Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-09-05

tNO years. our COUNTY i!do oSSh S'S"sOA
in q fearful struggle for its very life. She
has to exert every power, she has bled ut
every pore. At her call our sons have
gone to premature graves. But thanks to
God and our brave men in arms, our be-
loved country still livesl Our flag still
floats over the capitol at Washington,
''not star obscured, not stripe erasedl"
We are still American citizens! Our re-
cent great victories, it istrue, bring great
encouragement, and give greater promise
of browning victories to come. But our
danger is bv no means passed. That
fearful struggle Of life and death still goes
on, and must still 60 on, until the end of
the rebellion comes. ! know we have
done much but our work is not finished.
In spite Of disasters; in spite of some
mistakes; IN spite of the great dsadvant
ages under which we commenced this
struggle against armed rebellion in spite
of European sympathy and material aid;
in spite of treason and all sympathisers
North and South in spite of dangers by
sea and dangers by land; and dangers
among false brethren; we have steadily
and unfater;ngly pushed on the great
work, the God given duty,o maintaining
the supremacy and integrity Of the Con-
s.tuti0n and Government of the United
States. We have opened the MISSISSIPPI
from its source to its mouth. We are
now hattering down the walls Of the fort
,ess where the FLAG of the Iniou was first
! Inundated at the feet of traitors, in the
harbor of Charleston, and | trust, before
many weeks, we can raise it once more,
never to come down again, over that
wicked city, where treason has continued
to hatch its vile broods for quarter Of a
century.
In answer TO the sleers and jibes of
the English aristocracy, the London
Times, the New York World, and all
their sympathizers, in Europe as well as
in America, we can point to our two
years Of hearl labor, trial, and sacrifice
Of blood, and agony, aud tears, and say,
"Beholl the results Maryland, Ms
souri,, Kentucky, most Of Tennessee,
much Of Arkansas, Mississippi. Louisi-
ana, Virginia, and North Carolina, and
some even of South Carolina, Georgia.
! Florida and Alabama. are once more I'M
der tie flag Of the Union and the SUI
premacy Of the Constitution. Under the
providence Of God, by the heroic exer-
tons Of our army and navy, we have
redeemed from the rebellion country
greater and richer by far than all OF
France and Great Britain put together.
And vet let us not deceive ourselves.
This cursed rebellion still lives beaten, it
is true, but not discounted driven back,
demoralzed somewhat, but by no means
supposed. 1t still rears gigantic front.
1t sill aims at the Nations life. Shall
we survive or perish--livc or die? That
the question Of every patriots heart
morning, noon, and night; the first when
he wakes, the last ere he sleeps; constant,
ever pressing; it demands end will have
an answer. 1t tries the very soul. 1t
postpones or suhordinates every other
I question, for al else worth having is in
volvei in its solution.
Holt Dix, Johnson, Grant, RJsocrans,
Butler and hosts Of Ioyal and patriotic
men of the Democratic rs well rs Of the
Republican parry. have nobIy responded
to this question and have been ready to
offer up their lives, and thousands upon
thousands have offered up their lives.
So Mr.. Douglas, with his clear and
oiftel mind. saw Mt n glance. what he de-
clared almost with his dying worls-so
long as this war lasts, so long as rebels
are in arms against this government, all
! political issues are swallowed up in the
greater issue of national life; national
unity; the supremacy Of the Constitu-
ton. lie said in substance "while the
war lasts there can be no issue but LOYALTY
and treason and no parties but patriots
| and traitors"
have sometimes put to myself this
question: "lf Johnson, Dix or any other
Democrat cupied Lincoln's place. bav-
! inc been elected before the war began, by
a political party to which | did not be-
long, could i, SO long as the war lasts, or
ganize or all in organizing political
party opposed to him, and still act the
part Of patriot?"
| know not how others may feel, but
for myself, before High Heaven | declare
that until this fearful issue Of war is past,
could not. and would not dare to do 50,
lest, so doing should directly or indtcctly
give aid and comfort 10 the rebellion. and
thus bring moral treason upon my soul.
Until This rebellion is put down; un-
til the supremacy Of the Constitution Of
the United States is again established and
acknowledged everywhere; until our flag
floats again on every fortress and every
foot ofsoi in every State and Territory of
the United States. | am determined to
know no other issue but the country and
the whole conn."y, tho Union nnd tho
whole Union, under the Constitution Of
'eur fathers; and in political action know
no friends but those who support and de-
lend them by their valor in the field and
theii moral and political support at home,
at the po. Is.
Ir'pcat, the power of the rebels, tho
crippled, is still formidable. Confined to
themselves, without moral support ut the