CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DISGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 459 - 461 CIVIL WAR (Cont'd) the keynote to the finality of this monstrous Rebellion. Not one falters, but all, to a man, look with a single eye to the complete and unconditional triumph of the goverment. This class weighs well the monentous issues of the hour. That this is the "fiery ordeal" of Democracy on this continent; that the feasibility of a government of the people, that the test, the great trial hour of the sovereignty of the people in the matter of government, is upon them, and that the star of hope to the world, as against all that pertains to tyranny, is to ascend in meridian brightness or sink in eternal night, in accordance with the result of this contest, is fully comprehended by this class of our citizens, and they are fully prepared to meet the issue, let the sacrifice be what it may. Farmers hereabouts are busy watching for sunshine to secure their crops. The month, so far, has been unfavorable for the work of the season. The wheat crop is good; grass rather light; corn not so promising, as abundant rain has favored the grass and weeds. Fruit is abundant with the exception of peaches. (8) 459 L Aug. 6; ed: 2/1 - Men who declare that this is an abolition war and that they will neither enlist nor encourage enlisting, are traitors and tories at heart, and deserve to be condemned by all men. One firm in this city made it known that any employe uttering one disloyal word or casting his influence in the slightest degree against crushing the Rebellion, would be instantly dismissed. The members of this firm are not abolitionist, they are war Democrats. "This is the style and if every employer would adopt this rigid rule it would have a good purifying effect." (8) 460 L Aug. 7; ed: 2/1 The war, thus far, has been conducted by the North and South on two totally different systems. In the South the war is the main occupation and other activities are adjusted to that idea. In the North we go about our business as if no war existed. 461 L Aug. 14:2/4 In a letter to the editor, "Justice to all States" It may be interesting to others to know what we in Medina county are doing towards suppressing the Rebellion. says: Several party Democrats talk of the "despotic acts" of Congress, and my faith is now stronger than before that they are a very ignorant set, doing their best to aid the Rebels in their unholy Rebellion. One remarked that the law passed in January compels the peddlers who have to procure license under the law to pay for them from that time, saying that "it is ex post facto." Certainly, but who, beside a tory does not know better? The "nigger" also, is another important hobby. Assertions are made that we are fighting for nothing else but to "free the nigger," and that if we would stop stealing their "niggers" they, (the Rebels) would stop fighting. Every man knows that this is false. A party Democrat remarked, "If I had the power I would shoot every (8) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 462 - 465 CIVIL WAR (Cont'd) Republican I could find." Such is not the case with all Democrats. Many labor hard to put down the Rebellion. We will have a grand mass meeting on Aug. 20. About $1,500 has been subscribed toward the premium for volunteers. We are fast learning that our firesides are in danger and that we are called upon to defend our little homes. (12) 462 L Aug. 14:3/3 The board of directors of the Cleveland, Painsville, and Ashtabula railroad have donated the sum of $10,000 to apply to war purposes. 463 L Aug. 16; ed: 2/1 - An old-time Democrat who refused a public station says: "This has been a costly year and the experment of fighting with kid gloves has been tried twelve months too long. We must now go into the war to put down the rebels with fire and sword. Burn their cities, lay waste their country, confiscate every dollar, free every slave who can be made useful and leave not a traitor behind. Then too, I would use the negroes to help fight the armies. They are sufficiently educated and civilized to know the necessity for discipline, and sufficiently hardy to carry it out under the southern sun better than the whites. Let us have no more sensitive refusal of loyal negroes.' This man is no abolitionist in the political acceptation of the term, but he is a man of large experience, of clear views, of common sense, and practical conclusions. His words are sound and the heart of the people is with him. 464 L Aug. 18; ed: 2/2 - There were tens of thousands who hoped for 465 - L Aug. 20; ed: 3/1-2 - We spent an interesting hour in the provost marshal's office yesterday afternoon, observing the various applicants for passes and listening to their several stories. The room was nearly full of applicants awaiting their several turns. The marshal entered and commenced his duties, going to work like one who knows that he has a good deal to do in a little time and is determined to do it. His questions were few but pointed, and he instantly checked any dispositions to tell long stories. The first man wanted to know if it was necessary for his boy, 14 years of age, to have a pass because he was going out of the state. The Larshal said that no pass was necessary. The next maa was a Prussian who desired to go to the country for a short time. A pass was made out for him stating height, color of eyes and hair, etc. (1) (6) (5) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 466 - 468 CIVIL WAR (Cont'd) The above are only a few specimens of what may be seen and heard during almost any hour of the day in the provost marshals' office. (25) 466 L Aug. 25; ed: 1/1 - In a letter to the editor from Wadsworth, Aug. 16, "W" says: It is cheering that the government is coming up to the true method of conducting the war. The enemy cannot be conciliated and the government is realizing that conciliation will never do in dealing with robbers and murderers. The cause of the war is slavery, which the dignity and chivalry of northern traitors will not admit. The spirit of slavery is never satisfied. It caused our war in Florida and Mexico and tried to bring on a war with Spain over Cuba. And now it grapples with the spirit of freedom in our own country. This war is the "real impossible conflict" between a free government and the despotism of the most abominable system of wrong and oppression. The hand of God is in the war. Let the free men of color, and the downtrodden slaves be enlisted. Let them be armed and let them do their share. (9) 467 L Aug. 25:1/2 - In a letter to the editor from Harrisons' landing dated Aug. 14, J. S. M. says: "Silently, yet swiftly, from mouth to ear pass rumors of important movements about to be ordered if, indeed, the order has not already transpired - which will change the position and perhaps decide the fate of the army - the Grand Army of the Potomac." Search out the homes in mourning for the sons never to come back again - reckon up the sum in millions that have been expended and then, and not until then, will you know what this war is costing. I was once foolish enough to think that the world had advanced beyond the possibility of another great war, at least our native country. "Why was I so mistaken? Because I knew not the degradation and demoralization which comes from human slavery. I believed once, honestly, that the South had a perfect right to make and maintain such institutions as she pleased, without interference; I believed that Slavery should live with the will of the South; but I was mistaken. "We want our government re-established, we want our country grand and glorious, we want peace. But these we can never have until the arrogant spirit of the South is humbled, and slavery, the cause of the arrogance, has ceased to exist. To free this country from slaves and traitors, is the business at the present time, and for this we want union. When this time comes, we shall conquer. 468 L Aug. 27; ed: 2/1 - We have been consistent and persistent in the demand for vigorous prosecution of the war. "Compromise went down with the flag at Fort Sumter." We denounce the idea of conciliation. "And so we have urged and demanded stern, unrelenting, devastating, exterminating warfare against the whole race of accursed traitors. (20) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 469 - 472 CIVIL WAR (Cont'd) "We and kindred journals have been taunted with sneers at our presuming to judge of matters belonging to the commanders in the field. "Officers returned from Southern prisons agree with us that bitter, determined, desperate war is the only policy that will succeed." 469 L Aug. 28; ed: 2/1 - The Union convention at Columbus passed a resolution which was substantially the compromise of the venerable Crittenden. This resolution is out of date. In 1861 it was true that we were beyond reason had been made to the ed the war; the North was forced. South or be subjugated by the South. war accordingly. fighting a defensive war. Concessions South to prevent war. The South startBut now the North must subjugate the The South understands this and makes The resolution says it was not our purpose to interfere with slavery. True, but what was not our purpose has become our necessity. (9) (15) 470 L Sept. 5; ed: 2/1 - A N. Y. POST correspondent wrote that under the influence of recent federal reverses the secessionists around St. Catharines, C. W., have ventured the statement that the Union would not be broken; that the northern states would be subjugated provinces; and that Jeff Davis would be the next president of the United States. This lets the cat out of the bag. They profess to be fighting for independence, but they are fighting for the subjugation of the North. The slavery question could be settled satisfactorily to the South in no other way. Conquest and other subjugation are the only means of attaining peace. Both sides are determined on conquest and it is a war to the bitter end. 471 L Sept. 16:3/2 In a letter to the editor, Earl Bill, U. S. marshal says: Since the order of the war department of Sept. 8, all surveillance over, or obstructions to, travel in this district has been removed. Persons designing to attend the state fair can do so without apprehension of the necessity of procuring passes. 472 (7) (2) Sept. 26; ed: 2/2 - When the wires flashed the news of the first gun fired at Fort Sumter, the OHIO STATESMAN said it sounded the "knell of the Union." Every vigorous blow aimed at the Rebellion since then has caused the STATESMAN to turn pale, "and when the blow fell, and rebellion staggered beneath it, the STATESMAN has given a sympathetic shiver, yet raising its hands with hypocritical horror it has shrieked - 'be careful, or you destroy the Union!' "Out upon such hypocritical defenders of the Union as the STATESMAN, who would haggle about the constitutional right of rebels. "We rejoice that such papers are few in the North. The mass of the people are out of sympathy with them." (9) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 473 L Oct. 6:2/1 The Hon. Alexander Hamilton of Texas, who was compelled to flee from Rebel despotism, delivered a speech at Cooper institute on Oct. 3 to an overwhelming audience. He said slavery was the cause of the war and the cause must be removed. The leaders in the rebellious struggle are desperate, knowing that if they fail, their fellow citizens, who have been their victims, would spurn them away. Therefore they will never stop so long as they can get men to bleed. The war can only be put down by bayonets, by powder and ball, by brave hearts and strong arms. (3) 474 L Oct. 15; ed: 2/1 - A letter from Scott, general-in-chief of the American army, to Seward, dated one day before Lincoln's inauguration, stated that the President had only four ways in which he could proceed. The letter was made public at the great Democratic meeting in New York, Oct. 13, by John Van Buren. The main points of the letter were as follows: First Adopt the Crittenden compromise measures and let the peace congress policy prevail. Without this, 35,000 troops would have to protect the city of New York. (The Crittenden compromise was not adopted, instead thousands marched through Broadway to the war.) Second - Blockade the southern ports. ("The measure is a good one, but not enough in itself.") Third Conquer the seceding states by invading armies. (In this the general sees the greatest difficulty.) Fourth Let the seceding states go in peace. (He sees terrible consequences from a civil war, and so do we all. He estimates 300,000 men enough to conquer the South. It has taken more than double that number. With an 'able general' we might have done the work with 300,000. General McClellan, "young and able," was his choice to lead our armies to victory.) It would have been greatly better if he had never written this letter, and proved himself so poor a prophet. What we want now is to put this Rebellion down and annihilate it. 475 L Oct. 27; ed: 2/1 - The Richmond EXAMINER urges the planters to allow their slaves to join the army, and even recommends that a draft should be made to force them into ranks. We see no remonstrance from the submissive press of the North. Has the constitution changed since the offer of loyal blacks was made and rejected? There is a chance for a prolonged howl over the enormity of arming the niggers and we wait for the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER or the others to open the chorus of "insubordinate," "not fit for soldiers," or "must not associate with white men." (9) "Then there is another excellent opening for a virtuous indignation against a most gross 'infraction of the Constitution!' - The rebel Congress proposes to suspend the habeas corpus in the Confederacy! There can be no backing out from attacking this, as the heads of the journals which inveighed against such 'despotic' and 'unconstitutional acts' on the part of the Federal Government, must, to have any pretense of consistency, be equally severe upon their friends of the South. Which one will lead off in this?" |