Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-04-03
INDIVIDUAL DUTY.

Al the beginning OF the war the anecdOtc
went the rounds, that yuung volunteer just
ioinii G the army, said ioa friend, who asked
hun how he could leave his business Ny
only business for the present is TO help save
the colnIrJ." That arsw,r was true Then, is
true now. 1, indicates lie right snrit ana
determination. 1t expresses as much sound
ne,s Of jpdcmsut as nab!cress Of sentiment
II is ,he decision equally Ct good sense and no
be feeling.
The nation las he first Calm upon ever,
mans thought; ard every man should look f'T
him eli at the various questions demanding
se;l cement, ard make up his mind what shall
be his reply 10 them, not in words merely
but in consistent, unwavering, re-ouie aclian
A stand must be taken on one side or the 9th
uf the cicar, sharp, diyia;ag line that is run
ming through tit eosan1Hil para iH tEIuS,-
who mean to preserve the ia'ion as ration,
Whole aud unmpared, from those who, to say
the least, are wiling to haz I'd its competcngs~
AMI al tie evils that would follow from tlii-
ra her than conquer personal PR djndiees am
mrtiaities, bleak away from mere party ties
or ubai.don reckless schemes to gain poVer
aud Office.
The great underlying principles a. stake, in
yolve not ouly tie cxislenee OF Republican in
sliiujiuns, but also the material prosperity u,
the land. All know in what quarters the
growth and progress of he nation have been
most rapid and most PEACEFUL; where the pop
uia,inn has increased the fastest and wealth
multiplied with the greatest rapidly; wha,
Stales have moved onward 10y Their own cntr-
!. Il
along, almost against their will, to share but
partially the general well-heng. Ard al.
know the reason Of this. The prerequisite con
dition of success has been Democratic freedom.
Only where this has been violated and over
ridden by the arrogant aniagonisn C a social
aud political aristoccacy has there been any
trouble or ary hind -ane5 to the coaulry'S coz
tent and advancement. NJ iihcati0n, secrs-
sion and rebellion, (mark it) are noi the pro-
duct CT the fee Comml nwe 'ihs; ana the irer'
CommoEwcalths have never either threatened
or attempted to dissolve the Union.
The insurcecton is against the existence Of
tie nation. Therefore the first point for each
citizen to consider is whether thnt existence
shall be preserved. If the decision is that ii
shall, he must take his position openly aud un-
conditonally on the side of the Federal Gov
ernment, as against not eniy the Slave Power
conspiracy. but also : against every indirect
aid rendered to that power. aad every eXhibl-
tion ofthe slightest sympathy with it.
Doiug this, each true citizen will grant to
| tie Government the right of selfdeleuce, and
| uphold it in tie use OF al the might essential
to tie mointainaLc Of tLat right. lie will be
deaf to the sophis;ical talk about the Consti-
tuition, almost every syllable Of which is uttered
manitcslly in the service of opposition. Tie
| Constitution in its essential spirit, is in 20
danger. The people will take jealous care OF
it, Not particle OF extraordinary power has
been or will be exercised except TO protect the
country from treason or the countenaneing oi
treason. Lenieucy and not severity has been
the fault Of the Administration; and of that le-
nency lis uuserupulous opponents are taking
unfair advantage. Never since ;he world be-
gan did freedom of discussion mean impuuiiy
to the advocacy Or the aiding aud comforting
of the country foes.
On the same grouBd that there is for him
only one right side now, the true citizen must
discoun ienance all insubordination and all open
or insidious efforts TO create insubordination in
the army, and insist upon discipline, the strict
est military obed ehce and accountability; thus
supporting the citizen-soldiery in their one
single duty of seeking only the discontinue
and destruction of the enemy. And be must
allow this the army's great work to be done by
any and every measure tending TO unite ant
strengthen onr own forces or TO weaken tht
rebellion.
To say all in a word, the conflict is to be en-
aed ~ favor of an undivided republic and tie
free principles upon which it is based, by an
unconditional support Of the Federal Govern
ment-a support that neither by whisper o
wink lavors the insurgents treason, or aim
by any act to put the interests of parties
above the all traEscending interests Of country
And now is the moment for this uncOnditiona
support to be rendered, at any cost Of per
sonal feeling or loss, by all who believe in Sc
curing real peace. The complications Of IA
hour are numerous, the dangers gEeat, Ii
struggle terribly severe, But the only eseap
FROM infinitely greater evils-involviug divis
ions approaching to anarchy, bankruptcy, los
of nationality and gloomy sbadowiDg, for hea
! ven only knows how long, of the glory Of fre
Institutions is a complete victory over rebel
lion.