Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-08-29

ue "reminiscences oil every description which the
history of the past century recalls. The rise and
fal OF empires; the victories of science; the march
OF improvements; the advance in the material we'll
being of manknd all those effects of intellect
and human effort which arrest the attention and
excite the admiration of the world, have marked
the last centennial era rs the greatest era of the
world
In our country now States have been created,
and human labor in n single generation has made
as 1 it werc an absolute creation, n glorious and
prosperous country out OF an unbrOkcn and gloomy
wilderness. But we need not go back a century
Half a century ago dozen cabins would have
furnished ample dwellings for the entire white
population of Holmes county The Atlantic sea-
board embraced the power, the wealth, the peo.
pie the arts, the arms, the commerce, aye the
States and the nation at that tine, of this great
land of Hcsperides. The little stone. however,
that tho prophet saw, was to become the mountain
The voice of American destiny commanded the
banners of American liberty and American civili-
zation to be full high advanced, and in the name
OF freedom and of universal man took possession
of the valley of the Mississippi, which from its
source among the eternal SHOWS of the North to
its confluence with the waters of the Southern
Gulf, abounds in physical wealth, and untold,
inexhaustible and unfathomabe resources which
sink the tabled stories of the Nile and the Euph
rates into insignifcancc. But the tide of emmi-
grafton did not stop in that land of corn and wine
"Westwarl the star of empire takes its way"
BY its light the pioneer has been guided from
ocean to ocean. Under its benign influences
waste places have been made glad, and the wilder
ness has been caused to bloom and blossom as
the rose. Its mission toward the setting was
finished when the arch of the Union in its radiance
and glory crcled high over our heads with one
base on the Atlantic and the other on the Pacific.
American destiny and progress has whitened
aya tt,Io thn .tn1o hoo .
merce. 1t has brought the flag of our country to
be respected and honored by all the nations of the
earth Under its sheltering folds the down trodden
and oppressed of other climes have taken refugue
and shared with teeming millions the blessings
of constitutional liberty. Education, the arts and
sciences, commerce, trade and manufactures have
been developed in proportion to our national
growth, whilst the inventive talent of American
genius has astonished the world. The three mil
lions ofpopulaton that waded successfully through
a seven years war with the mistress of kingdoms
and the master of empires is increased to thirty
millions. Twenty-one new States have been
added to the original thirteen twenty -one new
stars have made their appearance on the azure
blue of our glorious old flag.
| Our acquisitions of territory have been made in
no sangunary spirit except to odous tyranny
The conquests of ancient Rome in her imperial
splendor and power were marked by ravaged
plains, desolated cities, and smoking ruins. The
Eagles of the Caesars flew exutingly over conquer
ed tribes and unwilling tributaries. Their beak.
were red and their talons reekng with the in
nocent blood of citizens which had been shed il
defence of national and personal independence.
1t has not been so with our conQuests.
But enough of this. short time ago we though
this proud temple erected to Constitutional libert,
would stand untarnshed and undmmed by ago
through all coming time. But how vain and dc
lusive are all human hopes-human expectations
f,I, hat InE,
terday, to-day is threatened with destruction
The confusion of its falling pillars and tremblin!
arches fill us with horror; almost with despair
And worst of all its blood is upon palrcdal hands
1t seems strange that Il government goo,
should contain the elements ofits own destruction
yet we have reason to fear that such is the case
And there is no reason why it should not be ST
since the harmony and perfection that smiled up
on the garden of Eden were DESTROYED by the in
suborlnaton of its tenants who had been placcC
there pure and holy by Him who spakc them int
exisancc.
| Tie American republic is an experiment. I
will test the great question of mans fitness fo
sclfgoycrnment. 1t is the only government il
the world in which each subject is his own soy
Crcign; where there is distinction among citizens
because of birth, wealth or poverty, but where al
are placed on one common level with equal right:
to contest the race for fame, honor and prefer
= ment. 1t is the only government where libert,
. and equality have an unrestrained abode, and i
it falls a prey to the whims, capriccs fanatcism
and unholy Vaccinations of e2il men, free gov
: ernments are at an end. If the stupendous TEN
pie our fathers erected to Constitutional liberty
is to be uthcssly destroyed by degenerate srn
of honored sres the goddess of liberty may take
up her abode amid its ruins and dwell there, lionel,
and disconsolate as weeping hermit, until time
shall be no more.
Disobcdence to law has been the bcsetting sir
of this people. 1t is this that has brought these
5 evil days upon u.s. 1t was dsobcdience to law
that destroyed the first government on earth, and
it was that that caused the downfall of every rcpub
lie in the world. If our government falls it
blood is upon the hands of those who treat thu
l Constitution with disrespect, and trample upoI
| and disobey the laws OF the land Mt their will anC
r pleasure. Men may talk about traitors. who are
the basest specimen of creation, but | regard a.
no better than traitors the men who refuse tC
yield obedience to all laws passed by the legally
constituted authorities of the nation. He is al
enemy to his country, though disguised he MAJ
be, who will not pin his political iai tn to the Con
: sttution, and respect its every requirement, a:
the Christian pins his faith to, and respects the
law given by God to Moses upon Sinai's smiling
summit. He is a leaprous sore in he body polite
who places at defiance the requirements Of an,
provision of the Constitution, or plants himself il
y opposition to the enforcement of any law. w,
/ must be a law abiding people to be people a
all. When hear a man boast Of his devotion t
the Union and hear him talk of Withholding tn,
legal and Constitutional rights of any State o
person in the Conicderacy, | deem it safe to SC
him down rs hypocrite, and his boasted patriot
ism a cheat. The men who have preached, or il
any way countenapced disobedience to law, o
endeavored to deprive any portion of the peopl,
of our common country of their rights under tn
Constitution ofthe United States, or the laws O
Congress. are to be ranked as little inferior il
iniguity to those who rise in arms against tn
government, and with them to be classed rs dis
p turbers of the peace, enemies to our cOmmo
A country and directly responsible for the deadl
strife which now aiflicts our hitherto happy natior
/ If our government perish its blood is upon thei
hands, and the spirit of those slain in battle, AM
|, the agonzing tears of widows and orphans wi
r rise up in judgment against their guilty souls a
. the bar OF God.
We have notmet here to discuss political ques
y tons. would not be so far forgetiul of the feel
A ings of those assembled on this occasion as Il
i mar the harmony OF this day by introducing part
. theories. Love for cherished institutions, re
n spect for the laws of the land and devotion to tn
+ Union are matters npon which men of all poll tica
!. parties should substantially agree, however mus
# they may differ in theories. The people of n
n county can boast of being more attached to tn
Constitution, loyal to the government and sui
" missiyc to the laws than can those of Holme
"a county. individuals may differ to the mean
W to be employed for the preservation Of the gov
N ernment, but when the question comes OF upholC
o. ing the Union and sustaining the laws against tn
n attacks of enemies from abroad or traitors in OF