The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-08-19

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allsl, that this war, ss sell a. Il jew
ish prototype, has been wiekedly Fore
cd upon Us, aad il only acctp,ed as =
last and terrible alternative. David
soagh, no quarrel VIII ishboshe,h.
ihcngh be had accepted rival crown.
and united a rebel eoafederaey IN his
own Divioely chartered domain. But
like our own President, be lei the
usurper alone, hoping that ty peaceful
measures. better eoansels would pre-
all and that under his wise and egui-
table administration all opposition
would cease, and final amity prevail.
Aud Josb sought no conflict with Alb
ner, though lie was seduehg loyal
men from their allegiance, training an
army for the field, ins,iiudng war
measures on large scale, and cvi-
IDENTIFY with the most hostile tud trea-
sonabie designs. And when The crisis
at length came, and an amy was
at length marched toward Hebron,
then Joab only mhshaIled his trnsly
followers 10 meet and repel, aud by no
means 10 arae ueuacrg =.
He met their
only the po! d4 aea,
ready to liz Q dlsperse just as
the tem. o the enemy inclined.
Aud after thr bloody conflict Lad tran
spired. he thus answers the murmuT-
ing traitor; The responsibility is
yours; "for we would all have RETURN
ed home in peace. bpt tor yoar own
challenge TO The enmqat." Abner
came there with hostile Intentions, well
prepared for the fray, aud so confident
Of an easy victory that he called il on
ly play to set the boys at each other,
calculating, no doubt, TO find pretext
for a general encounter, in which TO
vsnquish the loyal army. But he
found to his cost, though he was an
experienced commander, and Joab but
a boy, that what vas commenced in
the morning as play, had come TO be
a serious game at nj yht He bad
coped with an antagonist whose valor
and ability he had underestimatcd
David, too, was a man Of peace, anl
had borne insults with patience, ag-
gressions with iorbearancc, and perse.
eutions without retaliation, and had
suffered indigtily and wrong in 81
lence, rather than provoke an open
war; and he was doubtless regarded
as sort of Yankee mudsill," who
had not spirit enough TO resist an in
jury, and who would yield TO any en-
croachments, however arbitrary and
unjust, rather than violently assert his
own rights. And in their pride aud
insolence, they yainly reckoncd that
each one OF their "chiyalric hosts F"
was equal to Eve or more Of those
tame submission.sts, should they dare
to question their traitorous demands.
But Joab had yentured to confront
them as an equal and there he stood
10 all the might and dignity of con-
scious rectitude and innocence, peace
able as lamb, yet brave as lion /;
utteiing no fulsome proclamations, but
ready TO meet the first man with mer-
tied vengeance who dared 10 unsheath
the sword across his pathway. And
such has been our position as a ma
ton. We have taken up arms in self
defence, and only as last resort.
And il has been well asked, " Was
there ever before, IN all human au-
mails, the record q government So
forbearing. da patient. 50 silent
ly enduring. ara ~ ni!est and man
fold wrongs, a0p'ng against hope, that
rgni reason aopld ere long resume
IT, sway, and the hour Of madness dis
appear; iorbearing unlil forbearance
had well nigh destroyed the confidence
OF its friends, siifled the enthusiasm OF
its supporters. and provoked our enc
mics TO question whether or not we
had any government lett| ltwas not
until public treasures we're plundered,
until forts, and arsenals, and minis
and national vessels were seized, until
munitions of war were trsitorously ap-
propriated, until rebels in Congress
had boldly announced their treason,
and hurled defiance at the govern
ment, and not until batteries were
opened upon national fortress and
lis commissioned defenders under pro.
lection Of the national flag; not till all
this, did our government arise in III
majesty and say to this spirit Of re.
beIIion, " Thus far and no farther
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