The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-04-24
TREASON AND WAR.

The rebellion in the Southern States
la. ripened into open wari against the
government. Traitors who ough; 10
have been hung long ago have lifted
,he arm against the flag Of their 0oun.
iry. which has protected them at home
and abroad, and done all for their ad-
vancemeut shst has given their States
an existence worth having. There is
no 7exccation, no condemnation too Sc )
we're for these worse than Benedict Ar
nolds. History will accord to them lis
blaetest page aud fuiurei generations
will unite 10 darken their memory until
the end Of time. lsiarni La r4a q,
Fort Sumpter has been taken by
these traitors - attacked before. the
government had fired gun in its de
fen.e and lis brave garrison overpower-
ec by a hundred to one, compelled TO
haul down the Stars and Stripes.
War is thus commenced bv the act
Of The traitors, and upon them must
rcss all the consequences. whether OF
bloodshed or devastation. Too long
has the general sovernment been in
active. too long has it been idle while
the traitors were active in making inn
mense preparations l9r open hostili'ies.
On Mr.. Buchanan must rest the respon-
sibiity of ahs present condition Of
affairs. Had he been dixie Washington
or Jackson under similar circumstan-
ces, there would have been AN end of
the treason at the beginning, but he
was recreant to duty. For all the rest
we might forgive him. but for allowing
the flag of the country TO be fred upon
without avenging the indignity. as in
the ease Of the Star Of the West. We
never can forgive him. It makes the
blood boil to think of the shame heap
ed upon that noble flag on that sad day!
Every where it vss lsoaorsd. and
wherever It's folds floaled in the breeze
there we're sAmlsrican citizens protected.
If they could. in any foreign country.
but get glimpse of its brilliant stripes
and flashing stars. .they felt safe;and then
to have that banner degraded BY a set
Of daslardly traitors, who owed their
all to it. and the ignominy passed by is
= chapter of shame. in our country's
annals. which must forever consign
the late President TO the deepest de-
basement Of contempt and ipfamy.
Never can he have the forgiveness Of
the freemen Of America for this pusil-
luminous and BASTARD y~conduct.a How
noble. compared with it mas the Ian
gusge Of Secretary Dix; ''If any man.
attempts 10 haul down the flag. shoot Aim
on tie spot !" That'is il; and for that.
the people of the Union will ever honor
Mr.. Dix.
But we set out 10 speak OF the war.
l, is no use TO fatter ourselves shat III
Is slight affair. For four years past
the traitors have been preparing for it.
While sworn to support the constitution
Of the u Mon. the leaders in The seces-
sion movement were secretly plotting
to destroy what they had taken sol
emn oath 10 maintain. Treason was
thus shstcled in perjury. il was born
Of t'eft, baplsed in robbery. and mrs,
ed by fraud. The corner stones of the
Southern Confederacy. therefore. are
Perjury. Theft, Robbery and Fraud. and
God Aimighty's curse must rest upon
il. But it las made itself strcng in
crime. and it will COS! many lives AMI
much blood and treasure to destroy this
''sbOminasion Of desolalion" set up il.
high places. Let US not Be deceived.
The time for quashins the rebellion al
liitle expense and trouble passed away
long since. never TO return. The for |
bcarance Of the government has been |
turned into curse instead Of bless
ing by the traitors. and now they must
drink tile cup of their iniquiiy 10 the |
bitter dregs. -.
The Border Sluye States are not TO
be depended upon. Nearly half their
citizens are for sece ,sion and the Union
men are not active. and having no con-
troll Of The Offices. are powerless. We
may expect'two men frvm these States
70 6ght for the Seuih. to where one will
IKE Up arms for the Union. Indeed,
L Is ios 1t all unlikely that most Of
siSess States will secede and join the
CSafedasps;b 'ih,ro Iaro,,
we nay ass wsh lseE tIb fac,s.is,slse
Iaes aS they sie. ed prepare 10 Ipaset
he crisis like menSs p o Oue ephstry, our
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