Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-05-09

Iuctantiy paid. Long ago ought fncft 10 have set
tied this query. No excuse call lie received on
, account Of human Ignorance; for tbc reluctance OF
, the wise, the abhoncnec Of The peaccful and be
nevolcnt, (Which age has not had .and rcfnorso
OF usnrpcrs, forbid that misguided charity that
would forgive revolution for esiniand conquest
for glory. ltllas been unausweredy But for thest
times has been added an issue thatinay we'll sur.
prise us 1t is not whether revolution is ever Just
not whether national corruption 10 the end of ma
tional glory, not whether liberty can he sold by
avarice, but whether tho freed Of popular gov
erninent was made for escde. II ia plain con.
tradiction to the preamble to ou Constitution it il
reasoned that state secession from an individual
compact upon revolutionary grounds is justiiable
then what absurdty may not DO legazed. II the
liberty asserted and dcfined in the Declaration
oil Independence, without feyoluionary causes is
made the basis of opposition 10 government it is
equivalent TO saying that popular government is
destructive OF its eui5 which is now the rea-
dy sneer of British writer's. This new refinement
is to political science, what sophsm was to philos.
ophy; nothing is fixed, nothing is proved, nothing
is settled no government Is perpetual II is for
US to say If this libel human nature and tepoach
upon the religion of Jesus, shall be established
for the ruin Of worlds hopes, the ensavement OF
posterity and the internal satisfaction of despotic
courts. Who then will shrink from knowing the
character of the times for which he has come? +?
/ When good old Elijah fled from the kingy votary
/ VI DiuI, anu DOWcu MS weary frame unJer tile 1u-
nper shade, he cried: 80 Lord now take away
my life, for am not better than my fathers .
/ The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant,
and broken down thine attrs." We have not TO
lament the act Of deuded idOlaters whose severe
sincerity proved their Ignorance, but the overt acts
| of knowing, wlul cabas, who would with fratrici-
dal jealousy. break down these sacred altars where
our fathers did sacrifice and where has ever burned
the pure incense of loyal hearts. Shall we fail TO
copy the patto in of Elijah, and, forgetting our
personal interests, facing the bold front Of a cazy
apostacy, say "Lor here are our lives, for we are
! no better than our fathersr'
tits ours then to answer if there is moral power
! power enough in human nature to sustain such
government against such wrongs, and show that
+ human rights secured by liberal laws can never
stand in opposition, any more than truth can con-
iiict with fact. say il is a question Of moral
power. of the will and perseverance, because do
not doubt the physical omnpotence OF the general
government, it the hearts of loyal subjects give
not way because difficulties threaten to prolong
the contest. You have all had explained to you,
by men who are able, that the issue Is not one of
sectional interest; but the plain opposition of faith
to treachcry, the resolution to stand by or ftrsake
the plaincst political axioms and give ourselves
no concern that people in righteous cause are
not invincible. What signifies the taking of
fort? There is very little that is human that can
not be successfully assaed. WELL them" asks
ohS' "hN h"'hshiu iiS pcIpctuitJ Vi u govern
ment fths be so?' All well; so far as its principles
are original with man, we admit it is unenduring
Monarchies and castles must change, we know;
for despotism is of earth, equity is from above;
oppression is human, liberty is divine King craft
and Priest-crat are not copied from His govern,
ment, who'' left free the human wll." No; to un-
do the principles Of popular government requires
not only the conquest Of martial posts and stone
walled retreats; no, the pale genius Of our instu-
tions has no. trusted to such enclosures her yes
tibue worship, but to storm her strong castle is
to lay the bloodess siege OF that altar that heaven
has builded in the heart. As Christian have
no hesitancy in declaring myself, for no Christian
duty is more definitely eioied than that of strict
conformity to the powers tihst be, limited only by
the higher duties that we owe to God. Christi
anty seeks not to be welded the state but she does
propose to make good citizens. know that Soame
Jenyns has said that patriotism is incompatible
with christianity, but If nave read my Bible a
right it is no such thing; for though true philan-
throphy is general, Christ recognized patriotism
and never condemned it, and through six thousand
years God has addressed the mind of man as
though it ought to be there.
| Let no one then, give up to despair because Of
the wrecks of former republics, for the new ques-
ton are to try was not in their experience, when
they fell there had been no such attempted array
of liberty against liberty, but while despotsm and
invasion were just causes of fear, and avarce ru-
III eNcly purpose, ioooc uiu Hot HSCuiC
tie national virtue against the seductive charms
of military glory. Are we then, patriots, sensi
BILE of the responsibility of this time? True, ad-
versity trains and brings out our powers; if we
boast no heroes, it will often find them. True
times bring out men, but it is also true, think,
that men bring out times. Every righteous
act, every crime, leaves q wave on the tide of
human events, so that both the good and evil that
men do, live after them. 1t was Haman's jeal.
ousy and Mordccai's humility brought out the
times for which Esther was born; the lcnity of
Charles and the corruption of popes brought out
the times of reormers; the stoicsm and avarice of
George Ill, brought out the "tmcs that tried
mems souls" 1t is important that we should know
what is to follow our acts; and what brought out
! these times for which We have come?
| All there has long been about us secret confcd-
eracy of misguided minds-it sprang up in some
moment fnght over thirty years ago; with preco-
cous STEP it iOrgcts the virtue of STEALTH and must
like troubled spirit in conscious guilt retire be-
fore the angry look Of the Orleans hero. But here
and there it seduces an unstable heart from the
ways Of loyalty, through long line of years,
threats of discord and hints of crime are the only
pulsations of its still life. Under the cover of
pretenccs to injured rights it at length besets the
steady steps Of true citizenship; taking advantage
OF every dissension incident to free discussion,
its growth finally embraces the force of revolu-
ton. Within one y ar of the past, It boldly pro.
claims its designs, and failing to frighten ten mil.
lions of ireemen, it turns from their rebuke; but
not the darkness that sheltered il be ore it sends
no ambassador with offerings of penitence to Mt.
Vernons shades, nor stops to weep in cOntrition
over its revolutionary shrines il sends its fur
tive glance the blue waters of Atlantic; not
to the sweet shores of Puritan memory; farther
SOUTH to the blushing hills France mot that other
revered shrine, to learn the forgotten lessons
of fidelity to human rights, but upon guilty er-
rand to that monstrous royalty, whose uifiallOwed
retreats are yet haunted BY the crying ghost of
assassinated liberty; vexed at the strange anomaly
ola despotc refusal of cime it recalls its glance
and with u sickIy onth siasm, openly resolves 10
perform the perfdy of dividing our dear history,
our common loves and common hopes. All! these
times have come, because there has gone abroad
on sable wing from the scrpents lair fell spirit to
hatter the minds OF men with butterfly treasure
that crumbles whom graspcd;a vain conceit against
human conscience that 10 rob from patriotism the
holy memories of departed worth will bless the
reflections of guilt but which, like Satans theft
of Elen's innocence, fixes only the sting of
deeper damnation. Not content with the intamy
of cowardy SIEGE il tramples upon every cher
rished reminiscence, until--O, shame. come now,
from every spot Of the past execrate> and damned!
while malice and revenge seek shelter in the
name of iorgiving Nazarene, hostile must
guard from dreamsthe repose of Washiugton's
dust, lest, in the mixed agony Of wonder and hate
it should stir before that glad evening of the world
whittier themessenger OF its ssnetiied hopes has
long since fled!
sense, we oiH not blind ourselves to the issues of
A. A,,lr Nh,l lr,,o,