Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-10-18
PRESERVE THE UNION.

! OF general excitement, 10 pause and calm
ly consider the situation of political affairs
and the momentous crisis that seems to
be approaching. We are involved in one
Of the most desperate struggles that ever
convulsed any government on earth, and
in coming time, when the history of pres.
ent events shall oe written, future genera.
tons may be able to comprehend more
fully the magnitude of the contest in
which we are now engaged. Since the
| first blow was struck at Fort Sumpter we
have been progressing gradually but sure
ly towards the consumation of those pur.
poses that now seem the only alternative
for safety, and the only policy that seems
to hold ont any hope Of a successful soIu
! ton of our troubles.
The Government has been forced to
adopt the most extreme measures as cir.
cumstances have shown them to be neces.
sary, and all past experience demonstrates
the fact that none but extreme measures
are effective in extreme cases. 1t may be
a cause OF regret with some, that our
Government could not have seen the me-
cessity Of bolder and more decided poll.
cy in the beginning-but there is still
doubt whether such measures would have
been as expedieut and effective as those
| that have been taken.
| Toward the close of President BUCH.
ANAN's Administration the monster, Seces
sion, seemed to be silently fastening its
fatal grasp upon the vitals of the Govern
ment, while the Government lacked the
| energy, under the misrule of traitors, to
throw off the oppression and strange the
rising spirit Of rebellion in its inception
The policy now being pursued, ght have
restored peace to the country, if adopted
SIX months or a year ago, without destroy.
ing any local institutions but now both
sections are so entirely compromised to
the war that we believe it will eni but
With the complete overthrow and destruc.
ton of the whole institution of slavery
There does not appear to be chance for
escape from this conclusion. All evideu.
ces tend to confirm us in the belief that
hencetorth we shall witness one Of the
most bloody and desperate struggles that
ever has devastated this fair earth Civil
war i., at anytime, regarded as the worst
calamity that can befall nation. but
when that is embittered By the clashes of
local interests and feelings and svmpa,
| ihtes, as with us, we may look for war
to follow that will SURF ass all others in
vindctiveness, cruelty and blood.
But the issue has been forced upon us
| and it becomes US to meet it as men. No
hat measures must characterize our
efforts in the prosecution of the contest
Our existence as a nation is fairly at
stake, and unless We would gnomen iously
surrender our birth right and the last
hope Of freedom on earth, we mast boldly
ana iearlessly prosecute the contest until
We either successfully re.estaolish the
Government or perish beneath its ruins.
The day for compromises has passed.
| The hour for q bold and decided stand
has come. We have forGorne to adopt
| extreme measures until forbearance has
almost ceased to be a virtue. The time
has come for action Let rs give the
government a cheerful support ia all its
measures which are for the preservation of
the Union, and when peace is once more
restored and the breach cemented forever
we may indulge the hope that all pas,
| differences will he forgotten and all ami
! mosites cease to be remembered