The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-01-28

sions of the people are increased. Will
he be equal to the occasion Yes, he
will be equal to it; and the nameIess
heroes under his command will be more
than equal to it. They meet in the
quiet country village of Gettysburg, and
there, is the great stake fought for, and
won. Won for liberty and the Union.
The proud rebels turn and flee back
across the Potomac, over the Kappa
hammock, and beyond the Rapidan. And
there, at Getty sburg, was the nation
preserved, and the power of the rebel
lion broken, never to be reconstructed.
1t may linger yet awhile, and burn, and
destroy, and kill, and murder, but It's
fate is none the less sure.
On that great field of Gettysburg,
after the roar OF battle had ceased, and
the smoke had cleared away, there lay
the unburied dead. They were 2,27l
in number, exclusive of all such as were
removed by friends for burial among
their kindred-eight hundred of them
were entirely unknown. Of the re-
mainder, one hundred and twelve were
from Michigan; and there she stands
on that sad roll of honor. the fourth in
point of actual numbers, but first in the
comparison of the numbers of her
slain with the ratio of population. The
Governor of Pennsylvania proposed to
purchase a portion of the battle field,
a picturesque, beautiful ground and to
establish there "The Soldiers National
Cemetery, at Gettysburg" the State of
Pennsy lvania holding the title in trust
for all the States having soldiers buried
there, each bearing proper share of
the expenses All the States concur
ring, this has been done, and the re-
mains of the dead soldiers have been
gathered up "tenderly" and buried by
States together. And there they rest,
who saved their country with their
| blood.
The accompanying papers will show
the details of the plan of the cemetery
and the estimates of the expenses. |
have ventured to promise that Mich
gan will not fail to do her proportion
with alacrity, and L now recommend
that the requisite appropriation may be
made, and authority give to appoint
an agent to proceed to Gettysburg and
direct the proper arrangement and or
namentatioD of the portion of the
grounds which have been set apart for
this State. This cemetery will be
Mecca of patriotism as lang as the
country exists.
Gentlemen of the two Houses, / con-
graduate you upon the happier auspi-
ces under which we re-assemble. We
have reason to be thankful not only for
bountitul harvests and the material
wealth and prosperity which Surrounds
us, but also for the bright hopes which
promise the speedy return of peace to
our country.
Unwearied by three years of con-
tinued war, the people are still faithful
to the free institutions under which we
have grown to be great. With una
bated courage and ever-increasing con-
fidence, they march steadily forward
under the s'starry flag" of freedom,
excepting step to the music of the
Union" Since our last assembling,
the arms of the Republic have been
victorious at all points. A just cause
has added to our strength the smile of
the benignant Heaven. The madness
and desperation of rebellion has not
been able to maintain its ground. With
sulen rage and crashing of teeth it
yields its most cherished strongholds.
The bloody usunper in Richmond, with
alternate prayers and curses, calls upon
the civilized nations for help, even for
recognition, and calls in vain. There
are none SO base as to keep him COM
pany.
Nor have our victories been those of
the field alone. The loyal and true
men of the country have crushed and
silenced, at the ballot boxes, those
more insidiOus enemes who, under
specious political pretenses,, plead the
cause of the more manly traitors who
are in arms.
The great and necessary measure of
emancipation-the measure of justice
and God-like churity-has, the past
year, won triumphs of no less impor-
lance than the greatest military success.
The great mistake and wrong of the
nation is being put away. We return
to our great and Immortal declar alton.
In spite OF scorn, contempt and the
pride of caste-of the lust of power
and the love of money-of stupid ig
nOraBce and intellect without
conscience, all men in America will be
free. Let us thank God, bind up our
wounds and fight on.
AUSTIN BLAIR.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
LANSING, Jan. 10 1864.