The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-08-09

Virtue is unquestionably the vital princi-
pie of any nation. In what that virtue
shall consist, is question which has .gits-
ted many countries, but can very readily be
answered by Americans. The old world
has boasted of its blood; but to what pure
stocks do Americans trace their lineage
Spirit and vigor have characterized US, as
people, for a full century. We have bad
much political luxuriance, but the germs
we're but recently planted, and have tbrived
solely by the energy and civilization of
superior race.
The great virtue, the vital principle of
the American Union, is courage-an innate
consciousness Of superiority and indepen-
dence, and bold determination, at every
hazard, to maintain that Independence and
superiority, against every assault. The
proud boast Of member of the famous
Empire of the East, was, 81 am Roman
citizen" Those words rendered his person
secure from insult, wherever be might be.
The title of "American Citizen" has, for
nearly century, been a passport to the
best society in the world. The flag of the
American Union protected every subject in
every land. Its magic folds have shielded
from harm every citizens who owed allie.
glance to this Government, whether be
Glanced to be cast on the SHOWS of Russia,
the steppes of Asia, or the mountains of
Caucasus. What other power. when dan
gers befall US, could We look to for aid and
protection! Our laws and Constitution
established political equality in the States,
and BY affordipg all, Of every grade, an
equal opportunity for distinction and pre-.
ferment, guaranteed perfect social equality
20 the citizens. Such was the condition Of
Americans while peace fingered in our Dor
ders. All this has fled under the blighting
finger Of military rule.
No wonder if the people do demand peace.
No wender if they clsmor for a removal of
the burdens under which they have been
placed by this cruel attack upon the inst
tuition of the land. But every man, now
groaning under this grievous weight Of
oppression, would spurn contemptuously an
offer Of peace on other than honorable
terms. Every American, possessed of
spark of virtue, would scorn an ignoble
surrender of our birthrightsto traitors. The
popular heart is pulsating with intense
excitement and solicitude for the welfare ofl
the only nation where freedom has a sure
resting place. But there Can now be no
compromise short of an unconditional sur.
render of the pretension of rebels. Every
other alternative includes dishonor and ma
tioDal disgrace.
We have Constitution and a Union
which by their terms are fundamental and
perpetual. To deny the perpetuity or the
binding force Of either, is to be guilty of
treason. When ration submits to dis
memberment, it is imbecile and powerless.
When it suffers its golden bowl to be shiv-
cred at the fountain, its spirit has already
taken its fight. If this nation permits
eight States to be cut off from the remain
ing twenty-six, it may at any time compel
twenty-five States to cut loose from, and
refuse all intercourse with, any one State.
The people of eight States have challenged
the remainder of the Union to test, on the
battlefield, the strength of the Union. If
We submit to recognize the fact that our
government is powerless when assailed by
miserable factious minority, then, good
night TO freedom on the American Cont
nent Every transient trouble between the
General Government and one of its compo.
nent parts will produce a secession of the
fault finding member, aud in . trief time
every State will be petty kingdom, ruled
ovor BY military despot.
No, this must never be. We can be
great and powerful nation. The only alter
native is to crush the rebels on the battle
field. Fill up the required regiments. Let
our armies move upon the legions of the
Enemy, and like an avalanche overwhclm,
and bury from sight the last vestige of
treason the American continent. Give us
more men, and then let our army strike the
foe suddenly, and with power shall send
terror to the hearts of traitors, and crush
out the last lingering breath of rebellion in
the land. This will secure US peace at
home, and security and respect from foreign
powers, for all coming time Such peace
We must have, and no other peace do the
people demand.-&. Joseph Herald.
From the Ircnton Register |