The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-02

wing for liberty and free Institutions upon
the American continent then we are DOOM
edit Itis War that we are making-War
first, War second, War wholly II is not
Politics. It is not Constitution making. -
TT is not the decision of legal niceties. These
are not the business Of Government, as to-
ward the South. It is War, absolute, ter.
ribre, and immeasurable War !.
The South has organized on the fact @!
Slavery. and fights on that issue, pure and
simple. The North must organize on the
doctrine of Liberty, and fight right through
on that issue, pure and simple. N
The South sacrifices everything that con-
flicts with her central idea. The North must
do the same. The South is not ashamed Of
Slavery. The North na.,st not be, ashamed
of Liberty T
Under such circumstances, we hold
/. That 1t was unwise to call for 3O0, 900
volunteers. The day has gone by for that.
The Administration should have drafted
half lfa-million men for instant service, and
half-a million more IS reserves. 1t will
waste months OF time and spend millions Of
money, and encourage growing discomfort,
and expend precious popular enthusiasm
and then. be obliged to draft. It was not
prudenta The people might be discontenteds
To this is replied It was, and is necessary.
The people must consent to that or to dis
memberment This call for volunteers is
one step. in that iust-behind-the. time policy
which has marked the war. Volunteering
would have sufficed early ia the war, had,
the Administration been wise according to
the exigeney. They did not want the men
that wanted to 60. Now the men do not
want to 60. Drafting now viii succeed
Wait four months, and that will have be-
come four-fold more difficult than now +
Always behind tsG
2. The Government cannot any longer
avoid choosing tive issue that has been made
UP and thrust upon it-Freedom or Slapery
The time has come. So long as there was
chance ofso!ving this question a, a eivil
question, It was wise to leave it, as Gar as
possible, to the states concerned, and to en-
ploy the moral influences which change
mems minds. But slavery has become
Military Question. One year has changed
all things. A rem,ss and vacillating policy
Of the Administration; the committing Of
the armies of the United States for whole
year to man who thought he was at West
Point giving . four years. course Of instruc-
ton to fve hundred thousand men, infinite
" at leisure, has changed the relations and
possibilities of things. 1t has taken slavery
out of the realm of discussion, and placed it
in the arena of war. 1t must be settled by
force. There is the country, and slavery on
it like deadly cancer. Diet and regimen
win not cure it. The knife may. Choose !!
Shall the patient die, or the cancer be cut
out9 The question before the American
people to-day is-Knife or Death Liberty
and Slavery cannot live any longer together.
Choose between them ....F e. s5
The crisis is reiched.
| 8. Let no one fear that bold policy of
Military Emancipation will distract the coun-
try. Ii would have exactly the opposite ef-
feet There is now no ea,rent of public
feeling. Administrative hesitation and q
policy so fine and intricate as to be beyond
popular enthusiasm The Administration
lies like dam across river, and the nation
has flowed back into vast currentless,
sIack-water pond. This is a condition oi
public mind which breeds discomfort and di.
visions. These stagnant waters breed in
sects, vapors, and diseases. They are be.
ginning to rise and show themselves already
But once make channel, remove the dam
give course and current to the waters, and
they viii flow irresistible as the Mississippi.
There may be, at first, some dissent, some
resistance, some hesitation of men who
bring old traditions to new affairs but, like
eddies on the Mississippi, they will but
wrinkle the edges ofa stream that moves on
with omn,poteacel
Nothing viii unite this people like bold
annunciation Of q Moral Principle. Let the
American Flag be lifted up by Mr.. Lincoln,
as was the brazen serpent, that every man
who looking upon it on this continen,
should be free, and tide of joy and irresis.
tibie enthusiasm would sweep away every
obstacle. Let Mr.. Lincoln decree it. The
nation win do It
| Such policy would carry the conscience
of the North; would kindle the enthusiasm
for liberty, which is always the most potent
ofinfluences would bring Gil the historic
tradition ofthe old American struggle to
enkindle the ardor of the young, who are to
form our armies. II would brush away q,
one stroke thousand hindrances, give sim
plicity and unity to our plans, distictness t.
our policy. Itwouh end all threat Of for.
eign Intervention. Above an. it would give
to the American armies that Pillar of Smok,
by day aud Fire by night, by which God tn,
Emancipator led forth his people from Bond.
age into Liberty
TlGHr HAIR ON LIrrLE Docs "A friend
Of ours was once stopping at log tavern
in one OF Of the Garden Of Eden so prevalen,
in the West. He thought hs saw lament
able absence Of cleanliness when he first pui
his head inside the door, By and BY he
knep he did. The floor was obscured by
several strata Of prairie mud. The bedclo-
thing hadn't heen washed since the British
burnt Buffalo ! And when breakfast time
came. our traveller saw in the bread, in the