The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-08-27


hands Of the enemy, oh what CONSERVATION
and alarm would have spread with light
ming speed from Pittsburg to Philadelphia,
from Maryland to the York state line
Imagination can sketch the dreadful pic
ture OF cities sacked and reduced to ashes;
railroads ruined, or in the enemy's SER
vice; trade paralyzeG farmers and mer-
chants plundere6, and all of US at the
mercy of an enemy aohose tender nserciies nre
cruelty. From these sad desolations God
has mercifully delivered us, and for this
goodness VIC will sing perpetual song of
praise. He endowed our Generals with
skill, He gave cur soldiers courage and
strength and endurance, SO that they quit
themselves like men and on those memo
rable days around the hills of Gettysburg
our brave and valiant warriors fought and
won victory that in importance is second
to none OF which We have any recollection.
While VIC do not then by any means
undervalue that inestimable victory, but
on the other hand feel most fervent graf
itude to God for it, and warmest gratitude
to the soldiers through whose instrumen-
tality God gave it US, we mourn the i'm
mense loss of valuable lives, and the fam
the terrible suffering endured by the
thousands there seriously wounded. But
on another ground this grand victory was
turned into mourning. While we are
deeply thankful fer what was done, with
out attaching blame or censure to any, We
cannot but feel regret that more was not
accomplished. he mourn that a solitary
inyoder Of our soil aoaS permitted to escape,
and especially zee mourn that tie rebel gen
erGI dtd not fall into oar hands, that he
might receive the due reward of his perfidy
and ingratitude, IN drawing the sword
against a Government he had sworn to
defend, and that honored him with an
important trust of which he has long since
proved himself to be unworthy. While
We have this cause for sorrow, let US not
forge: our abundant reasons for rejoicing;
there is nothing more contemplate than
disposition that sours every enjoyment
by discomfort There are those SO consti-
tuted with narrow and shallow and evil
minds, who can never find anything graf
flying IL our national success. They look
continually for exceptions, and in things
the most praise worthy, their sagacity Is
exerted to make deductions. When our
ears are greeted with the pleasing sounds
of victory, their Cain-like countenance
falls, as if the death knell was rung over
their selfish political aspirations. 80, my
soul, come not thou into their secret /; unto
their assembly, mine honor, be not thou
united"
Christian patriots, lovers of your ma
tional name and glory, be not ye like such
craven hearted murmurers. Be not In
sensible to the numberless blessings of
favoring Providence, and the many hope
full indications .bat-Drighten our national
prospects. Our JOY is rational; may our
gratitude be ferrcnt in view of what God
has wrought not only in our own deliver
ance, but in the equally important success
. of our arms on the distant Mississippi, in
the capture of the enemy's stronghold,
with garrison and munitions Of war, at
. Vicksburg and Port Hudson, at Helena
and Tullahoma. These are all most val
liable victories, reducing the strength of
the rebellion to the extent OF nearly one
hundred thousand men in killed and wouu-
ded and prisoners of war. If equal sue
cess would crown our arms during the
coming fall, the rebellion would be dead
and buried in dishonored grave before
the dawn of New Years morn. And with
the full consciousness of our cause being
just and holyNbeiieving God to be en- our
side and that we shal. yet prevail, why
should the auspicious day of peace be
postponed by party strife and political
chickering's among the professed friends of
freedom and order and legitimate civil
government. All, it is this unhappy and
unnecessary division in the public senti-
ment of the North, engeadered by the
greed Of gain, and gloried in by armed
traitors at the South, that has caused this
devastating war TO be prolonged. And
while we bite and devour one another ct
home, and run the risk OF being consumed
one of another, the public enemy rejoices
and takes courage and gathers strength in
our discussions to renew the combat.
Let US not forget that in Union there
is strength, and if divided we must fall.
Every good citizen, every sincere chris
tian is morally bound to sustain the powers
that be which are ordained of God, By
denouncing the rebellion and its abettors,
and cheering or 10 victory the self denying
heroes that battle for our National exis-
tence. 1t is only the Abandoned and
porthless and seyfseeking politician that
encourages division, that winks at or
excuses the mob violence which wantonly
murders and 'rcbs and ravages. The