The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-05-07

iy Spanish Colony, in virtue Of this un.
derworking doctrine Of secession, had
thought ct to withdraw from the Union,
carrying with her Key West, the Tortugss
and Fort Pickens, and had formed an ALI.
ance, offensive and defensive with Spain
Would any one doubt that the United
States, could without violating the Constit-
ution, invade Florida in order to recover the
public property, the islands, the forts, and
the national establishments thus seized (; to
repel the enemy; to chastise these acts oil
hostility to the National Government, and
to take efiectual security that they should
not be repeated? Would not the Govern
ment of the United States, without violating
the Constitution. be authorized to do pre-
ciscly the same things in Florida as in
Cubas Would not the arming and employ
ment of the slaves in this just war. as allies
Injured to the climate, and acquainted With
the country. be as legitimate on one side o.
the Gulf of Florida as on the other, and
would not their employment under the au-
thority Of the United States, and the con-
troll and direction of its officers, instead o.
tending to servile war and the massacre
of the unarmed and defenseless, (at which
humanity revolts) become the surest
means Of preventing such barbar'ities and
reducing this frightfnl element Of danger
within the limits Of Christian warfare p
Deprecating as | do beyond the power Of
words to express the heart siekening hor.
rors ofa servile insurrection, nothing h as
seemed to me so likely to prevent it occur.
renee, as to subject the colored population
in those parts of the country where war is
carried on and where the danger of such a
calamity is greatest, to the restraints of mil.
itary discipline and the control Of RESPONSE
bls authority.
But it is time to draw this discussion to
a close. War is justly regarded as one of
the greatest evils tnat can befal nation,
though it is not the greatest, and of this
great evil, civil war is the most deplorable
form. Thus for it is true, we have the
satisfaction of rejecting, notwiths landing
the barba-ities inflicted upon Union men in
the seceeding States, that the contest has
been carried on, without the atrocitie which
have been so apt, in all ages and countries;
to mark the progress of civil war. Still it
is dire calamity. want words to express
the sorrow with which from the first, l
have contemplated, and Increasingly con-
template, the necessity laid upon us, to
wage this war for the integrity of the Ma
ton. Few persons, think, have enter
tanned visions more glowing of the amount
ofblessings stored up for the latest posteri-
ty, in the perpetual Union of the States. 1
had already seen them expanded from six
teen States and 1000, O0O inhabitants.
which were the numbered at the time of nv
birth, to ftnialy oe thirty -four States and
population augmented eight fold and
an imagination were alike tasked to find
limit to the natural growth of the country.
but numbers and space are but the relation
OF material things. I saw exemplified in
this Western World-long hidden, and
late revealed-the idea ofa form of govern
ment as nearly perfect as our frail nature
admits prodigal of blessings to the mill
ions now on the stage: and promising
share in the sa ne rich inheritance to the
millions on millions tina. should follow us.
| grew up beneath the shadow of our beauti-
full flag, and often, when I have seen it
floating on distant seas, my heart has melt
ed at the thought Of the beloved and happy
land, whose uninon was embrazencd on its
streamy folds. On hundred festive and
patriotic occasion, my heart has dwelt-
would it had been moro worthily-on the
greatful theme, and my prayer to Heaven
had been, that i might be hushed in death,
rather that it should be compelled to aban-
don that joyous strain. Not with deep
solicitude; I saw the angry clouds gather
ing in the horizon North and South; and
dev9tei ] the declining year of my life, with
. kind of religious conservation, to the at
tempt to refrsshen the memories that clus-
ter round that dear and venerable name
which I need not repeat; memories which
bad survived the multiplying causes of alien
alton, and were so well calculated to
strengthen the cause Of the Union. To these
humble efforts. and the time and labor ex.
pended upon them--truly labor of love-
| would, as Heaven is my witness, have
cheerfully added the sacrifice of my life, if,
by so doing, have averted the catastrophe. |
For that cause, should have thought Q
few care-worn and weary years cheaply laid !
on the alter Of my country.
But it could not be. a righteous Prov.
idence It is wisdom aslsid upon US the
performances of this great and solemn duty.
1t is now plain to the dullest prescription,
that the hour of trial could no longer be
delayed. The leaders ofths rebellion tells
US themselves. that they had plotted and
planned it for an entire generation. 1t
might haye been postponed for four years
'r for eight years, bat it was svre, in no
ong time, to come. aud il, by base conpli- /
ance, we could have turned the blow from
ourselves, it would have fallen with
'edoubted violence on our children.
Let us then meet II like men. 1t must
needs he thst offences shall come, but wo
into that man by whom the offence cometh.
Let US show ourselves equal to tho duty