Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-04-30
EDWARD Everett on the War,
From 9 recent spe oh In HoRton

Edward Everett on the War,
from recent Speech In Boston,
My friends, there Is no alternative but
to acknowledge the independence of the
Coniederacy, Or to su6due the rebellion by
the strong arm of military power. To
suppose that there is hopes OF anv other
settlement, is the grossest delusion.
Can you then recognize the independ.
ence of the Confederacy Remember that
it carries with it acknowledged defeat, in
war OF aggression, arrogantly provok ed,
by an enemy VIGOROUSLY weaker in num-
bers, financial means and all the resources of
war; that q peace made on that basis
would be standing initiation, not on1y to
foreign Poaoers, in all our disputes, but to
an anseLent antagonist, flushed aoitb tri-
| unaph, to resort, on every future occasion
Of controversy between the too Govern,
me'.ts to menace, insult and anuasion.
We are expected to give up to a foreign
poacer, (and bitterly hostile foreign pow
er it will be,) and upon wretched meta
physical bubble, half this .tair territory
Of the United States; a seacoast of two
thousand miles; some of the best harbors
and military stations of the country; the
fortresses that guard our coastwise COM
MERGE; some of the great lines of commu-
nication East and West. North and South :;
the control OF the navigation of the Cult
OF Mexico, and the outlet Of thsS great sys-
tenn OF internal waters which gives its
character to the central basin Of the con-
unent; to give it up too on principle, in
virtue of which each and every one of the
seeding states may fall into the arms OF
any European power that chooses TO per-
suade or coerce the surrender. To sup
pose such thing possible on the part of
the United States, except at the last spasm
OF national strength, the last sigh of ma
tional honor, the last struggle of national
agony, would be to apply to the whole
country Judge Pettigru's conception of the
state of South Carolina.
Can any man look at map of the
Union and then seriously entertain the
opinion that the United States, brought
to the very verge of a war with Great
Britain, after a diplomatic struggle of
sixty years for the possession of few
acres of unsettled land on the banks of
the Aroostook, are going to permit for.
eign power to intrench itself st the en-
trance of Chesapeake Bay, and thence to
stretch its boundary westwardly, wherever
it chooses to draw the lines-over the
hills, through the central plains, across
the Rocky Mountains, to the setting sun
1t is now plain to the dullest perception,
that the hour of trial could not be much
longer delayed. The leaders of the re-
bellion tell US themselves that they had
plotted and planned it for an entire gen.
GRAFTON. 1t might have been postponed
for four years or for eight years, but it
was sure in no long time to come; and if,
by base compliance, We could have turned
the blow from ourselves. it would have
fallen with redoubled violence upon our
children.
Let US then meet it like melt. 1t must
needs be that offences shall come, but wo
unto that man by whom the offence COM
eth. Let US show ourselves equal to the
duty imposed upon US, and faithful to the
trust to which we are called. The cause
IN which we are engaged is the cause of
the Constitution and the Law, of cviliza-
ton and freedom, Of man and of God
Let Us engage in it with a steadiness and
tortitude, a courage and zeal, patience
and a resolution, hope and a cheer,
worthy OF the fathers from whom we are
descended, of the country we defend, and
of the privileges we inherit. There is
call and duty, work and place, or
all for man and for woman. for rich and
for poor, for old and for young, for the
stout-hearted and strong-handed, for all
who enjoy and all who deserve to enjoy
the priceless blessings at stake.
Let the venerable forms of the Pilgrim
Fathers the majestic images of our rev.
dictionary sires, and of the sages that gave
US this glorious Union; let the anxious
expectation of the friends of liberty abroad
awakened at last to the true cause and
the great issues of this contest; let the
hardships and perils of our brethren in the
field, and the fresh.made graves of the
dear ones who have fallen; let every
memory of the past and every hope of the
future, every thought and every feeling
that can nerve the arm, or fire the heart,
or elevate and purify the soul of patriot,
rouse and guide and cheer and inspire
US, to do, and if need be, to die for our
country.