Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-20

that my mother were here" When since
Aaron stood between the living and the dead,
was there ever ministry like this? 1t has
been said that it is characteristic of Americans
to treat women with Difference not paid to
them in any other country. will not under
take to say whether this is so, but will say
that since this terrible war has been waged,
the women ofthe loyal states, if never before,
have entitled themselves to our highest admi-
ration and gratitude, alike those who at home,
often with fingers unused to the toll, often
bowed beneath their own domestic cares, have
performed an amount of daily labor not less
than hers who works for her daily bread, and
those who, in the hospital and the tent of the
sanitary commission, have rendered services
which millions could not buy. Happily the
labor and the service are their own reward.
Thousands of matrOns and thousands of maid
ems have experienced delight in these home
ly tolls and services, compared with which
the pleasures of the ball room and the opera
house are tame and unsatisfactory. This on
earth is reward enough, but a richer is in
store for them. Yes, brothers, sisters of
charity, while you bind up the wounds Of the
poor sufferers-the humblest perhaps that have
Shed their blood for The country, forget not
who it is that will hereafter say to you, ''Inas-
much as ye have done it unto one of the least
of these my brethren, We nave done it unto
me-
No man can deplore more than 1 do the
miseries of every kind, unayoidaby incident
to war. Who could stand on this spot, and
call to mind the scenes of the l-3 of July, with
any other feeling? \ sad foreboding OF what
would ensue, if war should break out between
north and south, has haunted me through lfe
and led me perhaps too long to tread in the
path OF hopeless compromise, in the fond en-
deavor to conciiate those who were pre-de-
termined not to be conciated. But it is not
true, as is pretended by the rebels and their
sympathiZers, that the war has been carried
on by the United States without entire regard
to those temperamenS which are enjoined by
the law of nations, by our modern cvlliza-
ton, and by the spirit of Christianity. 1t
would be quite easy to point out, in the recent
military history of the leading European pow
ers, acts of violence and cruelty, in the pros
ecution of their wars, to which no parallel
can be found among us. In fact when we
consider the peculiar bitterness with which
civil wars are almost invariably waged, we
may justly boast of the manner in which the
United States have carried on the contest. 1t
is OF course impossible to prevent the lawless
| acts of Stragg lerS and deserterS, or the occa.
slonal understandable proceedings OF subord-
mates on distant stations; but do not believe
there is, in all history, the record of civil
war of such gigantic dimensions, where SO
little has been done in the spirit Of vindictive-
ness, as in tins war, by the government and
| commanders of the United States and this,
Notwithstanding the provocation given by the
rebel government by assuming the response
| bility of wretches like Quantrell, refusing
quarter to colored troops, and scourging and
selling into slavery free colored men from the
north, who fall into their hands, covering the
sea with pirates, and starving prisoners of
war to death.
In the next place, if there are any present
| who believe that, in addition to the effect of
| the military operations of the war, the conis-
cation acts, and emancipation proclamations
have embittered the rebels beyond the possi-
| bity of recommendations | would request them
| to reflect that the tome of the rebel leaders
and rebel press was lust AS bitter in the first
| months of the war. nav. before II pun was
fired, as it is now. There were speeches
made in congress in the very last session be-
fore the rebellion. so feroeions, as to show
that their authors were under the influence of
real frenzy. At the present day, if there Is
any discrimination made by the confederate
press Ill the affected scorn, hated and con-
tumely, with which every shade of opinion
and sentiment III the loyal states is treated,
the bltterest contempt is bestowed upon those
at the north who still speak the language of
compromise, and who condemn those meas
ures OF the administration which fSe alleged
to have rendered the return Of peace hope
less. No, my friends that gracious provi-
dence which oYerrules all things for the best,
| from seeming evil still educing good, has So
constituted our natures that the violent eX
element Of the passions i'll one direction is
generally followed by a reaction in an OPP
posite direction, and the sooner for the
violence. If il were not so, if anger pro-
duced abiding anger, if hatred caused indy
ing hatred, if injuries inflicted and retaiat-
ed, if necessity led to new. retaliations, with
forever accommodating compound interest OF re-
vengc, then the world, thousands of years
ago, would have been turned into an earthly
,ieA' anu tne natioiiS VI 'ile e"itl ""ui" nave
i'lto ci'iis VI lures "nu ue''io,S,
."ch ioi efet ""ihinS WIN lto helSliooi' pu'
10 no' 81, an hlseoly teaehee uinei
Il, l1eoo' l "e "'ie u ''ie ISIS "a si"iiu
an e'i'e anu" iio'i' tne p"',,e ~
ol' A ioe "a Af9o 10 tlat VI Dos"ot'h Fieiu
~ ifo IN, 'pe"Al1e VI Ine ioi me- IIu'ne
says ms was tile hrst Dloou SP'lC III tl'at
tatai quaiIei' "tncH was NOT Hil,sneu IN Iess
''l',h d Course VI Vi!ry years WINCH was sig
iali%eo oy WE'VE pitCieu pa.tlesi which open
Gu scehe u extraordinary hefceheSS anu cru
e!y Is coniputeu 10 nave cos' tne il'eS Vi
elsn'y princes oi Tue olooui anu Almost en-