New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-05-24


fair land. and all for madness. Nu-
merous States have passed ordinances
Of secession from the Union, and have
seized the Federal property within their
reach they repudlate and disown its
authority, assault its flag, and defy its
power; have deliberately, and with an
overpowering ssforcc, attacked and re-
duced partially garrisoned, and un.
offending forti6cation, because they
seemed to regard the gallant Major
anderson, with has loyal men, who re
posed in peace, a kind of Minister
Plenipotentary of the United States,
near, and rather too near, the Govern
ment of South Carolina, and now they
have threatened, as is asserted upon
what seems good authority, to march
against the Federal Capitol-troops
macrhing to its defense have been MUIR
dered, war is therefore upon us, with
all its terrible realities, civil, intes-
tine, war against and between brethren!
1t were proftless to inquire for original
or remote causes; tits no time for in
decision or inaction; it is no time for
elimination, or for reviving partisan
issues; 1t is no time to inquire whose
hand governs the helm, or who placed
him there, if, as prescribed by the
Constitution, nor by what name he is
known in the political jargon Of the
day. But, the only inquiry should be-,
Does he propose to steer the good Ship
of State according to the chart of the
Constitution, between the Scylla and
Charybdis which threaten her pathway,
and will uphold the Constitution and
administer the laws with the frmness.
justice, and forbearance, with wisdom,
l.ercy, and discretion, becoming tho
Chief Magistrate of such people, in
such an exigency? and if he docs that,
and that only, he should be, and will
be, triumphant.y sustained; not by po-
litical parties extant or obsolete, nor
time serving partisans, but by the pa
triotic pulsations of the great popular
heart. Our reverses are chargable as
we'll to demoralized sentiment as to
sectional disturbance.
The country is cursed with the Can
kers of calm world and long peace
with mean ambition-swarm-
ing with office hunters and plethoric
with treasury mongers. Like the
plaques Of Egypt, they have filled the
beds, and boards, and kneading troughs
of the Republic. and poisoned the very
fountains of political morality.
My desires and efforts, and auxieties and
prayers have been fer peace; that everything
might be Welded that could be consistent
with Nations dignity and honor and our
great republic can yield much to a portion Of
It's erring people rather than provoke Or even
permit a conflict oi hostile forces and even
yet l invoke the benign spirit Of conc. liatisn!
The goyeramsa. must ARA and thai IN T.
manner commensurate with its great resour-
ces, and becoming the priceless interests
cOnfded to its keepng-becoming greaf,
generous people, and becoming the lamenta-
bic occasion: but it should put on It's armor
for preservation. not for destruction; not
for aggressive war, but for defensive peace
not for subjugation or coercion. but to arr est
tumult, lawlessness aud disorder; not to de-
spoil others, but to keep its own; to main-
tain the supremacy Of the constitution and to
vindicate the laws; to put down the insur-
rection and to repel invasion; to maintain
the dignity Of the nation, and to preserve Its
flag inviolate; to save, if saved it can be,
the Union, already discovered, from the final
overthrow and destruction with which it is
menaced. The contemplation of even the
NEST brilliant success upon the Held OF blood
brings me in this controversy only heart-siek-
ness and sorrow, for cannot forget that it is
war between those who should have loved,
and cheered and consoled each other along
the bleak and desolste pathway OF lifes per-
ilous pilgrimage, and that we may say Of him
who falls in the wicked and unnatural strife,
"Another sword has laid him low,
Another and another's;
And every hand that dealt the blow,
All, me it was brothers."
But would assert the power of the
Government over those who owe it al.
legiance, and attempt its overthrow, as
Brutus put his signet to the death war
rant Of his son, that might exclaim
wath him: Justice is satisfied, and
Rome is free'' I would defend oul
~ ~ 4.