Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-07-24

w AhOH Perfectly well nave never Dee0lQ-
terfered with by the General Government,
but 1t is purely with US question of ma
tlonal existence. In meeting this terrible
issue which rebellion has made up with
the loyal men of the country, We stand up
on ground infinitely above all party lines
and party platforms-ground as sublime
as that on which our fathers stood when
they fought the battles of the Revolution
am for throwing into the contest thus
forced upon US all the material and moral
resources and energies of the nations, in
order that the struggle may be brief and
as little sanguinary as possible 1t is ho-
ped that We shall soon see in the field half
a million of patriotic volunteers, marching
in columns which will be perfectly irresisti-
bic, and, borne in their hands-for no pur-
pose of conquest or subjugatiOn, but of pro-
lection only--we may expect within nine
months to see the stars and stripes floating
In every Southern breeze, and hear going
up, wild as the strom, the exultant shout
of that emancipated people over their de-
llverance from the revolutionary terrof and
despOtism. by which they arc now tormen-
ted and oppressed. The war, conducted
on such scale will not cost exceeding four
or five hundred millions of dollars; and
none need be startled at the vastness of this
expenditure. The de;t thus created will
pass but slightly upon US, it will be paid
and gladly paid by pcsterity, who will
make the best bargain which has been
made since the world began if they can
secure, to themselves in its integrity and
blessings such a government as this, at such
a cost But if in this anticipation we arc
doomed to disappointment; if the people of
the United States have already become 50
degeneratcd-may l not say so craven-in
the presence of their foes as to surrender
up this Republic to be dismembered and
subyerted by thoe who havse reared their
standard Of revolt against il, then l trust
the Tolumne of American history will be
closed up forever, and those who survive
this national humiliation will take unto
themselves Some other name-some name
bearing relation to the post, no relation to
our create ancestors, no relation to those
monuments and battle-felds which CONNIE
mOrate their herOism, their loyalty, and al
Ike their glory.
But with the cu.led lip of scorn we are
told BY the disuniOnists that in thus sup
porting Republican administration in its
endeayors to uphold the constitution and
laws, We are "Submissionists," and when
they LAKE pronounced this Rnri- they sun
pose theT have imputed to US the sum of
all human abasement. Well, let it be con-
fessed; we are "submissionists," and week
and spiritless as it may be deemed by some,
we glory in the position we occuny. For
example: the law says Thou shalt not
stcal;;" we submit to this law, and would
not for the worlds worth, rob our neighbor
of his forts, his arsenals, his arms, his
munitions of war, his hospital stores, or
anything that is his. Indeed, so impressed /
are VIC with the obligations of this law,
that we would no more think of plundering
from our neighbor half million of dollars |
because found in one of his unprotected
mints, than we would think of fiching a |
purse from his pocket in crowded thor
oughfare. Write US down, therefore |
''submissionists." Again:-the law says
Thou shalt not swear falsely" we submit
to this law. and while in the civil or mill
tary service of the country, with an oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States resting upon our cousciences, We
would not for any earthly consideration,
engage in the formation or execution of
conspiracy to subvert that very constitu-
ton. and with it the government to which
it has given birth. Write us down, there
fore, again "submiSsiOnistS" Yet again:
When President has been elected in strict
accordance with the forms and spirit of the
and has been regularly in
stalled into office, and is honestly striving
to discharge his duty by snatching the re-
public from the jaws of gigantic treason
which threatens to crush it; we care not
what his name may be or what the desig-
nation of his political party or what the
platform on which he stood during the
Presidential canvass; We believe we fulfill
in sight of earth and heaven our highest
to our country, in giving to him
an earnest and loyal support in the strug-
gle in which he is engaged.
Nor are We at all disturbed by the flip
pant taunt that in thus submitting to the
of our government, We are neces-
sarily towards. We know whence this
taunt comes, and we estimate it at its true
value. We hold that there is higher
courage in the performance of duty than in
the commission of crime The tiger of the
Jungle and the cannibal of the South Sea
Islands have that courage in which the
revolutionists of the day make their espe-
cial boast; the angels of God and the spir-
its of just men made perfect have had and
have that courage which submits to the
laws. Lucifer was a non-submissionist,
and the first secession of which history has
given US any account, and the chains which
he wears ftly express the fate due to all
who openly defy the laws of their creator
md of their country. lie rebelled because
he Almighty would not yield to him the
hrone of heaven; the principle of the
Southern rebellion is the same. Indeed,
n this submission to the laws is found the
hief distinction between good men and
levils. A good man obeys the laws of
ruth, of honesty. of morality, and all those
avs which have been enacted by compe-
ent authority for the government and pro-
ection of the country in which he lives
devil only obeys his own ferocious and
rofigate passions. The principle on which
his rebellion proceeds that laws have in
themselves no sanctions. no binding force !
Ipon the conscience aud that every man, |
!nder the prompting "f interest or passion l
II caprice. may at will. and honOrably too. ;
trike at the Government that shelters him. '
5 one of utter Generalization, and should '
,e r,dden out, as you would tread out !
park that has fallen on the roof of your |
Iwclling. Its unchecked prevalence would
csolve society into chaos. and leave you !
without the slightest guarantee for life IL {