Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-10-15
The Lesson Of the Hour.

In whatever light we may choose to look upon
the Presidential contest which now agitates the
country, we cannot close our eyes to the fact
that the only issue presented to the people is
Union or Disunion. All the minor issues have
disappeared the questions of policy or expe-
diency which have been promulgated by the
Government are of but secondary consideration,
not worthy of moments thought in comparison
with the great question which overshadows all
others, and which involves the unity or the dis
solution of the ties which bind our common
country under the one Government. That this
is the vital issue Of the campaign, welding a
more potent, powerful moral influence upon the
aspect of the war than would the destruction of
an army of either party, none can gainsay.
Let US then look calmly at the situation of our
country, and follow the path which duty and
patriotism will direct To what end have we for
the past three years been engaged in the bloodest
conflict known in the history of modern warfare?
Why is it that from every hamlet in the North
gallant hearts have gone forth under the flag Of
our country to do battle in her cause and every
little village from Maine to Minnesota can proud
ly point to her honored roll of martyred heroes?
What is it that has dressed our homes in mourn
ing, and driven forth refugees tens of thou
sands whose only crime was that they loved their
country? There can be but one answer. The
safety of the country was threatened, and they
responded to the CALL And is the cause less
holy to-day than it that Spring morning
three years ago when the news flashed over the
land that Beauregard with seven thousand brave
and chivalric Caroinians had after two days
and nights bombardment, reduced Fort Sumter
and captured sixty or seventy half-starved SOL
ders who held the place But Copperheads say
that the war has been perverted from its original
purpose, and that instead of being war for the
restoration of the Union it is one for the aboli-
tion of slavery. Granted. Every man of COM
mon intelligence knows that President Lincoln
and the party which he represented dsclaimed
all intention of interference with the institutions
of the South, and every man knows further that
even had they possessed the will, they were pow
eress to act, SO long as the opposition had clear
majorties both in Congress and in the Supreme
Court-maj jorites too which could by no chance
be changed during his official term. And again,
every disposition was evinced in the early
stages of the rebellion to keep the slavery ques-
ton at bay-army officers were but too willing
to aid in returning fugitive negroes, and meas
ures were adopted in several States to repeal the
Personal Liberty Bill which formed the chief
subject of Southern complaint. But when more
than year had passed, and no ovcrturcs to-
ward reconciliation had been proposed, and
flushed with the few successes which treachery
in our officers gave them the rebels rendered
still more arrogant, boasted that no terms of
peace would be accepted which did not include
Kentucky and Missouri and all other Slave terri
tory as part of their Confederacy. The wishes
of the people were not consulted, if they refused
to bow to the Juggernaut of secession ; the
scenes of East Tennessee and Missouri were to
be re-enacted
So much for the rebel programme, but it
coiled on the heads of its proposers. Not indeed
until the demon of warfare had carried mourn
ing and woe to the hearts of many Northern
household did the men of the North awake to
the realization of the stern fact that in battling
to suppress the rebellion they must also crush
the cause from which it originated. 1t was only
when the horrors of slavery in all its workings
were brought before their eyes that they could
be convinced of the terrible power which it
welded in the land Revolutions in sentiment
which tend to the overthrow of deep seated pre-
judices work but slowly, and it required that we
should be brought face to face with the stern
realities of slavery before we could overcome the
settled convictions of ages which deemed it
blessing instead of a curse. But the minds of
the people were prepared for this change of feel
ing and the Emancipation Proclamation of Presi-
dent Lincoln was not issued moment too soon.
1t was accepted as state paper which the on
ward march of events rendered necessary, and
while it bound true patriots together with yet
stronger tie, it alienated none from the cause
save those who were already traitors at heart,
who only waited for the shadow of excuse to
reveal their true sentiments.
Since the day when that proclamation is
sued our successes have been of the most marked
description. Not only has it righted a great
wrong, but attacking the rebels in their most
vulnerable quarter it weakened them while it
strengthened US. Our armies have marched vic
toriously onward, the seat of war is transferred
from the Border to the Cotton States, and Grant
thunders at the gates of the rebel Capital. One
hope alone sustains the fallen fortunes of trea-
| son-cut off from all hope of foreign recogni-
tion they have robbed g the cradle and the
grave y to fill the ranks of their depleted armies
and now look with anxious eyes to their allies in
Are we then prepared to tamely surrender the
victory which God has placed within our grasp,
and submit to such an gnominous peace as the
Chicago Convention contemplates ? Peace the
word is in their mouth, for they know
there can be no peace except that bought at the
price of National dshonor. The day of compro-
mise is past the sword is drawn which can only
be sheathed when conquer or are conquered.
We are fighting for Liberty and the restoration
of the Unon-they are fighting for slavery and
Southern independence, and must either gain
all or lose all. No patched-up, hollow peace, o
any other terms will be worth the paper on
which it will be written. Are we ready to yield
upon those terms-to show ourselves unworthy
the blessings bequeathed US by the stern patriots
OF the Revolution-to sink in the disgrace OF the
present the glores of the past? Are the proud
pages of Vicksburg, Shiloh, Chattanooga, Get
tysburg and Atlanta to he erased from our his
tory, or be remembered only as spots where
brave died in their country's cause, and
traitors yielded up the victory to their foes
| We have our choice of Union or Disunion, in
the candidates before us. With Abraham Lin
coin as our next President, the last lingering
| bona Of rohelI;on nerishee and the 70 q n