The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-09-01

Two events have made Sumter hence
forth ever memorable in the history Of
civilization and the progress Of republican
liberty. 0
Upon the 18th day of April, 1861. our
people we're startled from the state Of
anxiety and suspense in which they had
been placed for weeks aud months by the
revolutionary movements of the South,
by the brIet but significant Intelligence,
"Sumter has fallen" No wonder it thrill.
ed and chilled for time the national
heart, for the event was pregnant with
meaning. II meant that the seeds Of se-
cession and disunion which Southern po-
litical teachers and demagogues had been
30 l)ng sowing in the hearts and minds
the South had germna'ed, and grown 10
maturity. and borne fruit, and that frui.
was treason. 1t meant that the time, an
ticipated and feared BY patriots, had come
when secli nal ili-will should lead to an
effort on the part OF some Of our people 10
sever the bonds of union between the
States. 1t meant that the declaration of
Patrick Henry THAT wherever slavery
existed in State, the spirit of liberty
and Of free sentiment begins to decay"
was propheticslly true Of the slavehold-
ing sections of our country, and thst for
getful of the crimes they were commit
ting against themselves, and their country
and God and humanity they were ready
and willing, "with hearts set on FIRE Of
he'll" to bring civil war with its attend.
ant horrors, upon themselves and upon
us, in q fruitless effort to destroy the fair
fabric Of our national Government in or.
der to establish upon its ruins an oligar.
chy stamped with the odious features Of
their system of slavery.
1t meant that the shadow upon the dial
plate Of human progress was to be turned
backwards That the stake and the
bludgeon, the lash and the blood hounds
slaye-pens, and even mauacles we're to be-
come the barbarous emblems Of Ameri
can civilization. That the rights Of mar
were to be disregarded; free inquiry dis
allowed, and the press and the pulpit, tn,
forum and the bar forced to sing hosan
nahs to, and become the devotees of tn,
'peculiar institution" All this it mean
unless there should be sufficient strength
In the Government, and patriotism anon,
our people to prevent the consummatiol
Of their unhallowed and reasonable pur
poses.
Ibe policy of the then recently inaug
gurated administration, and the might,
outburst of patriotic feeling all over th,
loyal States that followed the attack upou
Sumter,the popular indignation at the dis
honor offered our flag, and the genera
determination manifested by all classes 0
our citizens. to support the Governmen
and put down rebellion, made eviden
that barbarism and slavery would not tri
umph over freedom and enl;g htenmen
upon American soil without fierce con
Aict and determined resistance.
For more than two years with varyin,
fortunes, has the struggle continued
Sometimes enveloped in the darkness an
depression Of defeat, we have almos
doubted the favor Of God, and the eucces
Of our eudearors. But at such times y
have thought of the nature of the confess
of the momentous consequences that d
pended on the result; remembered tia
constitution il liberty, truth, justice, relie
ion, the national life, our own dessin
and the dcsaiDy Of oar country, and .
coming generations. hang trembling |