The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-02

late aeeds OF daring at Vlcksbufg, at Port
Hudson, and at Fort Wagner, hayecaused the
nation to blush at its own base, and cruel in
Icredality. They have heroically led the van
of our stermins legions, and turned not back
when white men have fed. No wonder,
cowardly white men refuse to stand, shoulder
Ito shoulder with such spartan spirits. Are
these the men to be rewarded with nebbino
and mercilessly slaughtered in the streets of
our principal cities for the crime of facolor-
color. that mark of Gods OWN rtcprietorship?
Not they. / a. sely ID.
We notice, with special thank fulness, that
every move made tosoppress and depress the
colored mar, ,duringall this fearful struggled has
most signaily repuised itself. Persecution
i has dragged them into fame The very move
made to exclude, them from an honorable
footing in the army, has only tended to secure
Iit The war itself was waged for the defence
of siaveryas an element of Southern aris-
tocraey, longing after a monarchy, is likely to
end IN. its complete overthrow The arm of
| the Almighty, moreover, has been barred in the
sight of all nations, and has reached down
and taken hold,of these. e.despised colored chill
dren of his, and is lifting them up. from their
degradation to nationality. Africa has lost her
nationality. Her sops and daughters have be-
come the prey of rapaeious nations. We have
| trodden upon four millions of her despised
subjects, whom God made of one blood with
us. One hundred millions of these people,
| several times the number of our great empire.
are to-day. luXuriating on a SOIL rich in all,
] the magni6cence of a tropical Cline and over
stocked with the natural beauties and wonders
of creation. The day of Earth's Jubilee is
coming on, when all the nations and tribes of
the earth shall join in the Inauguration of the
Prince of Peace as the Lord of this lower
world Already has the decree gone forth
| that is I'm liharafa tho CONS and dat,abta-x oF
! Africa that they may be preparedto take part
I in that grand worldwide Jubilee sHer ele-
yation above the heel of the oppressor is GER
tain, and near. Have We forgotten that de-
Ecree-" Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands
unto Godn? Not as menial, not as ser
/ vile suppliant, calling for help. THAT she
has long done. No. Nol : Ethiopia shall
stretch forth her hands to Ged burdened with
coronal offerings, and garlands for the Prince
1 of Peace. These, shall be the significant, ac-
| cepted symbols other restored nationality,
and fitness for equality among the blood
/ bought and ransomed nations. This is the
/ destiny of Africa, as it is inscribed on the
face of many Proyidences, all pointing their
| fingers to this one grand consummation In
the line Of these fingers are the hurrying, iost-
/ ling events of this war. Past as well as pre-
sent events throw LIGHT on the tablet of these
4 wonderful developments. The event is has
tenlng on, with rapidity that ontstrips our
daily calculations. You can scarcely Journal
ize the progress of the solid, sober sentiment
of all candid ali impartial observers eff events
{ FShal we, then, insult our own understand
/ ings with denial of this historic fact? Shall
we close our eyes upon the light that strug-
| giles with the darkness that would still con-
ceal 1T? Shalltwe attempt to resist the PROV
idence that is marching on with such stately
tread, towards the accomplishment of an end
SO worthy of its tsedevelopments? Shall we
not, rather, serve the Lord with fear, and re-
/ joice with trembling
f"' am aware, my hearers that | am tres
! passing upon your patience. But there is one
more cause of thankfulness that BELTS this ec-
casion, that | am not at liberty to omit. It
does not become US, to-day, to forget the read
7 mess with which the people have met the ex-
4 igencles, aud borne the burdens, of this ire
i -mendous war. When the nation was first
4 summoned TO its own defence against rank
rebellion, the people awoke, with zeal, en-
1'ergy, and liberality becoming the crisis There
4 was no lack. of men, or means. They were
supplied as, soon as the nature of the case ad-
mitted., Such enthusiastic devotion of a peo-
pie to their government, the world never saw.
And the ardor ofthat devotion has not abated
4 The fires of patriotism glow as brightly in all
l4oyal bosonls to-day, as they did when the
last regiment of the first rs 600 volunteers
laid themselves on the altar of their country
By this, l do not mean that there is as much
novelty in the idea of military glory. But
mean that there is, this day, as much sterling,
patriotic devotion to the government, as there
was then. After all the abstraction of men
from the country, after all the horrors of war
after alfthe penditure of blood and trea-
sure, there Isl perhaps, more Willingness to
meet the present draft than there would have
6olI A. IL,
1 of the war The issue of the conflict is more
fairly before the peoples The draft goes on.
over all the land, with few exceptions, and is
2 acqaiesced in. The secret, extensive meas
ures taken to resist it, and the open, violent
and disgraceful attempts to arrest it, are likely
to prove an utter failure. The consolidated
North stands reads, to-day, to see this war
closed up, in an honorable, lasting peace. and
4 in no other way. If the South sees fit to
4 fight on, against tremendous odds, and rush
upon her ewn utter destruction, rather than
come oterms, the terms of righteous peace,
under the present administration an admins
tration that is, and ever has been, proverbial-
ly mild, even to a fault; if the South seeks
4 iconquest, or annihilatiop, then we say tonee,
it Is utterly vain to attempt to make, and te
keep peace, with such neighbors. And peace
with such neighbors would, only subject MS 10
4 the necessity OF a civil war in each successive
generation, or oftener as in South America,
2 and Mexico. asa sao
Such, then, is our condition and position,
at this hour. voluntary contributions 10 the
4 Government and to the suffering soldiers.
have overaowed all the ordinary channels of
| communication, and sought out new, and sig
4 nal ways of bene6cence. a9.1iq 5ss -
Lha It's believed, the government is more firm
to-day-more wise-more humbly appreca-
tive Of its own high duties obligations. and
i responsibilities, and destiny, than it ever was
before and 1 may add, more firmly estab-
lsked in the Judgment and affections of the
/ people. 1t can be oYerthrown oaly by civil
war at the North. Such overthrow would
turn the whole empire into bedlam, without
g the advantage of a common centre of empire
Those who are willing to enact that catas-
trophe, will lend their aid to oppose the Gov
ernment Those who would avoid it, vii!
4 stand by the Government. ssas7 81 oi
l. Let us unite in hearty congratulations, at
this hour, that We have Chief III agistrats at
the helm of State, that has the elements of a
wise, benignant, humane, patriotic, energetic,
and devoted ruler. His character is epito-
l-msed in single line. He is too honest to
be obsequioussto impartial to be hribed, and
too wise and firm te be foiled The incor-
lruptible integrtyoof, his private character is
the strength of his administration. OF such
a Chief Magistrate couutry-the whole
country-oughtt to be proud.
i When we consider the events that are
constantly transpiring among us, when we re-
a Il ~ 49,