Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-03-07

connection" but stood before them as mere
probationary
Scarcely had the loud roar Of ARTILLERY died
away, and the proud champion of our liberties
been placed at the helm os the "Ship ofState, :"
wit tattered sails, and broken masts, riding
Oft sTnid the dangerous Feeis of an unknown
sea; till the uncharitable world began TO look
upon our experiment in government with
tyranf sneer; and 1fere ever loud in their pre-
dictions that our probation" would be short;
that we would soon back slide" give up the
great scheme of selfgovernment; renounce free
principles, and be glad to re-unile with mon
arches. So does the dcuI and all his wicked
Cabinet talk to the young convert. who has
thrown off the old tyrant's yoke and made
firm stand for Christianity
Despofism affected to believe that our ri
sing star of liberty would only flash before the
world like the quick blaze of a comet, then
sink beneath the sweeping tide of popular
predjndice and go down forever, amid the fear
/ lul shock of cOuteHding empires. But despite
the thick film of prejudice that covered their
eyes, the Kings and Lords of the old world
could not but discern. in the Constitution, in
The tone and sentiment of true American pat
riots, as we'll as the earnest enthusiasm of the
! people, elements of national virtue, which
| clearly betokeued the future greatness Of the
Republic. But harrdSsed and beset as she had
been in her infancy by the infrigues and machi-
/ nations of her enemies-uiuch as she has been
torn aud difitled by niean ambition-she has
mounted tie heights of power and honor
| planted churches and colleges, reared splendid
cities, fioatcd her flag over every sea, and won
a ma me whose brightness is out shone by none.
! These, fellow-citizens, are but the mcagrc
fruits of her first BIRTH" 4 ner era, freighted
with the mightiest events that ever stirred the
the world from its slumberS, is now bursting
upon her. The day for the final test of free
government is at hand. And oh what a
sight for the patriot to behold the land of
Washington, rising in such majesty, to viudi-
cate tine laws Of God ard man d! ! rejoice
from my inmost soul, that the great American
nation, bids fair to step from mere probation
airy existence to the full grown glories of her
! second birth" She is about 10 "shuffi9 off
this mortal coil, and enter, as it were, upon a
kind of spiritual being Her principles are
no longer to remain before the world untricd
and untestcd, but to stand re-cstablishcd us one
of the first grand monuments Of Republican
virtue.
4 crisis is upon is! A civil war is sweep
ing the Iand like fierce tornado! Agitations
are stirring up the nations heart that seem
about to rend the very pedestal of liberiy'S
colossal temple. Clouds lowering round
our political sky, dlrEar and darker, and from
their ebon bosoms seem to glare the lightenings
| of our destruction. But what of this dark
night of gloom that now invests our nlii3n?-
! thank God that it is not without the cope Of
rising sun. But lrhy this pcrilous night
| VhY is our land to-day being drenchrd with
| fratrici,lll blood? Why do we mourn the loss
Of in Ellsworth and Baker! Whu the great
machinery Of national progress molionlesS?-
| All. who is not prepared 10 answer? And
what patriot heart does not burn with intense
| Indignation when it reflects that this great na-
! tion. whose cornerstone was planted by the
hand of our Washington. and whose grand and
triumphant march 20 the highest throne OF
greatness and power, we have ever cnntempa
ted with such pride and patriotic enthusiasm,
is row assailed by wicked rebellion, headed
by band of the most unprincipled traitors
and towards, whose names eyer have or will go
down to posterity upon the black tide of infa-
my and crime. And in the face Of this rebel
lion, the American people are called upon to
stand or fall If they stand, Rebellion Re
bellion!! thy last dark schemes are gone. II
they fall! Oh, Liberty! Liberty. where is
thy home? Fall and the fundest hopes of hu-
manity will fiud a cherries grave beneath our
ruins. But can it be that we SO great are to
be blot:ed from the map of nations?
Never never. The Republic is stronger to-
day than when she dreamed of;r compromise with
treason; and all the rebels Of czrth and hell can
never block the pass through which her noble
armies of freedom are to march to victory
God never reared the American Republic up
on this Continent to be converted into des-
potism or become the prey OF truitors. feel
that our nation is destined TO survive the terri
be conlmotions of this hour. And when she
emelg IS from the darkness of this night, and
has shown the taunting world the majesty OF
her strength, every star in the now his n lered
constellation, shall return TO its orbir, unclou-
ded and unstained by the curse of slavery
mingling its brightness with all others into one
great sun, whose fires shall melt every throne
Of dcspotsm. and under whose light shall be
fought the battles that will give to Republican
Liberty second BIRTH" and UNIVERSAL TRI-
UNPH, FOREVER!