The Goodhue volunteer., 1862-12-31
The Year 1868.

tec:a Wing, December 81, Rs6s. )
The Year 1863. ,
We fondly hoped ere the year 1861 should
have closed the rebellion would have been
strangled, crushed, killed, by the huge an |
naeonda that so slowly, though apparently
surely, wound its immense coils around the
monster rebellion. But alas! We were s
doomed to bitter disappointment. The year
wore wea1i'y OF, the anaconda expanded,
stretched itself. and laid itself down to sleep,
and the rebellion was not crushed. It grew
in proportion, III strength, in power, in char !
ac,er. The telling bell ushered in the year
1862, and the hopes Of the despairing patriots
Of the land were revived, as the balmy
breez,s and genial sun Of spring unlocked (
tho icy embrace of winter, end oEcc more
set the soldiers OF the Union loose upon The
enemies Of the country; nor were those
hopes altogether in vain. The capture Of
the whole sea coast Of North Carolina, Of
the city Of New Orleans and surrounding |;
country; the victories Of Somerset, Fort
Henry, Fort Donelsoa, Of Shiloh, Corinth,
and Of An,ictam, tell that the campaign OF
the closing year has not bocn an altogether
inactive one. Our navy, late so insisnitican
now the most imposing and formidable, and
effective Of any in the world; our army,
double its former proportions, shows that
men in power have not been inactive. But
over al the hopeful incidents Of the past
year falls the appalling shadows Of sixty
thousand Of our brave fellow. men-fal|en,
some the willing and necessary sacrifice for
Their country, but many, Oh how many,
the victims Of imbeci'ity, avarice, careless
ness, negligence, and tr]achery,
And now the year is closing, its errors
cnnno: be recalled, its mislortunes cannot
now he averted-what Of the coming year :?
Sha! we witness its close too with the ma
ton rent in twain? Shall we add other
thousands to treasons victims? Shall we
say Of the future as of the past. This war
is not ended, this rebellion is not crushed,
because we have been afraid OF hurt our enc
mics ? God forbid Let all the mighty
power Of the Government be brought to bear
against the enemies. Let her slnite her foe
as Of old the servants Of the most high God,
s,note their foe. from the rising Of tho sun
to the going down thereof. Where the enc
my is weakest, there let the blows fall fast
est ,nd heaviest. Let US hurt them in their
persons. then trade and then property, until
they shall cease this rebellion AMI bow be-
fore the majesty Of the laws.
Leniency in war is not mercy. War is
an oxtrcme measure, and it should be prose-
cu1ed with extreme viSor. Let US hope for
the best.
10 morrow is the beginning Of tho new
year. 10 morrow is to be a way mark in the
history OF the world. On that day millions
OF bond men shall awake to lii, Of free,
dom. Freedom and religion will assert its
right over land long sank in political and
religious might. 10 morrow. Abraham
Liacoln will perform that deed that will
make his name immortal through all time
he will cmaocpatc the slaves Of every rebel
in the land, and tho emancipation of the
slaves 0: loyal men is soon to follow, moi
perhaps by arbitrary power, but by the free
will OF the master.
Fanatics and Sem, traitors may cry abol
it:on, radical and howl for constitutions
rights as much as they please, but events
will show that the safest and Surest way o
saving the Union and making the constitu
ton cilectuaIly, is to remove the bone OF con
tention. Slaves are elements OF power ant
strength to the rebellion. and it has bcco,n
military necessity to free them; and it i
our opinion that the Almighty. who canno
look upon sin with the last degree Of allow
ance, has hand in the matter. Slavery is
sin against God and against man. While tn
nation was at peace, it was out Of the pow
or Of any man in the Union, to in,erfer
with the Institution Of any state Of tn
Union, or with that which was recosnizc
therein as property; but by their open def
ance OF the constitution, tho rebels hAv
placed themselves bsysud its protection; an
cannot now complain with any degree {
reason, or any prospect o! sympathy. # tn
natural results Of their acts fall upon them
Ons Of the planss,, AID most natural result,
is, for the government to deprive, them, q
fas, as it can. Of their power to do the go'
ernment hurt. That power being to lsrg
extent represented. in their slaves, it b<
comes an act Of selEprrssrva.ion to d,
privs them Of their slaves. And it ougt
to be done; no man doubts the property
d.provics them oi any other species Of pr
pe1,y. and bsforc any man objects to III
measure, We ask him to tell US why.
80. q 20 -