The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-29

our origin-we forgot that America was the
child Of God--that He brought our fathers
over the sea, and raised npa Washington
for us that we might lead the van in the
cause of christian civilization. We lost sight
Of the principles, with the guardianship Of
which Divine Providence entrusted us, and
for the advocacy and support Of which God
and History VIII slike hold us responsible.
We have become proud and selfish. Folly
and corruption have 80 bereft US Of wisdom
and virtue, that We have seen gigantic
rebellion raised Up from our own soil, and
laying its bloody hshds upon the life of the
nation. An, my hearers, this rebellion is
no growth ~ yesterday, nor Of the last year.
It has its roots In the moral and religious
degeneracy Of years long gone by. It has
come from the erroneous an ] vicious senti-
ments which our pride and selishness have
fostered for long time in both the church
and the State. There is hardly man who
can say that his hands are rlear. You have
not done your duty, and have not done
mine. Had iniquity been resisted in the
outset, It might have been crushed in the
bud. But now herculean effort and ter.
rible sacrifice is demanded. God, however,
has not deserted us. H,s hand Is still out
stretched for interpesition in his own cause
He who watches Providences may now find
many Providences to watch. We devoutly
hope and believe that God is to give us
signal example of mems violent dealing
coming down upon their own heads, and
that He viii make the wrath Of men to praise
Him, and the remainder restrain, a. there
suit Of this atrocious rebellion. Whom the
Lord leveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he recciveth. Our country
is to be purified ard redeemed by this bloody
baptism.1 The lessons that in our prosper
ity and pride we neglected and despised
shall now be taught US By the rod of Gods
Justice in the correction Of our iniquities
To put down this rebellion-to restore the
civil and religious liberties of America-this
is the instant duty that now presses upon
US and demands every exertion. And in
this service every good man may engage
with good conscience. Our treasures
should be cheerfully poured out. And as
many as are called to lay down their lives
in the conflict may say with the Apostle and
martyr, "IAaos fought q good fight As
preacher of righteousness, / have sought to
impress the moral and religious principles
that areainyolved in this contest upon my
oountryhAen, and especially upon those who
have gone forth from the circle of my own
acquaintance and influence to the defence
of our free institutions. Those who are
fighting for amhitiQn. for honor. for pay, or
in. aDy spirit Of hatred or revenge, have
not stunned I'd condemn as little if any
betty than assassins and murderers.--
He whQ:is actuated by no convictions of
duty, anu by no devotion to the cause Of
civilization and to his country and his God,
does not rishtfully belong to the army Of
the Republic. But to the true soldier, who
takes the sword in the fear of God, and who
has no other ends than those of Liberty and
Justice, whether he comes to his home again
from the field of battle with victory ypon his
banners amid the congratulations and
plaudits OF grateful and admiring people,
or whether he falls in the imminent deadly
breach, or pines away through exposure and
disease, belong immortal honor and renoyp.
Wherever the, graves of those who fell In
the service of their country. we may say of
them with the poet: eeg
SHOW sleep the brave who sink TO rest,
Ry all their countrys wishes blest? =
When spring with dewy fingers cold
Returns 70 deck their hallowed mould
She then shall press sweeter sod -
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
BY fury hands their knell Is rung,
ny forms unseen their dirye Is sung,
There Homer comes, pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall ere while repair,
To dsell,a weeping hermit there"
Let us then by the graves Of our dead, by
the memories Of those who have laid down
their lives for us and for our children, be in
spired anew by the beautiful spirit Of unsel-
fsh devotion which animated their lives and
by which their deaths are cannonized ever
more. And let mourning parents and
friends-let stricken and desolate homes
let the widows and orphans Of the Republic
be comforted and supported by the very
faith and nope and valor that prompted and
cheered our departed heroes.
OF the thousands who have fallen in this
cause, few have offered up their lives in 4
nobler spirit, with more disinterested patriot
ism. or with more intelligent comprehen-
sion Of the principles involved and the is
sues at stake, than CHARLES @. CLoUrxAN.
Having shared his acquaintance and friend
ship from his frst coming to our State in
.847, It gives me pleasure to bear testimony
to the virtues Of his life, and to bring my
humble Offering In honor ofhis gallant death.