The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-01

We issue our,paper on the first day Of
1868, ard wish all our subscribers Happy
New Year. In doing so, we would con-
graduate them one and all. upon the happy
auspices which have brought us all TO the
present period under such favorable cir
oumstances, everythin, considered, to us
individually, to our region,s'to our country,
and to the world.
A brief retrospect of the circumstances
in which we are placed, and of the relations
OF the present to the past and the future,
will satisfy us ALL that while we have much
to regret, while there is so much that is novel
not to say a farming and painful In the
events now Transporting, there's much that
is hopeful and encouraging. 1t is surely
strange, as well as painful, and source oI
apprehension, to see our once peaceful
happy and united country, dcsolated by
civil war; to see these benfcent institu
tions, this government and Union, menaced
by dangers so formidable. and wtha! to
witness the imminent peril in which society,
law and order is placed on this continent
ont there is much at the same time that ia
cheering and hopeful, in the present condi-
ton of things. We can rejoice that we. en-.
ter upon new year, with sill a country
government, nationality. and a flag
waving bravaly and in honor in our own
free country; that we still live. a power,
erect and formidable among tho nations
that an army Of million of as brave. dcvo.
ted and patriotic men, as ever defended
home, fireside or country, are gathered Ar
ound our beloved institutions, with one only
purpose, to defend them to the last drop Of
their precious blond; we may rejoice, be-
cause after two years of war and desolation,
we have SO many comforts and blessin IS left
US; that our credit and resources are appa.
rsntly yet so far from exhaustion, and ever
and above all, that the spirit and courage
Of our people remains so unsubdued, SO un-
dauntej so resolved n do or die i'm she
most holy of all human causes.
In the roar and confusion of passing
events, we may become bewildered, and
fail to discover the workings of Him who
"rules the whirlwind and directs the Storm
but calm consideration of the great strug-
gle going on around US, in which we are all
actors, might furnish much ground Tor nope
and encouragement to every brave. manly
and devoted spirit, accompanying the fever.
ish excitement Of danger of dissolution, and
the apprehension of the wreck Of all we hold
asar the -GpHRaei99fSReese m ,h s ThSt
we shall ere long come out of the ordeal,
purer, stronger; that through the seas of
patriot blood through which we are wading,
we shall yet emerge Homogeneous people,
with our principles, our ideas, onr purposes
and our aims formed upon higher and
nobler standard of excellence. We are
passing through process, that will change
some and we trust improve much. The
trials we suffer, the sacrifices required of u.s.
the sufferings We endure, are educating in
strumentslties, and will do us, the cause
Of good government and humanity good.
Bot to-day, We trust, will be made inn
mortal by an act which will lead, safely
and speedily to the removal of the
cause of all our woes This is the dav
on which the world expects Proclamation
from the President Of the United States,
E,nancipating Four Millions of human be-
rags from slavery. This act, while it wi Il
intensity the struggle, will also shorten it.,
and bring US surely to peace that can never
be broken. May God speed the right.