The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-05-22

Bayone,s as Mission aries.

We are learning over again an almost forgot.
ten lesson. The advocates Of peace have COM
placen,iy held up to our view its priceless bl e.
sings, which We have enjoyed for so long time
tina, the memory Of man scarcely runneth to the
contrary; they have shown so clearly the feast
biIi,y Of It's universal adoption 10 the adjustment
of all earthly difficulties, and have predicted with
such precision the coming Of is terrestrial para
disc. ths, we had about settled down upon the
conclusion that everybody must soon see the
merit O. the system, and that it must be Univer-
sally adopted inpractice.
How rudeiy have We been startled from these
comfortable conclusions. How suddenly are We
brought to confront realities which will Only yield
obedience to the authority OF forcs. As well
attempt 20 drown the thuuders with the noise Of
tin horn, or dam up Niagara with an arm full
Of shavings, as to settle the present contest
with the mild theses incnlcated by moral suasiOn.
Against government that has been controlled
only by the will Of the governed; whose power
like the gentle dew, the genial rain, and the
warm sunshine. has only been felt in blessings !;
traitors have risen Up with curses on their lips,
and murder in their hearts 1t matters not, with
them, that they rebel against a government
which has made their interests its especial solic.
tude, and that under lis fostering care they have
increased in wealth and power until they think
they have need Of nothing.
Ii matters no, that, by their own Oft repeated
admissions, this government has done them no
wrong but has loaded them down with benefit
1t matters not they have always been entrusted
with power, By an unsuspecting and generous
people. Exhortation and entreaty have been
exhausted upon them, aid with unhesiating
step they proceed to the accomplishment Of their
assassin purposes.
A new agent must now be resorted to, to set
tie the difficulty. The appeal is made to the
bayonet-the Gordian knot must be cut by the
sword. And What wonders has this potent ar
gument already wrought! How faction quals,
and treason hides its head before the sound logic
and steady tread Of armed hosts!
We have sent crowds Of Missionaries of the
gospel Of Christ to foreign lands 70 convert the
heather, but there lie no missionary like the bay.
onet, and nothing Ike the gospel Of gun powder
TO send to secessiouist-those damned souls who
have wilfully believed lie, and who can have
the consolation of looking forward to temporal
"day Of judgment" which shall devour them in
FIRE Of their own knding.
We can already see some of the fruits of this
glorious missionary work. But short time ago
few unofending soldiers from the land fragrant
with the memories Of Lexington and Bunker
Hill, sought peacable passage through the once
patriotic city OF Baltimore. The record of the
dsgrsceful treatment they received at the hands
Of the ruifians of that city is familiar to
our readers. They also know how the Blood
Tubs bu'lied and clustered, and peremptorily warn.
ed the President Of the United States of their
premises.
Only short weeks have elapsed since that
time, and . what a transformation! The "a
ging tiger has shed bis coat, and its place is sup.
piled with the soitest down. He has lost his
:usks with which he has been wont to gnash.
and-marvelous change has become gentle,
sucking dove! Who can witness such history
and not be believer in the bayonet a. q mis-.
sionary!
Again. Near st. Louis camp had been form.
ed guns and munitions of war we're collected,
and entertainments were being thrown up, when
they were. quite unexpectedly to themselves,
surrounded by Federal troops With guns planted
% a. 70 completely command their camp, and
were compelled Internationally to surrender.
What did they do? Why, they innocently
attempted to show that their assemblage was the
most peacable one imaginable, and that treason
against the government Of the United States was
net in all their thoughts. Here is q case where,
in the short spsce Of half an hour, the viles,
wretches on earth, "un~hipt Of justice" were
converted into loyal, christian citizens by the
powerful miuistration of the bayonet.
The necessity Of maintaining the supremacy
OF the government by force in the seeded States
will be st more apparent when We reAec. upon
the means which have been employed in great
part to bringing about this rebellion. The " ish-
60 Of the people have been overslaughed by the |
terror which force has inspired in favor of bad
cause. Thus in Baltimore, where no Union voice |
ors we're in the asccndent, We now see that an |
overwhelming majority Of the people are really
and earnestly in favor OF the Union. Such, We |!
believe, will be the case everywhere, where law
Essences and violence shall be put down, and the
majesty Of the government vindicated.
The Chief Magistrate of the nation has q com. |
handing and exalted duty to discharge 1t must
be profound qualification to him that the peo-
pie are ready with their strong arms and warm
hearts, to sustain him in the responsible mission
which providence has given him to fulfill. But
while his pathway must be one Of blood, the jus.
tce Of his cause, tie magnitude Of the interest
at stake, and the abundance Of means placed By |
willing people at his command must unite in |
giving strength to his purpose and courage to his
heart.
Go forth then, o Mr.. President! grit with
nations strength and EARNED With power" and
let the bayonet, Ike cleaning star, guide |
thee onward to victory and peace.
WILLIAMS RIrlEs. = The Grsnd Rapids |
6agls Of the 18th, Gays: The Williams Rifles. |
Capt. Price, from Lansing, arrived in this city
last evening. and proceeded directly to "Canton. |
ment Anderson" where they joined the Third
Resineas, for three years, or during the war.
This % one Of the finest military companies in
the State. Its ranks now number some 1Ool