Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-20

is inevitable, / should choose to retire
from the stage ofour present existence
while the American flag yet floats Owe
the National Capitol, and calls togeth
CT in annual session the representatives
Of thirty four independent, free ant
equal sovereignties. Separate Confed
eracies, Northern or Southern, have
no charms for me; their promises o
liberty, security and endurance, k'ndle
not my Imagination. Kindred ties anc
National affection will be lessened /
the genius of our government shall
have departed; when instead of yor
geous inscriptions to the Union display
ed on every side, we see only the lin
ger of man writing upon the wall sucl
fearful words as pronounced the doom
of Babylon. Our imagination very
naturally leads us to conjecture the
horrors of disunion, and we feel oul
pride waver in faltering devotion tc
our country, and tremble at imaginary
results for its safety when we calculate
the value of the Union, and see her
struggling against the concentrated eff
forts Of Northern and Southern fanati-
cism, to dissever the cord which has
SO long encompassed and interviewer
the principles and examples of Ma.
ton honored throughout the world. D
The duty of the South to the North
of the North to the South, is simply a
firm and united position to cement and
connect more strongly the chain Of Ma
tlonal affection, in stern opposition to
Southern fanaticism and Northern Ab
olitionism. We stand in this position
with these destructive elements on Ell
ther side, and all Union and conserva-
tive Americans are now appealed to to
stand by the Union to comprehend and
appreciate their duties, and to disre-
gard (for the present at least) all polit-
ical duties and empty feelings of polit-
ical pride. We know of no Democra.
cy; we know of no Republicanism-
political strife is Of minor Importance
until we shall have chained together
more securely than ever, if possible,
our National fabric inherited to us by
the common parents Of our country
Said Daniel Webster, "While the I'm
ion lasts we have gratifying prospects
spread out before us; beyond tnat, !
seek not to penetrate the veil" Thus
far have endeavored to speak for the
Union, and trust I shall always speak
with reference to every State in the
Union. On the 10th day Of March,
1861, almost the dying struggle of 8
great statesman and noble patriot was
made in the United States Senate, ir
behalf Of the government; and all the
influences of his mighty mind were
brought to bear in support of the I'm
ion, and in the protection Of every
State. And when overt acts were man
Tested on tn part Of the South, was
his devotion to the Union then lessened
or diminished? [ refer to Stephen A
Douglas. His dying advice to human
ity was ''to support the Constitution
not of the Northern States or sepa
rated Confederacies, but ''the Consti
tuition Of the United States" Like
that mass of fire in the ancient theory
of formation Of worlds, he has thrown
out many brilliant meteors to illuminate
and adorn the earth. His examples
can never die-his genius shall be the
foundation upon which the Union sha,
stand for ages, and after generations
will revere and respect his memory.
l shall briefly state what I consider
self evident truths, before and since
hostilities actually commenced. I have
too much respect for humanity, who
know much or little Of the law of ma
tions, the Constitution Of the United
States, and who may have any knowl,
edge Of the history Of Nations, who
have drank deep in the blood of thel
common brotherhood. | say | have
too much respect for men who have
availed themselves Of the examples We
have before US, to believe that the.
would have advocated the policy 0
war as the only means Of preserving
the Union, and [ boldly take the posi-
ton that the war which has been nee
essariiy advocated by Union men, wa
net advocated solely for this purpose
We have in every State, men who hav,
been plotting the destruction and over
throw of the republic; disunionists ar
divided into two classes-the open dis
unionists Of the South, and the avowet
disunionists Of the North, and becaus'
they have been in the minority, hav
we supposed they might never be ar
rayed with probable chances of success
against the Union. The naturalist ha
often wondered in his musings, hov
the little insect could destroy th
mighty oak. And the wide spreadln:
influences of these destructive element
have partially wrought the destruct:o
of the Union. But the echo Of the dis
tant conflict is already bourne upo
every breeze, to remind us that on
family Of States are battling agains
the fanaticism of these destructiy