Southern shield., 1862-02-08
Helena. Ark, February s. 1862.
THE 2aD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTAB.
 BASEMENT OF THE SOUTHERN SHIELD.

THE 22D ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTAB. BASEMENT OF THE SOUTHERN SHIELD.
 Upon the return of an occasion ot such interest we trust that our readers will par don few hasty reflections which 1t gives rise to. Journalism, like all other pursuits ln life. has its troubles and its trials, its yicissitudes of pain and of pleasure; and we of the Press are disposed to think that the former exist in excess in this peculiar branch of the business We have many friends to please, the great public to gratify and to feed with suitable literary pabulum adapted to taste both diversified and fastidious.- The task is one difficult of performance. It requires industry, patience, philosophy, and great good nature, which traits are seldom combined in poor human nature.
 The Editor and proprietor of the Stie1d has served long apprenticeship in this great school He has studied most of the books with whatever of ability kind Prov idence has bestowed upon him, and if he is not now entitled to diploma he at least deems himself worthy ofa place among ''the big boy; at school .'
 Twentytwo years ago. in connection with a deeeas< <~s..sl ever to be lamented brother. a mere printers boy, he commenced this paper under auspices that might well strike alarm 4 ohla- had hut with the aid of kind friends and an indulgent public, who generously overlooked his short comings he has succeeded thus far in keep ing it in living if not useful state, amid the thousand yicissitudes through which 1t has passed.
 Since then parties by the dozen have risen and fallen-the commerce of the country has been time and again the play thing of the worried clements, pestilence and oyerfows have scourged our country; and now all the scourges of the damned have been concentrated upon us in the inaugura- ton of a diabolical war, got up and prosecu- ted by the worst of criminals to gratify, in the sacred name of liberty, the worst of passions, by subjugating to their unhallow- ed will large number of their former fel- low citizens, joint interiors with them of the great legacy left them by the father's of the Republic, because they had the tenn erity to differ from them in their construc- tiaS Jf the Constitution, 'the Ark of tine Covenant of their Libertiesw
 During that time long list of noble pat riots have been summoned to their long home, from that country, which, while liv- ing. they served so well, and whose services would now be so acceptable to queil that tumult which so fearfully rages in all mems breasts. HARRISON and TYLER, CLAY, WEBSTER, CALHOUN and many more of that renowned host of intellectual giants who graced the last two decades of the old Re publics existence, have gone down to tic tomb to return no more. The first line ever published in this paper in advocacy of the claims to office of any human being was in favor of the two illustrious patriots who head this list The one honest and true as ever Gods creatures get to be, sleeps the long sleep on the banks of that beautiful River defended by his valor and illustrated by his worth;-the other but recently de- parted upon that unknown pilgrimage from tiIo banks VT tito ni-voric JarneS. " wfluse ripping Waters-s0 dear to him-his last moments were lulled Grand old men, v.u died too soon for your countrys good. And if that noble old American Cincinnaltus could rise up from that quiet tomb on ,ha banks of that beautiful river what would he say ? what horrible spectacle would strike his bewildered vision! A constitution, the 1 idol of his heart, overthrown and ruthlesslv trampled in the dust by a mad crew of abo- lition fanatics; christian warning in deadly hate against christian, to preserve Union once dear to all hearts, now vile badge of infamy to cover hypocrisy, lust, meannc.s and all the tyrant's wrongs. Could he sec 1 these things and see the descendants of those men whom his yalor and that of his brave army of Southern troops defended from the Indian scalping knife, rioting in diabolicaI l glee upon the bosom of that dear oil Virgin ia who gave him birth and gave these mis-
 rable creatures the homes they possess, then would that great old heart melt and its hallowed cerements fall into the depths of despair. And that great commoner who illustrated his administration with his matchless eloquence, HENRY CLAY, he whose whole life was spent in advocating the Un- ion, but who like his illustrious Marshfeld friend, WEBSTER, knew that the Union with out the constitution was wicked snare what would he, what would the great ex- pounder say? Does any one believe that they would breath the breath of favor upon this modern pollution, Lincolism? Would not their clarion voices cheer on to victory the cohorts of Freedom, and fill the civilized world with tlreir denunciations of the rcck- less wrong doer?
 We have but to look back and study the examples of these illustrious sages, to find consolation and strength amid the mighty troubles which environ us We have the ben eft of their teachings to nerve our arms in freedoms battles; we have the outpourinrs of their unsurpassed wisdom to infuse into our hearts courage, patience, fortitude and rer--s'.s7 ,elson t.4at just Being who 9peneth the right path, and malleth tEe way of tue oppressor, as well as transgressor, hard. Let us take counsel one with another in all brosberly love- burying all feuds, and strife in the depths of oblivion. Let us do all in our power to strengthen the hands and hearts of our brave army in the face of the insolept foe. All of us can do something to secure our liberties; in the aggregate we can accomplish wonders. We have a great country, with great resources ts defend it, let us all aid in bringing them out. Situated as we are no nation can be conquered which is true to itself If without an effort, it submits to the yoke of hateful oppression, its and its children's children deserve to be slaves forever Rather than submit to such