The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-26
of the Union.
LETTER FROM MILTON.
MILroN. Feb. %, 1864

iron ; the boreal blasts whistle Economically |
over the barren hills; surge through the leaf
less forests, and curl darkly the sluggish tide
of Broadkiln, as he sturdily rolls his length
of waters to wintry main beyond.
Somehow, as sit here looking out upon
the cheerless aspect of Nature, fancies come
into my brain of that tribe of Indians, now
gone, and nearly forgotten,-thc Nanticokes,
who once inhabited from the Chesapeake to
the Delaware Bay, all the Peninsula between.
Although their inevitable doom was pro
nounced when the first white winged messen-
ger from the old world came proudly bearing
up the Delaware and that doom has been
most fearfully fulfilled, by the total extinction
of their race,-yet one can scarcely feel more
than momentary pang on their account
For indeed, why should one of the most beau
tiful countries on the face Of the globe, for
the sake of saving the worthless lives of few
miserable savages, be given up to ignorance,
wild beasts, and encroaching forestsf One
would feel more sad upon their fate, had they
been noble and bold-savages in whose brains
the glimmering spark of future excellence was
burning and swelling, and loading to better
State Such were the Delawares, who, as
old traditions tell, in their journey from the
far West to the Atlantic, overcame great
and warlike nation on the eastern side of the
Mississippi nation, the ruins of whose
cities, Notifications, and walled caves, yet re-
main food for curious eyes, and the wonder of
behold0rs. But the Nanticokes, SO history
tells us, were feeble Of intellect, crafty of SOUL
and servile in nature. Weak in arms, and
slrves to whatever tribe that would demean
themselves by affecting to conquer them. For
great warriors seek worthy foes. They are
race whose origin is unknown; whose little
history obscure; and whose fate the necessa-
ry consequence of their lives and actions.
question much, if men have the right to pro-
nounce the doom Of death upon each other,
more than upon themselves individually, but
it were better to wave moral considerations in
a few cases, for the sake Of common good.
The Old World was crude and disjointed, be-
fore the conquering legions Of Rome and
Greece, rolled like the swift avalanch, through
its nations but wherever their mailed armies
swept, the arts and sciences followed close in
the lead, and the implements of enlightened
industry cultivated the soil that had lately
been quagged with the blood of slaughtered
thousands-while learning spread her benign
influence over minds whose highest aspira-
tions were once, placed but in fields of car.
mage, and fierce victory. And wherever the
arts and sciences Aourished long, men tired
Of blood, and sought pleasure in their EN-
brace. So after time, even Rome battled
reluctantly, and returned gladly to the arms
Of peace. But for all that, though the an
Gent landmarks of barbarism were erased
forever, and men Jared and tossed on the rec
waves of war through long centuries, wer'
settling into their respective situations, thric,
sweet from the conflicts that gained them
yet the mind was still in servitude, and when
ever some grand conception of freedom fashet
meteor like, from its prison house, the brain
the fame was speedily quenched, and the EN-
bers smouldered away into bitter silence
But the God of nations, always acting b,
principles fixed from the first spark of all e
ternity, the time so long foreordained, having
come, caused America, the cradle of Freedom
the day star of the world to be discovered
The pent and languishing population of tn
Old World OverAowed, and sought the distan
land beyond the waters. The Atlantic stretch
ed drearily away in the distance, nurse {
storms, and dread sepulchre of thousands, br
the hopeful adventurer, gaily launched hi
bark, braved angry tempests, and reached tn
land of promise-and to-day, who SO blind {
not to see the divine results2 True, eve
here, on this soil made sacred by the blood
heroes, and the patient endurance of marty
through years unknown but to God, who
anguish and sacrifices beyond description
have paid well for every inch of the territol
"a sacriligious war is raging, but it is b
the last mighty struggle of hell-born opprt
sion; the dying pangs of a monster, bloat
by centuries of crime; the inevitable triumI
of Freedom, who shall at last marshal the n
tons of earth, SO long severed, under OIL
common banner; worshipping in one graz
temple to one common God. And now con
to this-who seeing all these results unutte
able, shall mourn with silly sentimentalis
over the downfall of a race, that fourishil
would be the curse of America, the scorn
millions yet unknown
Is the glory of Ged to perish, because |
cxaltation will be the downfall of ignoranc
Are the Israelites to perish in Egypt, becau
if they go into Canaan their approach will
the downfall Of the heather, the perishing
their namef know of God that thong
= not-let who will to the contrary.
So then let us here rest awhile.
Even now among the deepening shadows
wood, and void, we half expect to see sol
grim savage stealing warily along, on trea'
erous scout, or deathly hunt. And WI
Cynthir shines higher in the heavens, gildi
all nature with her silvery light, the mopi
owl complaining from the blasted oak, sour
ike the wierd tones of some ghostly bra