Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-02-25

all sections, and that, in hattie. the men
OF the North, and especially of The West,
are their equals. Hitherto there has been
a mutual and most mischievous mistake
on both sides. The South oyeryalued
its own personal courage, and undervalu-
ell ours, and We too readily consented;
but ut the same time she exaggerated our
aggregate strength ard resources, and un-
derestimated her own: and we fell into
the same error and hence the original
and fatal mistake or vice of the military
policy of the North, and which has al
ready broken down the war by lis own
weight-the belief that we could bring
overwhelming numbers and power into
the field and upon the sea, and crush out
the South at blow. But twenty months
of terrible warfare have corrected many
errors, and taught us the wisdom of
century. And now, sir, every one OF
these lessons will profit US for ages 10
come and FIVE do but re-unite, will
bind us in closer, firmer, more durable
union than ever before.
1 have now, Mr.. Speaker, finished
what | desire to say at this time, upon
States. L have spoken freely and boldly
not wisely, il may be, for the present,
or for myself persJnlly, but most wisely
for the future and for my country Not
courting censurc, yet do not shrink from
it. Ny own immediate personal interests,
and my chances just now for the more
material rewards OF ambition, | again
surrender as hostages 10 that great here
AFTER, the echo of whose footsteps
already 1 hear along the highway of
| time Whoever. here or elsewhere. be-
!ieves that war can restore the Union o.
! these States; whoever would have war
| for the abolition of slavery, or disunion !;
and he who demands southern indepen-
| dence and final separation, let him speak,
| for linn have | offended. Devoted TO the
| Union from ihe beginning. | viii not de-
scrt II now IN this hour of IFS sorest trial.
Sir, it was the day dream of my boy
hood. tlic cherished desire of my youth,
! that might live 70 see the Eundredlh an
nivcrsary of our national independence,
and a. an orator oi the day, exuli in ex-
/ panding elorics and greatness of the still
/ United States. That vision Fingers vet
! before Iny ewes, obscuTed indeed by the
clouds and thick darkness and the blood
of civil war. But, sir, if The men Of
this generation are wise enough 10 profit
! by the hard experience of the past two
wears. and viii trrn their hearts now
| from bloody icien:s TO the words and arts
of peace, that day will find Us again the
| United States And if not earlier, as /
would desire and believe, at least upon
that day let the great work of reunion
be consumated that henccforih for a@es,
the States and the people who shall fill up
this mighty continent, united under one
| Constitution, and in one Union, and the
same destiny, shall celebrate it as The
birthday both of independence and of tho
| Great Restoration.
Sir, repeat il, We are lii the midst of
the very crisis OF this revolution If to-
day, we secure peace and begin the work
OF reunion, we shall yet escape: ii not,
l see nothing before us but universal po-
iitical and social rcvoiu;ion, anarchy, and
bloodshed, compared with which the
Reign Of Terror in France was mercisul
| visitation