The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-06-27

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Gus checks which have been imposed upon
1t by its intimate connection with Freedom,
1t has crippled ovory single interest, material,
intellectual social aud religious, that has
felt It's power. And, II IL bas wrought opIy
death. political and moral, while connected
! by many arteries with the living heart of
freedom, pruy, what ruin would il not work
| in a nation. were IL loft without restraint 7
| The fatal shot which slew our noLlo brother.
wns aimed at your heart and mine, as woll
as his. 1t was aimed ut our Government.
at our country, and at all that is most dear
to us, as citizens of these Uuited States.
ID Let US consider our duty in this
limo of tribulatiOn.
Aud, if there is any period in our national
existence in which pccuiiar obligation has
boen thrown upon American citizens to
show themselves mtn, that period is tho
present. Tho Rebellion has shown itself
strong, and only strength has sullicod to
meot it. Our Government holds its present
favorable position, by tho mercy of God only
through the most determined and energetic
eifortp. Aud such efforts must bo contu.
ucd. Tho people are beginning to sec. as
thoy never saw before, that there is TO
sympathy between liberty aud oppression ;
that thoy cannot coalosco, aud that all Of.
forts to harmonize their conflicting clements
aud interests must result in disaster, No
historical fact can bo moro easily demon
strated than this that largo majority OF
tho founders of this Republic contemplated
tho early extinction of Slavery. They an.
! ticipated such result from the influence of
a growing intelligence, aud tho expansion
OF liberal aud Christian principles. How
greatly mistaken they were, in these antc.
pations, is shown by our present distresses
Aud, since tho past and present provo alike
| that slavery will "either rule or ruin" there
is but one thing for the loyal people Of this
country to do in referonce TO this subject
VIZ, demand that our Government be, now
aud hcnceforth, administered according Il
the letter, the intent and the spirit of our
Constitution. That 1t protect States aud
people in the oxorcise of their rights, and
| not prostitute itself, as q minister of uu.
| righteousness in the hand of the oppressor.
Our Constitution, as il is, without ameUd-
ment, and without change. is sufficient to
render our Government all that il was de.
signed to be, and all that Il ought to be
the promoter Of liborty, justice, equity. in.
telligeUco, industry aud religion, throughout
its ontire jurisdiction. God declared to the
world long ago, that righteousness exalt
| 9Th q nation. but sin is reproach TO any
| peoplo and our country will never enjoy
its former prestige and prosperity, unless
people aud rulers shall fall back upon the
first principles of sound morality. and de.
clare that Justice shall stand though the
heavens fall"
Lhberal principles have had three periods
| of peculiar trial upoR this Continent. The
| first was whom tho Puritans planted them.
selvos, for conscience sake, upon tho "wid
Now England shore" amid wild beasts, wild
forests and wild Indians. upon sterile soil
and under on ungenial sky. Then those
principles trumphed over the natural ele-
ments. the ruthless savage, and the severesl
| privstions and sufferings of q pioneer life
aud caused the "desert to blossom as the
| rose Their second period of peculiar peril
was when this Nation was born, and Liberty
built hero her homo. Then those priuci.
| Piles showed themselves moro than match
| for the cunning. the bribery and the armies
OF British King and Parliament. And
those principles are having their third and
most fiery ordeal at the present timo, while
the spirit of dospotsm raises its impi0u:
crest. under the guise of State.sovereigntv
and darts its deadly fangs at the very hear
Of Freedom.
The result of this last and fiercest struggl,
cannot bo doubtful if we are true to ou
fathers, true to our children, and true 4
our God. o, it is privilege to live in sucl
time as this, to those who havo the wisdom
to perceive their Obligations, and the virtu
and manliness to meot them. The pas
and future are looking upon us. We are
spectacle to men and angels" Tho friond
of truth and liberty throughout tho earth
and unborn generations will bless US, If W,
arc faithful 10 our trust. We take no hast,
measure of human life, and OF the might,
sacrifices which are now being made by tn,
loyal people of this country, in the cause o
freedom, when We declare that our Govern
ment is worth far more than we are payinJ
for it and that, if it costs the lives ant
property of this entire generation, to vres
our noble and God given inheritance en-
tirely from the grasp of tho opprcssor, ant
secure perpetual and unmixed liberty t,
thuse who shall succeed us, wo shall no
transmit to future generations legacy to-
dear.
Every loved ono who has gone out from
US TO brave the hardships and dangers o
the camp and the field. every one that Ian
guishes in the hospital and the prison, an
every mouldering form that fills n soldier
grave, appeals to us most oloquently, t
make an ultimate end of that institution
, which underlies all our distresses, and who's
malignant spirit is the life aud power of th
Rebellion.
; There is much To encourage in this tim
of tribuiatiou. "The stars in their courses
seem to be fighting for US, We can almot
perceive the angels of the Lord going be
,, fore our armies, and God, by His word, IL
spirit. and His providence. is pointing u
plainly to our duty, aud ndmonishiug us
. do it. IT we take hold of His strength, an
i, walk according to His counses, righteous
/ ness and peace will soon embrace oac
4 other in our national affairs, and glory wi
/ abide in our land. But, if we shirk our vas
q responsibilities and lot this time of our viz
itation pass unimproved, the star ofpromis
/. . which has hung so long in spleEdor over u
will sink, at length, in fearful night.
9 OF the deceased, il does not become m
/ to say much. as my acquaintance with hir
h was not extensive, and your own cherishe
!. recollections of him are. no doubt, his bel
h. eulogy, He WAS amiablo, intelligent an
. upright; and filial trus, in God SCENE
q to be the ruling element of his characte
+. That trust he doubtless cherished undt
n the fatigues of the march, the labors all
I. priyations of the camp, the sutferings OF ii
a hospital, the perls of the field of couflit
A and carnsge. und tho untold pangs of ebbin
g life. He did his duty, and fell with his a
!. NOR on, in the face Of Freedoms foes an
n ours.
4 Let not tho hand of sympathy and a
r. 4 l..