Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-03-25
The Ship of State.

We built our Ship of State, and
launched her to the world with Liberty
streaming from aloft, and Freedom on
her figure head. But such profession was
false, and we knew it at the time for
Slavery was plank in her side. and COW
er it as we would, the nations of the earth
saw it, and knew our weakness. Kings
and Emperors were satisfied, but Human
itv had no faith in US.
The rotten plank at last is broken. and
gone out from among us and all the
despots are conniving to sink our ship
while we are repairing damages. Sink
our ship? 1t cannot be done for the
remaining timbers are sound to the core,
and true as steel. And what of the
leak? 1t is only letting the foul water
out of the ship: the whole thing is only
nation, 1t is a big thing" says one
and another, {" and costs SO much" "Let
the virus out, and pay the price. say the
doctors, "or die; for you are very sick,
and if you drive the disease back into
the system, it viii kill you"
Now, some say, =" We are for the Union
as it was" What if you are? you can
not have it the stuff that was in it is
too rotten, and would not stand the
pressure if you could put it back. You
would not trust it; nobody but Seces-
sionists, Copperheads and traitors would
go to sea in the old hulk; and We are
sure that there is not loyal man in the
nation who would trust his life in such
ship and in such company. If the ship
did not sink at once, such villainous
crew would turn pirates the first night
out, and murder all on board who would
not steal the cargo and fill up with slaves
from Africa,
But Constit4tioE!" say the cunning
dogs, how are you going to get over
that &" Constitution The fact is our
Constitution has been improving ever
since Slavery seeded, and loyal men, the
nation over, are satisfied with our stanli-
na. Our Constitution is all right, and so
strong that President Lincoln under it
has made the slaves of rebels free men.
They cannot be made slaves again, and
as the law prevents new importations of
human souls from Africa, let US fit our
sails to the breeze of Freedom, and at
once resolve to embark on our destined
voyage of greatness and power among the
nations of tho earth.
The despots, we say, cannot sink our
ship; therefore fear not, but look aloft
and take sight by the stars and stripes,
far beyond the fight of the eagle, into
the Heavens the Almighty power there,
in the soul, and everywhere, cries out
against slavery Matched treason.
1t is fortunate Slavery seeded. If it
had remained longer in the majority in
the Council Chambers of the nation, it
would have ruined our country legally"
" constitutionally and we would only
have had ourselves to blame for compro-
missing with sin when we founded our
Government. But an alI-wise Providence
has watched over us: slavery was SO
wicked a thing, it poisoned mems minds
until they would murder their country.
Nowwe have nothing to do but patient
ly fight on. Don't give up the ship"
Do not expect to mend in day the bro
ken timbers which have been rotting
since we first built her; but be content
to put in little free timber and take out
a iittle Stare timber every day, and after
time all will be live oak and good job.
Do not expect TO have a good article
without paying for it good things are
cheapest in the end. We call on the ma
tional crew that is to man the ship in fu-
ture to watch the builders that they do
not leave fragment of the " Rejected
Stone " in her, under the plea of ballast.
1t would sink her.-Pkik. Bulletin,