Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-03-15

! The people Of the States now confederat
ed became convinced that the Goyernmeu
OF The U. s. had fallen into the bands Q
a sectional majority, would pervert:tha
most sacred OF all trusts to the destruction
OF the rights which it was pledged to pro
tect. They believe that to remain longe
IN the Union would subject them to a con
tinuaDee Of disparaging discrimination, sub
mission TO which would be iDconsistent will
their welfare, and intolerable 20 a proue
people. They therefore determine 10 sever
its bonds and establish q new Confedcracy
for themselves.
The experiment instituted by our Revo
lutionary fathers, of voluntary union OF
sovereign States for purposes specified In a
solemn compact, had been perverted by
those who, feeling power and forgetting
right, were determined TO respect no law
but their own will. The Government had
ceased 10 answer the ends for which il wa.
ordered and established. Tosaye ourselve,
from revolution which, in its silent apd
rapid progress, was about to place us under
the despotism Of numbers, and to preserve
IN spirit. as well as ia form, a system oi
government we believe to be peculiarly ct.
ted TO our condition, and full of promise to
mankind, we determined to make q new
association, composed Of States homo.
geneonS in interest, in policy, and ia feeling
True to our traditions Of peace aud our
love Of justice, We sent Commissioners to
the U. 5. to propose FUR and amicable
settlement Of oil questions of public debt or
property which might lie in DISPUTE. But
the Government at Washington, DENYING
our rights to self.governmenI, refused even
to listen 70 any proposals for peaceful sep.
aration. Nothing was then left TO US but
to prepare for war
The Grst year in our history has been the
most eVentlul in the annals Of this conti-
nent. A new Government has been estab.
lished, and It's machinery put in operation
over on area exceeding seven thousand
square miles. The great principles. upou
which we have been willing to hazard every
thing that Is dear to man, have eonquets for
US which could never have been ach eyed by
the sword. Our confederacy has grown
from six to thirteen States. and MaryIand
already uDiufed to US by hallowed memo
res aud material interests, will, | believe.
when able to speak with justified voice,
connect her destiny with the South. Our
people have rallied with unexampled IN
animity to The support Of the great princi.
pies OF constitutional government with 6rm
resolve to perpetuate by arms the rights
which they could not peacefully secure.
A million Of pen, it is estimated, are now
standing in hostile array aud waging war
along frontier Of thousands Of miles.
Battles have been fought, sieges have been
conducted, and, although the contest is not
ended, aud the tide for the moment is
against US, the 6ual result ia our favor is
not doubtful,
The period is near at hand when our
foes must siuk under the immense load of
debt which they have incurred-a debt
which in their effort to subjugate as has al
ready attained such fearful dimensions as
VIII subject them TO burdens which must
continue to oPpress them for generations to
come.
We too, have had our trials and Difficult.
ties. That we are to escape them in future
Is not to be hoped. II was to be expected
when we entered upon this war that it
wonld expose our people to sacrifices and
cost them much, both of money and blood,
But We knew the value Of the object for
which we struggled, and understood the
nature of The war in which we we're engag
ed. Nothing could be SO bad as failure. |
and any sacrifice would be cheap as the |
price Of SUCCESS in such contest
But the picture has its lights as well as
its shadows. This great strife has awaken.
cd in the people the highest emotions aud
qualities of the human soul. 1t is cultiya-
ing feelings of patriotism. virtue, and cour-
ige. Instances of selfsacrifce and of gener.
DuS devotion to the noble cause for which
We are contending are rife throughout the
and. Never has people eviuced a more
determined spirit than that now animating
neu, women, children in every part of our
country. Upon the FIRST call the men fiy
10 arms and wives and mothers send their
aud sous to battle without q mur-
pur Of regret.
IL was perhaps in the ordination of
Providence that we were taught the value
# our liberties by the price which we pay
or them. Ii
The reeolleetions of this great contest,
With ell its common traditions Of glory, OF
acrfee and Of blood, will be the bond Of
and enduring affection amongst
ne people, producing unity 10 policy, fra
ernity in sentiment, and Joint effort in war
Nor have the material sacrifices of the
last year been made without some CORES.
'onding benefits. If the acquieseenee of
Oreign nations 10 a pretended blockade has
Ieprived Us Of our commerce with them, il
) fast making US sell-supporting and an
people. The blockade, if efl'ec-
ual and permanent, could only serve to divert
nr industry from the production of articles
or export, and employ it in supplying com.
oddities for domestic use.
lt is satisfaction that we have main.
aimed the war 10y our unaided exertious
Ne have ReiIher asked nor received assis-
ance from any quarter. Yet the interest
involved is uot wholly our own. The world
u large is concerned in opening our mar /
let's TO its commerce. When the independ-
nee of the Confederate States is recognised
y the nations of the earth aud we are free
0 follow our interests and inclinations by
foreigE trade, the Southern
,tates will offer to manufacturing nations