The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-07-04
The Campaign Opened! !!
s 2 z z Q Fl OF
GENERAL GEORGE v, MORGAN,
ST. CLAIRSVILLE. OHIO.
JUNE 20. 1871.

! JUNE 20. Is.1.
FELLOW CITIzENs-A deep conviction
exists among the people that the federal
government is administered in the inter.
est of few individuals like private
corporation; that extravaganza and cor
ruption perTade every department of the
Government, and that many of those in
|power use their positions to amass pri-
vate fortunes, rather than to secure the
public good.
In a Republic those in authority are
the mere agents of the people, and their
conduct should undergo candid but crit
ical examination not only as to matters
of honesty and economy, but as to the
wisdom Of their acts. A people may
be ruined by the blunders of their
agents, as well as by their profigacy
ano to secure public prosperity vigilance
is necessary It is plain that the inter-
ests of the great body of our fellow-cit-
izens are the same, and it should be the
object of political investigation to ascer
tain in what those interests consist.
/ believe in the integrity and patriot
ism Of the great body of the eople,and
did l not so believed would not be here
to-day. In spite of impartiality let us
briefly consider the Administration of
the Federal Government since 1861. If
it has been constitutional, wise and hon
lest, it is a good reason why those in
power should receive the sanction Of the
lpeople. If on the other hand, it has
been unwise, unconstitutional and cor
rupt, all good citizens will unite in say.
ing there should be a change. To be
just in dealing with the acts of public
men, whether civilians or soldiers, is
patriotic duty, for in good part they
make country's history, but scrutiny
into their conduct is duty not less sa-
cred.
THE FATAL MISTAKE.
My friends, would the South have in
augurated secession and war, had Soath-
ern statesmen been satisfied that they
could not obtain the aid of the South.
ern officers, who were in Che service of
the United States, to organize and COM
mand their armies. 1t is not probable.
Unhappily, no sooner did Mr.. Lincoln
become President, than civil war was
regarded as inevitable, and Southern Of
ficers at once commenced to resign their
commissions. The Inauguration of the
new President took place on the 4th Of
March, and the resignation of Colonel
Samuel Cooper, Adjutant General of the
United States Army was accepted three
Gays afterwards five weeks before Fort
Sumpter was fired upon. The accept
ance of these designations, was taken as
a notice that Southern officers could re-
sign and 60 South whenever they desir
ed to do SO. This fact emboldened such
of the Southern leaders as desired a
conflict, and the destruction and surren-
der Of Sumpter was the result. What
would you have done my Republican
friends, if after the surrender of Sump-
ter, Southern officers had rendered their
designations for the avowed purpose Of
taking up arms against the United States
would you have accepted them? l
think not Would you not have arres-
ted and held them as prisoners of war !?
Had that course been pursued, confed-
crate armies could not have been organ
lied, and even had they been, without
great generals to lead them, the conflict
would have been short and decisive
The opposite course was taken. Be-
tween the capture of Sumpter and the
second of June following, the resigna-
tions of more than $50 officers had been
accepted, and the Republican Admins
tration furnished Jefferson Davis, with
great Captains like Robert E. Lee, AL
bert Sidney Johnston, Joseph E. John
ston, James M. Longstreet and
scores of others Of scarce less skill ana
distinction Prior to leaving our SER
vice, they held the highest rank in our
army, and each of those chiefs was ex-
perienced in war; This fatal blunder
cost half a million lives, and thousands
of millions of dollars, and such my
countrymen will be the Judgment of his
tory. Uncontradicted / have twice char
ged this fact on the floor of the House,
and as l held in my hand there, so do /
hold in my hand now, the official evil
dence of what charge-the Register
of the Army Of the United States for
1861. And once for all l desire to say
that will in spirit of kindness ans.
wer alLquestions which may be asked
me concerning the subjects discuss. |
do not charge the Administration with
|treachery in accepting those reslgna-
tons, but | do say, that, at the least, it
was not only unwise, to do so, but a
stupendous blunder.
WORSE THAN BLUNDER! WHY THE FED
ERAL DEBT WAS MADE.
You may at first feel surprised, fellow
citizens, when you hear me say that the
creation of the mammoth federal debt
which is consuming our country, was
not matter of necessity but of art
And l will deserve your censure, which
l would greatly regret; unless l give
you good reasons for the opinion have
expressed.
Upon no subject have men more diff
cred than upon that of Government
Despotisms are based upon the idea that
men must be governed by fear, inspired
by force. as in Russia, Turkey and Chi
ma. In other countries, the idea exists
that moneyed oligarchy makes the best
government; that government should
take care of the rich, and the rich take
care Of the poor" This is the kind of
government which exists in England,
where one person out of every eight is
a pauper, and where all lands are owned
by fewer persons than live in the coun-
ty of Belmont The third form of Gov
ernment is based ON the idea that God
intended that men should govern them
selves, and not be governed like brutes
and the vital principles of such a Gov
ernmeLt are reason and public virtue
The Constitution of the United States
was framed upon these ideas, although
there were in the Convention those who
believed iD the wisdom of the English
system. Ever since 1861, there has