation. They have elsewhere
been cOmprehensively stated and fully dis
cussed, and become part of the nations
history. BY them I am ready to be judged,
knowing that, however, imperfect, they at
least show to the impartial mind that my
sole ambition has been to restore the Union
of the States faithfully to execute the Of
fee of President, and to the best of my
ability to preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution. I cannot be censured if my
efforts have been impeded in the interests
of party faction, and if policy which was
intended to reassure and conciiate the
people of both sections OF the country was
made the occasion Of iniaming and diyid
ing still farther those who only recently
were in arms against each other, yet as in
dividuals and citizens were sincerely desi-
rorIs, us [ shall ever believe, OF burying all
hostile feelings i'll the grave of the past
The bitter war was waged on the part of
the government to vindicate the Constitu-
ton and save the Union and if | have
erred i'll trying to bring about more
speedy and lasting peace, to eXtinguish
heart-burnings and enmities, and to pre-
ing material prosperity i'll that region, in
juriously affected the whole country. | am
quite content to rest my case with the
more deliberate judgment of the people
and, as | have already intimated, with the
distant future. The war, all must remem-
ber was stupendous and deplorable mis-
take. Neither side understood the other
and, had this simple fact and its conclu-
sions been kept in view, all that was need
ed was accomplished by the acknowledge
ment of the terrible wrong and the express
sion of better feeling and earnest endeavor
at atonement shown and felt
In the prompt ratification Of constitu-
tional amendments by the Southern States
at the close of the war, not accepting the
war as a confessed false step on the part of
those who inaugurated it, was an error
which now only time can cure, and which
even at this late date we should endeavor to
palliate Experiencing, moreover, as all
have done, the frightful cost of the arbitra-
ment of the sword, let us in the future
cling closer than ever to the Constitution
as our only safeguard 1t is to be hoped
that not until the burdens now pressing
upon Us with such fearful weight are re-
moved will our people forget the leasOns of
war, and that remembering them, from
whatever cause, peace between sections and
States may he perpetual.
! The history of late events IN our coun-
! try, rs we'll as of the greatest governments
of ancient and modern times, teaches that
we have everything to fear from a depart
ure from the letter and spirit f.the Consti-
| tuition, and the undue ascendency Of men
allowed to assume power in what are con-
! sidered desperate emergencies. Sylla, on
becoming master of Rome, at once adopt
| ed measures to crush his enemies and to
consolidate the power Of his party. He es-
tablished military colonies throughout
Italy deprived of the full Roman franchise
the inhabitants OF the italian towns who
had opposed his usurpation, contiscated
their lands and gave them to his soldiers :;
and conferred citizenship upon a great
number of slaves belonging to those who
had prescribed hin, thus creating at Rome
a kind of body-guard for his protection.
After having given Rome over to slaughter
and tyrannized beyond all example over
those opposed to him and the Iegions, his
terrible instrument of wrong, Sylla could
yet feel safe in laying down the ensigns of
power so dreadfully abused, and in ming
ling freely with the families and friends of
his myriad victims. The fear which he
had inspired continued after his voluntary
abdication. and even in retirement his will
was law to Il people who had permitted
themselves to be ensIaYed. What but
subtle knowledge and conviction that the
Roman people had become changed, dis
couraged, and utterly broken in spirits
could have induced this daring assumption
| What but public indifference to consequen-
ces so terrible as to leave Rome open to ev-
cry calamity which subsequently befel her,
could have justified the conclusions of the
dictator and tyrant in his startling expert
ment ? We find that in the time which has
| since elapsed human nature and exigencies
i'll governments have not greatly changed.
Who, a few years ago, in contemplating
our future, could have supposed that, in
brief period of bitter experience, every
thing demanded in the name of military
emergency or dictated by caprice would
come to be considered as mere matters of
course That conscriptiOn, confscation,
loss of personal liberty, and the subsection
of States to military rule and disfranchise-
ment, with the extension of the right of
suffrage merely to accomplish party ends,
would receive the passive submission, if not
acquiescence, of the people Of the repub
lie It has been clearly demonstrated by
recent occurrences that encroachment up
on the Constitution cannot be prevented
by the President, however devoted or deter
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