The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-01-28

been SO (and although its truth has pro-
duced such terrible results. | thank God
our people could not then believe it pos.
sible, | am well convinced we would
today have no rebellion. Had the oc-
cupant of the Presidential chair for the
year preceding the 4th day of March, 8.
81, and his advisers, been true men, and
had they done their duty as such. and
stricken the rebellion one honest, down
right blow when first it reared its hateful
head, we would have to-day, peaceful
and united Nation. But this unfortun-
ately was not SO. Treason and imbecili-
ty sat in our high places. and surrender.
ed one after another the outposts Of the
citadel ofour strength into the hands ol
Rebels, until emboldened by success,
they believed the citadel itself to be
within their grasp. In this way the re-
bellion was encouraged and strengthen
ed and thousands of men were induced
to array themselves upon its side from
the conviction that the government was
powerless to protect its friends or punish
its enemies.
AT last, but too late, came change o
Administration. Our Government as.
serted its rights, and gave evidence oft
will and power to maintain them, and
then came the civil war that is now upon
us.
/ need not undertake to roint out tc
you the primary cause which has led tc
this dislrous issue. Although there may
have been many minor causes, all tend
ing to the same end, such as the disap
pointed ambition Of bad men, and the
lust for power, the clear common sense
OF our people has seen and accepted the
fact that the one great controlling cause
of this wicked rebellion, aud of all the
fearful consequences which have follow
ed and must follow from it, is the sys,
tenn of Human Slavery. Sophistry can
not disguise this fact, nor argument il
lustrate it. 1t is, patent, tangible, and
sooner or latter it must be accepted by
our rulers as we'll as by our people, and
acted on by all This baneful system,
which has wrought such terrible results,
was accepted with great reluctance by
our fathers as an existing but most un-
fortunate fact. and its existence recogn!
zed and protected by them as such but
surrounded at the same time bv inhuen-
ces such, az they confidently hoped,
would soon eventuate in its total and
peaceful extinction. That hope has been
sadly disappointed. This system. so re
luctantly admitted into our form OF Gov.
ernment, and SO antagonistic TO its vital
principles, has, like a foreign substance
in the human body, been to the BODY
polite source Of constant irritation, and
has been the real cause of all the heart
burnings and ill.will among our people.
Circumstances, not foreseen at the be-
ginning, have fostered and encouraged
it. 1t has been defended. protected, and
nourished by its votaries with devotion
almost unparalleled, until il has acquired
strength and power which enabled it..
at first by steallhy approaches, and then
by bold attack, TO seize the reins of Gov
ernment, and control the policy of our
people. And when peacefully and con
stitutionally il was driven from its usur.
ped seat Of empire. and the determine
ton expressed that for the future il
should be kept in the subordination for
which it was originally intended, il re-
volled and by civil war has sought to
destroy the Republic ii could no longer
control, and from the remains to build .
new one in which its empire should be
absolute and undisputed.
| have said that our people have seen
and accepted these facts. and that the
time must come, sooner or later, when
our rulers too, must see them, and when
all, rulers and ruled, must act upon them
1t is not for US TO determine what that
action shall be. That is the right and
duty Of others But it is for us-it is
our right and duty-to advise with 9th
ers, and TO point out to them the course
which in our best judgments, should be
pursued. Understand me rightly.
freely accept and have cordially acted
upon the theory that il is for our rulers
10 determine the policy TO be pursued,
and for Us to sustain them, even il that
policy should not meet our appreciation.
But it does not follow that we must not
advise change OF policy, if our judg
ment teaches. or experience has shown
such change TO be necessary.
What, then, if anything, have we TO
advise? Let us see where we stand and
what are our surroundings. More than
twelve months ago this war upon our
Government was begun. and il has been
prosecuted up 10 this moment. on the one
side with fierce vindictiveness, and ter
rible earnestness. Nothing. literally
nothing, has been allowed TO stand in the
way Of the advancement OF the cause for
which this war has been waged, by those
who advocate the cause Officers of the
Army and Navy, to advance that cause
have deserted their flag. Statesmen, to
advance it have betrayed their trusts.
Among all ranks, acts of fraud, words OF
falsehood and deeds Of violence have
been held good and honorable service, il
thereby this cause might be advanced,
and the entire energies of its advocates
have been directed TO that single end
The sole question they have asked has
been: What thing can we do which
will most etieeually and speedily break
the strength of our adversaries ." And
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