Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-09
The American Crisis.

Notwithstanding the evil croakings of the enc
Republic; notwithstanding the frequent prophc-
ces OF its short life and early downfall; notwith-
standing the convictions and honest doubts, which
have arisen in the minds of able statesmen, in the
old world and in the new. OF the capacity of man.
kind for sefgovernmcnt; yet, now, and at this
time, while struggling with wicked rebellion. at
tempting its overthrow, the mighIiest that history
records in the annals of the world, bright, con-
tident, Joyous hope is looming up in the mind of
every loyal American Of the future glory, pros
perity and welfare Of his beloved country. The
mass OF the American people were ever loyal, and
have never for moment w2vered from the stern
deep resolve to rescue the General Government
from It's attack and attempted destruction by
rebels and traitors. The mammoth proportions
of the rebellion of the slave States, slow to
be comprehended, understood, or believed. The
ingrattude of that portion of our people, who
have ever received more than their just share of
the honors, emolumcntS, and beusits of the Gen
eral Government, was scarcely to have been fore
seen or looked for, by loyal men. But as events
have gradually foreShadowed the magnitude of
the treason the Union spirit has steadily swelled
into grand majestic and resistless might. A loyal
people have cvinced their readiness to freely Law
ish boundless wealth and TO pour out the price
less treasure their feS blood, in the sacred cause
Of their country; until the final issue fairly seems
no longer 4 doubtful problem to unprejudiced and
impartial minds.
The crisis is passed The rebel ranks are bro
ken. The spirit Of a mighty people is stirred TO
invincible resolve 10 conquer the fight. And that
peOple-at first slow to meet their countrymen in
deadly strife; praying for compromise-hoping for
adjustment, that should speedily end the terrible
calamity of civil war have come at last to see in
their rebelfoe, the most deadly and uncOmpromis.
ing enemy of their country; a band Of mercilsss
outlaws-unsparing as the hardened brigand. who
makes both plunder and murder his laHlcss avo-
cation. They have insulted the people of the
North by terling them towards They have af
fected to despise them-stigmatizing their trades
and occupations-aS vile and menial They have
starved and mlltreated them when prisoners of
war, in u more barbnrous manner than ever before
heard Of in modern and civilized warfare They
have kept them confined in kennels unfit for dogs
in state and condition of filth that bred conta.
gion, disease and death. They have robbed them
of all decent clothing; deprived them Of whole.
some food or covering; and dealt towards them a
more merciess cruelty, than is practiced upon the
poor African in the stenches and foul atmosphere
of the hold of a Shaver.
And for all these mostrous barbarities what is
their excuse! The hmsy pretext that they had
not proper support for their own soldiers. And
yet, while the rebels thus held our people slowly
wasting TO death amidst filth, and from privation
and fostering disease. our own Government sent
them such articles of food and clothing As COM
mon humanity dictated, and these were yet de-
MED to the poor suffering prisoners. Here every
pretext vanished to justify the barbarity of our
tnemes-oarbarites that should even savages TO
the blush compared to which, the practice of the
| old Romans Of casting their prisoners of war into
vast amphitheater to be torn TO pieces by wild
beasts, TO make Roman holiday, was kindness
| and mercy.
II is obvious that no government or people ever
| battled against more vindctiye, cruel enemy
Ii is fair to infer that in succeeding space of a
thousand years, none more so is likely to be met
And the work of suppressing the rebellion against
| the Government and the laws has gone far
| enough to demonstrate that the Federal power OF
our Republic is equal to the emergency of main.
tanning its own supremacy. 1t has taught les
son TO the despotisms and monarchies of the
earth, that the strength and power of a nation
| to perpetuate Its own existence lies not 80 much
in the absolute dominion of its chief head, as il
the hearts and affections of its people from whom
| all power emanates. Our beloved country ha
passed its crisis and proved to the world already
that in advance Of civilization, the grand expert
ment of mans capacity for sell. government is NJ
longer to be held up as chimera, but as solveC
problem-a demonstrated realization; proclaim
ing to all nations great, sublime and sslfeviden
truth.-Americdn Eagle.