Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-04-02

thirty years, England. and France, and
Sweden, and Denmark. and Portugal
and Russia. and Holland. have all conce.
ded-a tribute to Christian civilization.
Thus, then. Opinions not carried oul
in practice--opinions unfavorable to sla-
very expressed in the North, and held by
the President elect--the same opinion,
that are entertained aad have been acted
upon by almost every civilized nation
these, according to Southern declaration,
were the immediate causes: opinions, no.
acts: the acts were all the other way.
- Insuguratcd on the 4th of March, 1861 /,
Abraham Lincoln expressly reasaumed. in
his Message. the ground occupied by him.
self, and large majority of bis support.
ers. before the election. Il have no pur-
pose" (said he. directly or indirectly, to
interfere with the institution of slavery in
the States where It exists" He went
much further. AIlujing in the same
Message. to an amendment to the Con.
stitution. which had spassed Congress on
the 2Sth Of February. to the effect that no
amendment shall ever be made to the
Constitution authorizing Congress to in.
terfere with slavery in any State, the
President said: II have no objection to
its being made express and irrevocable. /"
This was the first act: an offer sanction
ed by Congress, edorsed by the President.
So to amend the Constitution, that never
while the world lasted, should the power
be given to Congress. by any subsequent
amendment. TO interfere with slavery.
The scene when. on Mr.. Corwin's mo-
tion, this amendment was passed, is re-
corded in the newspapers ofthe day. GAS
the vote proceeded. the excitement was
intense, and on tho announcement Of the
result, the inexpressible enthusiasm OF
the members apd the crowded galleries
found vent in uproarious demonstrations.
All feel that it is the harbinger of peace ~
Was it the harbinger Of peace? Did
this concession--bordering surely on hu-
miliatidn--a promise, as to slavery, never
through all time to amend our acts no
matter how We may change our opinions
did this unheard Of concession to the
slave interest conciliate the South, or ar
rest her action? 1t passed by like the
wind. State after State seeded. Sccuri-
ty against the encroachment alleged to be
intended-the amplest within the bonds of
possibiity--had, indeed, been offered; but
the remedy did not reach the case. Opin-
ions remained unchanged; and the rebel
lion was against opinions. Men in the
North still said that human servtude was
sinful. The President still believed that
slavery is in the course of ultimate ex-
tinctinn," No fraternity with such menl
No obedience to such President!
Aad yet this President, in the same in
ausural from which have quoted. push
ed forbearancs to the verge of that bound.
ary beyond which it ceases to be a virtue
The Government" he said to the seces-
sionists already in arms against lawfnl
authority 1.-THE Government will not as
sail you. You can have no conflict with
out being yourselves the aggressors -
And in mild hut cogent terms he re-
minded them of his and their relative situ-
ations. and of the final necessity which
his position imposed upon him. "You
have no oath" (he said registered in
Heaven to destroy the Government; while
| have the most solemn one to preserve,
protect and defend it, rE
He spoke to the deaf adder As if they
had sworn before God to destroy the Gov
.rnment under which, for eighty years,
they had enjoyed prosperity and protec-
tion. they became the aggressors. Unas-
sailed BY that Government. they opened
ire, on the memorable Twelfth Of April,
from the batteries of Charleston ON Fort
Sumter.
The echo of that cannona1e reverberated
throughout the Union. The North rose
up. like q strong man from sleep. Il
needed not the Presidents Proclamation.
issued three days thereafter, to call men
forth. In advance cf that call, the farmer
had left his plow in the furrow; the me-
chsnic had deserted his workshop. The
people had taken the war in hand.
Such were the causes of this rebellion;
such were the acts on either side.
What have been the results? The war,
as wars in their commencement always
are. was popular. Men engaged in it, as
in new and stirring enterprise men are
wont to do. with enthusiasm. Unmin-
gled successes. q prompt and triumphant
termination-these, as always happens,
were confidently anticipated. But the
usual checkered fortunes Of war attended
our arms; now q victory, now defeat
The contest was protracted. Visionary
hopes Of speedy triumph faded away
Then came revulsion Of feeling, sinking of
spirit. There never was protracted war
in this world. no matter how successful in
the end, without just such reaction. How
did the souls of our Revolutionary fathers,
sore tried. sink within them, year after
year--how often did Washington himself
dsspair-before the final victory that her.
aided American Independence! England
is still one of the greatest nations Of the
world. proud. powerful. prosperous; yet,
during hei five years. Peninsular war lin
Spain. against Napoleon. tho depression
in England was almost beyond example.
At the commencement Of that war the
people accepted ii with acclamation. OPP
posite parties in Parliament We'd with each
other in their zeal to vote men and money.
Before year had passed how changed
was the scene! The retreat and defeat at
Corruna (the Bull Run of that years cam
paign) plunged the nation in despair-
Nothing was talked Of bui the stupid
blunders of the Government, its absurd
and contradictory orders, its gross igno.
rance Of the FIRST principles of war. Croak-
srs spoke loudly of the folly of any at