The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-20
Then and Now.


our Young men in this city were preparing
70 respond to the call OF their country, TO
march to its defence on the plains Ct Mexico,
AMI all remember the patriotic feeling that
existed in the hearts OF most OF our citizens
al the time. and the warm and sympathetic
wishes for their welfare that accompanied
them in their arious marches, and during
The bloody battle 1T Buena Vista. Our la
DIS were fired with burning patriotism, and
their fair hands toied late and early to make
their flag and suitable equipments. Their
Iabors AMI their smiles were freely given to
cheer them on in Ike good and noble work,
ani to this day they proudly rcicr to the
past as the happiest days they ever spent in
the services OF our country
Oncc more we hear the din Of arms aai
See the flash OF polished bayonets in our
streets The young men arc again sum-
moned to arms, not to defeat a semi-barba-
rous foreign nation, but to enlist in the hor-
rors of civil war-to STAY men OF their
own nation men of the same country, the
same language, aIi P'OtvrtOd Icy the same
wide spreading branches OF our glorious in
situations reared in free land. We stand
in awe, and behold the zeal with which they
are enlisted loT this bloody work. We look
1T the leading men who are engaged IN this
work, and their aF.tecedents, and we 10
longer wonder. Conspicuous and in tine
lead we find the Rev. q. W. BAsSETT, man
who IS noted for his Garrisonian abolition
sentiments ever since lie has been amongs
u. lie it was that in the Court House
whilst preaching TO his congregation, 81 the
outbreaking of the Mexican war, expressed
TIE unchristiaa sentiment that he wished
those who marched in defence of their
coua;ry wsu,d meet with "Jloody hands
ard hos?itab!e graves" The Indignation
our citizens then fclt can better &c imagined
than described, and his congrccatiO. dis
penscd with his services from then Ill now
tie has had the mark upon him rs had Cain,
and his fauaticis,n has been looked upon
rather in pity than in anger. Then he de.
uoUuced the American arms and the Amer
lean soldier--EOw lie heads faction, and
opens his purse 70 arm 4 brother TO spill a
brothers blood. Then he desired the dis
grace Of his country, now he does the same
thin, and al! in the name OF the most iigh
Gcd, 10 further the dissolution Of this great
nation, that Il may be the repIoach and
ty-wOrd Of the whole world. Rank TdHGti,
ejsm Is the element he breatheS. it composeS
his head and heart, and his evening hymns,
and Lis morning prayers are for 4 dismem-
berment Of this nation, rather than have it
exist as created by the heroes and sages OF
the revo,ut on.
By his side we find other men, who ne
turaIly sympathiSe with British rule and
British journals, tine last of which in many
instances have expressed their wish for the
success Of the Republican party in this
country, as the first step towards the dis
membermcnt Of our s'oriors Union. and de-
siruction of hitherto successful rival.
These men, aliens 10 our shores and who
naturally sympathise with foreign powers
and who publicly denOunce in our streets
our government and our laws, and who
never yet have sworn allegiance 10 the Insti-
tutions that protect them and their families
in the enjoyment Of their political and civil
rights, are tit associates 20 promote the
troubles in Kansas, which they hope will
lead to civil war in all the States.
We find all of these men surrounded by
bigots and fanatics of various stripes, cheer
ing on the young and ardent to do the work
better fitted for their own hands.
We ash our sober-minded citizens TO ron
der well what all this means. We blame
not those who have enlisted and placed them
selves in danger by doing the work which
these fanatics were afraid themselves to do
They are mostly young and inexperienced
and are more worthy of our sympa,hies thar
our censure. We hope for their safe return
and that they will profit by their experience
and learn to despise with US, from the bot
tom of our hearts. the men and motives
that prompted this unholy work.