Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-10-14

Must 10 believe that the prospective
glory Of our country 10 gradually lessen-
ing in the many burning hearts now
trembling for its safetyi Aust the warm
enthusiast 10 the progress of the human
mind despair in view Of the apparent
depth and alarming appearances which
leave him 90 little encouragement TO
labor in its cause. Must We permit the
prophetic voice of our worthy sires to
fade UNDECIDED from our memory and
resist not the threatened avalanche
about descending upon uss The posi-
ton Of things viewed in every conce'v-
able shape, present obstacles OF such
force and weight, that it seems like
hoping against hope to effect landing
of the "old Ship Of State" in any port
of safety. The storm is yet thickening
and daily becomes more and more fear.
full. The principles OF selfgovernment
lie in the deep fathoms Of reason, and
exhibit their power only through the
moral restraint Of man. While passion
rules, the chances to exert an influence
and to control the acts Of an intcr,nixed
species are becoming more limited, and
less time is to be found for the moderd-
ton OF the mind, or cooling the impul-
ses of the heart, being almost wholly
absorbed to feed the passions. Scnsl
tive minds wrapped in the great cause
of general good, feel the coming storm
and shudder for the impending consc-
qucnces. Great God is it possible that
we arc now approaching the night Of
our Nations dav )" that its san is
now Pickering in the already dimmcd
horizon leaving an existence so short, 30
bright and glorious. A thousand CEN
turtles hence, buried in the darkness Of
ages, sleeping in the vaults Of eternity
past, how BEAUTIFUL and grand will its
ddcent stand out upon tho pages Of the
worlds progress. How aamning and
cursed will be the generation TO whom
has been left SO sacred q trust. Heaven
forbid that even Imagination should pic
ture such fate. Spirit! immortality
of man, the motive power to universal
progress, whose invigorating and benign
influences were being scattered through.
out the most remote and inaccessible
regions Of the earth, displaying the beau.
ties and elevation Of the mind, carrying
hope to the millions Of aching hearts
beating under the yoke of oppression, IL
now weighing heavily upon the bosom
OF the partizan urging him forwards in
the cause OF humanity, calling for his
prompt and immediate assistance in sus
tainlng the principles, upon the destruc-
ton Of which such vital consequences
depend. Impulses springing from true
patriotism and love Of country, united
with extreme reverence for these prin-
ciples, in many instances cause the over.
flowing heart to leave its predictions
to party organization and waiting not
to reflect, finds itself casting away
friends, party views, and even leopard
izing its worldly possessions, in its
inborn love and cagerness to save that
beautiful tablet which has given so much
light to the mind and relief to the human
heat. Is it not creditable TO man, in
these emergencies, to drop his plank OF
platform and concentrate his strength
and influence in queIling the mad Gle.
ments and assist in tic salvation of the
Constitution itself!
The blows are now beating fast to
rend asunder this immortal fabric which
our inspired ancestors left to us ia trust.
Shall we stop to consider, to make con
sistent our acts with the local consider
atoms OF our partizan platforms, and
permit the "masm pillar which supports
Vic uOOic SlIuCIuTO W DC uCWH lDLO
fragments 2" Every day that now passes
but deepens the creeping darkness be-
tween the coming crisis and the hereto.
fore planks of the many sticklers who
stand in full view of the frighttul chasm
opening up before them. Will they
stll hold on to their frall bark while
the old ship is rolling, without an effort
to save it? The plunge is not yet
taken. There is, however, enough
yet to turn back the raging serf heav-
ing up from tho South by its fiery elc-
ments Of passion, and to reinstate rea-
son once more in its rightfnl sphere.
Will we be men Will we be less par.
tasdn, and unite our strength for the &C
complshment Of such great objects and
such immense good! II there is any
virtue left in this nation of people let
US entreat them neuer to permit the
dcspicable faint Of suicide and treason to
be written upon the pages Of this gen.
eration's history. Let us show to our
successors that notwithstanding Judases
live in all ages, truth, virtue and all the
elements of moral integrity still exis,