Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-15
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligcncer.
The Crisis.

1
The Crisis.
. EDTroR INTEIIIGENcER How often
have we thought and exclaimed that,
"the present was the great critical
moment the turning point in the his
tory and progress Of our national
struggle ~ And yet, still greater,
more deeply, aud more intensely pres
sing circumstances have continued to
arise, to awaken anxiety and to stir
mp emotions of indignation and grief,
of revenge and fierce determination
on the part of our loyal citizens
throughout our entire communities.
We were appalled,, and our hearts
sickened and sank within us at the
announcement of the first stroke Of
the rebellion,-at the first shedding of
blood by brothers hand. For tru-
ly we are brethren in a national sense.
But the tragedy has progressed, the
feeling of late has deepened, the
breech has widencd, and the sphere ex-
banded, until every muscle and nerve
throughout the great body polite has
become strained, and that nearly to
its utmost capacity. The whole hem.
isphcre is in commotion. The whole
grand mass Of human energy, intel
lectual and physical is called into ac-
tion and the entire populace stands
in hostility to each other in two great
departments or divisions and each
fully intent on the mastery. The
phrenzy RACES so intensely that the
sacrifice of human lives by thousands,
and the flowing of blood in torrents
like rivers, impose not the least re-
straint or barrier in the way Of &C
complishipg their fixed purposes and
determinations. Every means is ema
ployed and every possible advantage
taken by each to secure success. Such
seems to be the present aspect. But
still, when we look calmly at the
past, then cast an eye forward to the
not far distant future, and pause mo-
ment for reflection, we shall discover
that we have not quite reached, as yet,
the zenith or eliminating point in the
conflict.
| Now is the time in which we "hear
of wars and rumors of wars" "But
the end is not yet" 1t is, however,
J just at the doors that is, the severesI
point Of conflict.
The passing hour is ominons. Note
the strong significance. Twelve great
States formed in closest concert and
imbued throughout with deepest, dead
lest maligni;y against the rights Of
man, and free government, are fixed
and settled in the fullest determine.
ton to uproot and annihilate our free
institutions and establish the veriest
despotism in it's stead that the world
ever saw.
As an accnmplice to this, the great
political party self styled Democratic
in the free States, are also forming in
concert, imbucd with the same spirit
and entertaining the same intent, to
wage kindred conflict throughout
the free States, eliminating in the
same end Add to this that the same
element is operating on the Indian
tribes and inspiring them with the
same frenzied hate, and urging them
on to the most barbarous and bloody
warfare against all the peaceful citi-
zens of the new States and Terrific.
ries, and for tho massacre and total
destruction Of the great throng of en-
igrants crossing the plains. As the
moro approximate means to these
ends, the Copperhead Fraternity, so
called, are busily employed in procur-
ing munitions of warfare and distribu-
ting the same through all the ranks Of
the enemies to Free Government. and
sworn accompliccs for the Inaugural
tion of a settled and permanent des-
potism.
In exemplification of this last, we
have only TO cite the recent seizures
by Government authorities Of the vast
amount of arms and fixed ammunition
in Indianapolis, Ind, and in New
York and, to refer to the startling
Developments Of the deep and murder
Gus conspiracy which has spread itself
throughout every Northern State as
well as the whole South-instituted
for the same tragical purposes. In
keeping with this are the outspoken
utterances of unblushing treason and,
portentous Of wholesale assassination
as clearly seen in the ebullitions and
outbursts Of impassioned feeling on
the part Of leading self styled Demo-
Gratis at the late Chicago Convention.
According to the most sober and &C
curate computation that can be made.
from the data already at command, the
great treason plotting. and treason en-
acting army of the Free States, right
here in our midst, cannot be less than
half million Every man of which
is ready to cut his neighbours throat,
shoot him down, or hang him on the
lamp-post or first tree, in case he hesi-
tates to swear allegiance to the de-
mands of Despotism.
These are startling assertions but
they are assertions that will stand
scrutiny. That these reasonable de-