Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-09-10
The Darkest Days of the War.

The Darkest Days of the War.
The clouds lower heavily snd dark!
over the Nation. Reverses have multi
piled with fearful rspidity to the nationa
cause, until q feeling almont akin TO dies
pair has cast its gloomy shadow over thi
minds OF the people. Truly, hope de
ferred maketh the heart sick" The ma
ton has been hoping for the fulflmen
of great promises of victories, the fruits o
which should be a glorious and honorable
peace. But instead Of this comes defeat
disaster and disgrace. And while this !:
true, II is one Of the most ~inexplica.
bic mysteries Of the many mysterious
events of this terrible war, why the
North, the supporter of the legally con.
stituted government Of the United States,
doubly the stronger in all the material
resources Of national strength and great.
ness, should be driven at every point be-
fore q despised and supposed ~disorganized
ALI IMPROVEMENT 4SC. I'D E4hGS AAC
South the energy and power to eEpel the
invader from their soil? Is not the south
ern heart fired by some idea that steels
the nerves and renders dauntless the pur-
pose? Their battle-cry Is Southern In
dependence" They are fighting for an
idea definite purpose involving a prin-
ciple that e~mbodies, in their protested
views, their present and prospective po-
litical and social prosperity and happiness.
In a word, they are fighting for the per-
petuation Of Slavery 10 sever the politi-
cal relations that unite them ofree COM
munities. whose influence and example
are so dangerous 10 slavery that 1t can no
longer endure the contact, and seeks to
erect a barrier to arrest the inevitable
sweep of those true democratic ideas, that
spread and take root wherever the sun
light Of liberty sheds its healing beams.
To save slavery it became necessary to
destroy the Union Of Slave with Free
States. The remedy demanded was des-
perate, but naught else would satisfy the
proud and hostile spirit of slavery. Claim
ing the right orule the African race with
cruel vigor, tie same spirit also presumed
10 exact Of Northern white men a seryile
TO be let alone in their work Of national
robbery, ruin and disgrace. How long
shall we continue TO vainly labor 10 con-
ciliate the Internal demon of slavery =
With one hand at our throats and the 9th
er with a knife at our hearts, our govern
ment fails TO declare it an OUTLAW, having
no rights and deserving no sympathy
but. in the plentitude of its ungodly mer-
ry, says: Slavery. we do not wish 10 in
jure you if we can avoid it," Why not
hurt it, in Heavens name? Why longer
nestle the ~perfidioUs viper in the bosom
of the nation? Let Us hope that the strong
right arm of legitimate power will east the
reptile to the earth and crush it under the
heel of righteous vengeance. Then NAV
we hope for the future. Then can the Al
mighty consistently with his holy attri-
butes smile upon our cause and gives us
victory and lasting peace.
although this war was not sought nor
desired by the free States, but forced up
on them By the madness and folly of the
slave States, still the responsibilities arts
ing must not be attempted to be avoided
by US. They have forced the issue of
slavery or freedom upon Us. In Gods
providence we have a chance to advance
the cause of human liberty; to honor
Him by obeying one of his highest laws.
and exaiting the nation by doing q right
cons act. He has opened a pathway
through the red sea Of fr2tricidal strife for
the escape OF the oppressed, and If We as
a people attempt ID .vertake and return
them to bondage. we viii be oye-U lelmed
with 4 destruction as fatal as that which
befel Pharoah and his armed hosts on
alike unholy mission.
In this great struggle the national
heart must be animated by some live idea
some vital principle dear to humanity.
a.
and inseparably allied to its happiness
That idea is E5ery-not in lis smothered.
cramped and emasculated form, as up-
held by the partizans of American Slay-
cry, but broad, free and benefcient. dis
tributing its blessings alike on the high
and low, the rich and poor.
That glorious spirit viii electrify the
american heart. and render Us invincib!e
70 the combined powers Of the despot-
isms of the earth. Let the proclamation
GO forth, that the American people, real
ling the grandeur Of the opportunity be-
fore them, and inspired BY the love o:
i.eedom that fr5d he hearts e their faith
ers, have raised the banner Of universal
freedom, as the antipode of the hostile
banner Of slavery. and en- the erea; issue
thus involved, they can appes! to the
world and to Heaven for the Justice Of
their cause, and claim victory - their
justly entitled reward.
The Coming Draft.
4 Columbus dispatch. Of Sept. ;. to the