The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-05-28
Political situntion..No. I.

IT. a,rs...A.ssss.,y-a
Political sitWation--ND.
Free government is dependent upon
public opinion for sustainmcnt. A re-
public can but feebly defend itself from
either external or internal foes, unless
strengthened by the hearty cooperation
ofils Individual citizens; hence the duty
ofall good citizens to encourage and up
hold the officers legjtimately installed in
20 Office, 10 administer the functions OF
government. If thisis plain duty in
time Of profound peace, how much more
}}siS il the imperative duty qfall to "hold
slOp the hso lsP ofthe lawfully cOnstilq
tel authorities, when confronted by tho
most malignant aul extensive rebellion
,ofmodcn times.
Jet all true men reflect. that only by
an individual personal application, can
AUST estimate be- f2rmei Of the incalcu.
liable mischief inflicted by those styled
"secessionists" or "sympathizers," and
of the sustaining re inyigoratiug aid de-. ,
rived from the active sympathy and
good wishes of those in this crisis,
,lenominated "loyalists;" since tile WITH
drawal Of that aud from the government
necessarily cipples its effective action,
impairs its strength, exposes it TO in.
creased dangers from abroad and pro
yokes conluuely nj home, agl finally
as surely insures national dissolution,
and death; as the physical system Ian.
guishes and per,hes from hamilton
when denied respiration,
What 70 this public opinion so valua.
BILE to the life Of repu9licon governments
in peace, and so indispensable in war;
Clearly the aggregate of the separate
opinions Of each individual. How vast
then, tie responsibility attaching to each
contributor Ia this grand aggregation
this public opinion.
We are too prone to conclude, be.
cause we are remote from those in au.
thority, or obscure private citizens, our
individual opinion is myth or at least
a mite inapprcciablo in its Influence as a
constituent Of public opinion, Be dis.
abused lof tbs dolcaco Of tho administra,
ZION in its hercul4an struggle with de-
fant traitors, may yet DO decisive Of The
maintenance of our iniHitable govern
menl, or its inglorious overthrow. Let
such sense oil our solemn responsible
tiles as supporters Of the government in
this trying cxagruey in our national his.
tory. prevlis us, a. will impCl dis
Greet open, determined avowel ofuncon.
litioaal Loyalty apan evsry aud al occa.
sions and under all conceivable circuW.
stances.
Now, when dark clouds surcharged
with insidious treason, cast their portcn
tO0s sha Iows athwart our pathway, is
no time FOR hesilaling, apologctical e&'
2ressions of lnyaIty, Neilhe; can We
reg ard the man who shrinks from pub
lie gaze aud conlents himself with ejacu'
lGling Il IN Union man." as dischnrg'
ing more than half VI his bouuion d0ty
to lis impcriled country, az ha fails to
realize his own iaaigidual responsible
tyiu determining his country's destiny
tits as clearly his imperative duty to
defend all administrative war measures,
hy publicly in season and out Of Gea
soa' enlor,ing thcm, explaining their
peccsfiiy, chcOrfully acquiCsiug in their
iacaloat ipconyenienCoS, anil, at the
same tins. Eco wing down all attempts
OF malcon!onls to bring them into di,re.
putc, as it 10 tho bounlep duty Of Pres
ident LiocoIo to approve of and then
rigidly enforce them. No sane man,
however lovely bis sphere, however cir
cumscribcd bis influence, or however
1oGvica. his information, can hope 10 cs.