Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-20

can cheerfully, and without hesiiation, assume
my shareiof the work. Terribly oppressive do
feel the weight of responsibility resting upon
me, and upon all called to act In this emergen-
cy. Gladly would avoid THE responsibility,
yet u is resting upon me and Just as gladly,
feeling Il my duty, will promptly act.
1t Is no time to think Of the past, no time to
seek for aud explain causes Effects are upon
US, the eventful present Is over u.s. and the dark
ening future bids US TO prepare for and act upon
coming events.
We are in the midst Of war, about to vote
means for the prosecution of that war. Can !
do this2 Yes; no other course is open.
Fearful are the horrors Of war, not alone upon
the tented field and in the battle hour, but In Its
miseries and sorrows entailed upon families and
friends, and tendency for retarding civilization.
Not one sympathy Of my nature but revolts at
It's horrors, not one principle of my life but OBJ.
jects to its tendency for generalization and
wrong. But not one emotion OF my heart beats,
but for my country, and for freedom. Between
the two, choice must be made. cannot hesitate.
My country first, last, all the time.
The whole country. from the grand old hills
Of New England, through the sunny South, and
over the mighty plains Of the West, as one
country only can look upon it.
What sacrifices cannot we all make for it,
It's greatness and power has been our pride--its
Constitution we have loved, and Its government
has been the guarantee for untold blessings and
privileges. But oil, all are endangered. Not
by attacks from without-not from a foreign
foe. But fiom rebels at home. Traitors plot
ting against the government assume the right
Of sovereign and independent action at will, and
threaten dissolution and overthrow Of the bes
government ever known in the history Of man
The p esident Of the United States, Chief Execu'
tive officer of the nation, issues his proclama-
tion, telling us, that "the laws of the United
States are opposed by combinations too pow
: erful to be suppressed by the ordinary course o
} judicial proceedings" and calling upon all loya
! States and citizens to aid in enforcing the laws
: and sustaining the Government.
Whole States are in arms The booming
cannon opens Its fire of iron hail upon South.
ern fortress, and Sumter falls. The Capita
of the nation is threatened with attack. Eacl
J., successive throb of the electric current bring
t to our watching ears and saddened hearts fresl
proofs of the terrible spirit of rebellion exist
6 ing, and accounts OF repeated insults to tn
C grand old flag of the Union. We are here +
o answer that proclamation, are here to speak 70
T. Ohio; Ohio, through us, will speak. She doe
i speak, 10 tones of thunder: "Stay your ffatrici
J. dal hand! Leave that flag to noat, this Unio
J. unbroken, aud our Government to stand!"-
Her people are focking to arms; the streets
d her Capital are throDged, and tremble beneat
their firm and confident tread.
n BY the bill before US, We propose to arm,
II feed, and sustain them in defending the Stat
Is and aiding the General Government In the eE
forcement OF law and defence OF its propert,
to promo dy, unitedly, hopefully, gladly let u
g pass it,
lie Mr. Speaker, with all the sadness the col
ID temptation of the horrors of war, and of tn,
IN worst of all, civil war, forces upon my hear
can bat rejoice at what see upon this fot
to this morning, That forgetting what we hav
lie done, what we have said what we may hay
k, felt, when our country calls, we can forget O
the past, join hand TO hand, press heart TO- hear
shoulder to shoulder, and unanimously marc
On to the post of duty. Those who have been fla
S. tsring themselves that Ohio would permit eI
of couragement to them in their reasonable pu
k, pose, must see their fatal mistake, that up,
her soil beats no heart but for freedom and ii
e, Union. 1t is due TO the South that she undt
lie stand our position. She cannot now mistake
n Thus may Ohio ever, thus she will ever al
as and trusting in the Almighty Disposer
u events, We confidently declare, Our Country no
Our Country toreuer. The Union, our Cover
is, ment, ii muSt, Il shall be preserved.