St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-01-08
no doubt that you will take such action
that the rights and dignity of our State may
be fully vindicated and maintained.

l
be fully vindicated and maintained.
/ NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The proportions Of that gigantic rebel
lion, whose first murmur, eighteen month";
ago, summoned the nation to arms, If il
some respects diminished, are unhappily still
formidable. 81 -.
The brilliant series of victories, which il
the early half Of the past year, carried the
triumphant ensigns Of the republic far into
the heart Of the Confederate States, have
, been followed by succession of disasters,
which have only for brief period, we may
hope, delayed the glorious contamination
for which the patriot host are gallantly
contending. e" s5..' 49, In H :
Amid the gloom which has during the
past year enslmouded our distracted coun-
try, and the scenes Of savage carnage
which have devastated the fairest portions
of our own State,it is, at least, some conso-
lation for us to know, that Minnesota has
continued promptly to respond to the de-
mands of the nation. That in the days of
our peril the work Of recruiting has never
tagged that while the scalping knife OF
the savage was destroying their loved ones
at home: that while their burning cot
tages were lighting up the midnight hour,
her sons have followed their banner to the
front, upon the banks of the Potomac, or
met soldiers death upon the victorious
fields Of the southwest, and their gallant
exploits have won for our State an imper-
ishable name. -as ..-.. So. ".-5
{ While it is true that the decisive victo-
ries which the mercurial temperament Of
our people have demanded are still delay
ed, we may remember that the annals Of
history afford no record Of OH entire sup
preston of a great popular revolt, in the
space Of few brief months.
The mighty forces of great nation are
slowly organized, and often retarded and
checked for brief period by that furious
energy, which guiding the first blows or
rebellion, drives its blinded votaries on to
deeds of desperate daring: But the patri-
otto fortitude of people engaged in q just
cause, supported by the prestige of estab-
lished powers ond the exhaustless resources
OF "a prosperous nation, gathers new strength
in the contest as the spas,nodic energies of
treason decay.
We may also remember, that the dear
bought honors of barren victory are not
tho only fruits Of the patriotic exertions of
our people.
In addition to the capture of New Or
leans, long ruled wisely and well by the
leader Of a victorious Federal army, the
rescue Of Kentucky and Missouri, to whose
people the bayonets ofloyal squadrons have
already been the cleaning harbingers Of
emancipation, victory, more grand than
any which is wrung from hostile legions
amid the dismal thunders Of battles, has
been achieved.
We may almost say, that to-day, the sun
in his course shines upon no American
bondsman. BY the Proclamation Of the
President, the shackles have fallen from
the limbs Of nearly every slave.
For the first time in the history of the
American Republic, we arc in deed, as we
long have been in name, nation of free
men.
In conclusion gentlemen let us hope
that the work thus auspiciously begun, by
the pen of the President, may be carried for
ward by the fresh battalions which the pa
triotic loyalty of our people has SO prompt
ly furnished him; that the reverses, which
have cast an ephemeral gloom over the
hearts Of the nation, may, under leaders Of
approved conduct and undoubted loyalty,
be speedily wiped out, in victories like
those OF Rosecrans, ut Murfresboro, Sher-
man at Vicksburg, and Of Heron at
Arkansas, that shall again restore lc-
climate authority, throughout all our Dor
ders, add new lustre to the proud es-
cutcheon of our country and re-establish
the glory Of the American name among
the nations Of the Earth.
ALEX. RAMSEY.
Saint Paul, Jan. 7th, 1868.