Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-07-05

selves OF the precious legacy OF freedom !;
and ii is sacriIege aud an insult 10 the
memories OF the past, that SO many, sir,
should sit in your presence here today 10
goad them on TO desperate resistance, and
few--alas |! SO very few-to mediate and
restrain
OF those few, | thank my God th at am
one am proud to proclaim il here be.
meath the dome Of the Capitol shall pro.
claim it, here and everywhere, until the
wings of peace shall be once more folded
over the bleeding bosom Of my country.
shall proclaim it aloud and honestly although
10 do so would make me the next victim of
this cruel strife,
Sir, il may be said that speak of peace,
while its attainment, without further recourse
10 arms, remains impossible. do not be.
lieve it impossible. What effort has been
made? What door has been opened
through which the passions and ll.feelines
OF the contestants might pass ou, and reason
enter! None. The single idea has been
forced upon the people that the sword, and
the sword alone, mast decide the issue. 1t
has been pronounced treason 10 hold an
opposite opinion. Sir, if 20 have but little
iallh in the efficacy OF the sword for Joining
severed friendships, il 10 earnestly desire
peace and deprecate the horrors of war, be
treason, then am a traitor; and am proud,
er OF such treason than others can be of
their vndictive, flaming, and preenlious
patriotism.
conlute this Congress, in the name of
our suffering country, in the name of wives
that may be widows, of children that NAV
be orphans, in the name of gallant men,
now strong in health, and who, 10 morrow,
may be stretched in death upon the CORY
ground, or wrthing, manned, and disfisured
with tonuring wounds--in the name of
humanity, that sckens at the daily record
of this terrible strife, conjure this Congress
TO seize al the merest chance that NAV
exist Of present termination fth;s tragedy.
Let something be attempted in the spir, of
meditation. Sir, the people will respond
10 il. They will thank this Congress for ii.
They will bless this Congress for any mea.
sure that breathes OF the spiri, OF reconcilia
'ion. They weary Of this war, weary in
despite OF the excitement of present victory
lhey will wake soon TO the consciousness
that such victories are purchased al a sac
rlfice terrible 10 contemplate; that a national
debt is created, which, in its rapid accumu.
'alon, is appallng--a debt, which, if ever
paid, will! press like an incubus upon fu-
,nre generations, sunting the growth and
paralyzins the vigor of our young Repuo>
lie or, il repudiated, resting a blot upon
our annals.
If we look abroad, the spectacle tends
only 10 on, shame. We see the sceplred
hands OF Europe planting their royal ban.
ners upon the soil of this Western hemis-
phere, which it is our natural duty 10 con-
secrate 10 republicanism, and which we
might al least have guarded from The greed
of foreign despots. The flag of Aragon and
Bastile launts in the air of San Domingo and
united with the blazonres oil France and
England, is Gnfurled upon the walls of San
Juan d'Ullou. Where may they no, float a
twelve months hence, if we, the natural
guardians of this continent, should still be
busy dabblng in each others gore? Sir, if
there must be war, let il be against the ma.
tural enemies OF repubicanism ; if we must
humble our national pride TO conciale the !
British lion, let US make some sacrifice 10 |
win back in amiy the South, that we may
stand once again as comrades in arms, 10
scourge these foreign nteropers within
heir proper limits.
am no advocate Of bloodshed but il a |
'oreign war should be the alternative of
submission TO foreign insoIenee, trust
hat ! should be the last 10 IaIl PROSTATE
hat The hurricane might sweep harmless
,y. To subserre the schemes OF a party, |
We have already humiIiated the American
people in the eyes of scofing Europe! /!
will be a task hereafter to regain the caste
We have lost in the family of nations. No |
greater evil could befall US shan 10 be forced
rom the position we have hitherto assumed
owards foreign Powers? | would not have
ny country swerve one inch from any vital
principle OF her foreign roicy in any
emergency whatever. Above all things |
lold dear that national honor, which we
rave ever, ill OF late, preserved untarnsh-
ID. However gloomy may be The aspect
If things at home, | would have our flag
loaf as proudly as ever abroad, not deign.
ng 10 make domestic afliction a plea for
humility, an excuse for cowardice, or a
oalialion of national dshonor
Whenever the occasion demands that a
tand should be made against foreign ae-
,resson, or rebuke Administered to fore
gn pride, or a rhaslisement inflicted upon
oreign insoIence, would have the gaunt-
81 thrown down upon The impulse of the
alional sentiment, without releren TO
omeslic exigencies, or pausing to measure
ne strong proportions OF the Ioe. In the
eat ol our private discord, we seem 10
ave iorgot en- that our great mission as a
eope, is TO repubicanize the world, TO