Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-07-09
VOLUME 20.

paying a sacred debt of officia! duty and
personal friendship. There is one dead sol.
der who possessed peculiar claims upon
my love aud gratitude he was an ardent
patriot, an uDselfsh man, true soldier,
the beau-ideal of staff oficcr-he was
my aid-de-camp, Colonel Colburn. There
is lesson TO be drawn from the death and
services of these glorious men, which we
should read for the present and future ben
eft Of the nation.
War in these modern days is a scicsce
aud it should now appear 10 the most pref
udiced that the organization and arming Of
armies, and the high combinations of STRAIT
egy,perfect familiarity with the theoretical
science of war, is requisite. To count upon
success when the plans or execution of
campaigns are intrusted to men who have
no knowledge OF war, is as idle as to ex-
pect the legal wisdom Of Story or Kent
from sklIiul physician.
TIE CAUSE FOR WHICH WE FIoHT.
But what is the honorable and holy cause
for which these men have laid down their
lives, and for which the nation still de.
mands the sacrifice of the precious blood of
so many Of her children
Soon after the close Of the Revolution
ary war, it was found that the Confedera-
cy which had grown up during that mem-
orable contest, was falling to pieces from
its own weight. The central power was
too weak. 1t could recommend to the diff.
lerent States such measures as seemed
best, and it possessed no real power to leg
islate, because it lacked executive power to
compel obedience to its laws, The nation
al credit and self-respeot had disappeared
and it was feared by the friends of liberty
throughout the world that ours was but
another added to the long list of fruitess
attempts at self government. The nation
was on the brink of ruin and dissolution
when some eighty years ago many of the
wisess and most patriotic of the land met
to seek a remedy for the great evils which
threatened to destroy the great work Of
the revolution, Their sessions we're long
aud often stormy for time the most san
guIne, doubted the possibility Of a success
tu termination of their labors But from
amidst the conflict Of sectional interests, of
PARTY prejudice and ofpsrsonal sefshness.
the spirit Of wisdom and of conailiaton a.
length evoked the Constitution under which
we have lived so long. It was not formed
in day but was the result of prpctical
labor, Of lofty wisdom, and of the purest
patriotism 1t was at last adopted by the
people of the States-although by some
reuctantly-not as being exactly what all
desired, but the best possible under tho
circumstances.
1t was accepted as giving US a form Of
government under which the nation might
live happily and prosper, so long the
people should continue to be influenced by
The same sentiments which actuated those
who Termed it and which would not be
liable 10 destruction from internal causes,
so long as the people preserved the recol-
lection of the miseries and calamitles
which led to its adoption. Under this
beneficial Constitution the progress of the
nation was unsurpassed in history. The
rights and liberties OF its citizens were Sc
cured at home and abroad vast terrific.
ries we're rescued from the control Of the
savage and the wild beasts, and added to
the domain of the Union and civilization. =.
The arts, the sciences, and commerce grew
apace our flag foated upon erery sea,
and we took our place among the great
nations of the earth. But under this
smooth surface of prosperity upon which
We gided swiftly, With all the sails set be-
fore the common breeze, dangerous reefs
were hidden which now and then caused
ripples upon the surface, aud made anx-
ious the more careful pilots. Elated by
success the ship swept on-the crew, not
needing tie warnings they received, for
getful of the dangers escaped at the be-
ginning Of the voyage, aud blind to the
hideous mselstrom which gaped to receive
them. The same elements of dlscord, Sec
tional prejudices, Interests and Institutions
which had rendered the formation of the
Constitution so difficult, threatened mora
than once to destroy it. But for long
time the nation was so fortunate as to pos
sess q ser les of political leaders, who to
, the highest abilities, united the same spirit
. of Cancellation which animated the found
, ers of this republic, and thus Tor many
r years the threatened evils were averted.
: Time, and the long continuance of good
, fortune, obliterated the recollection of the
calamities of years preceding the adoption
Ol luC SOuotlbublOh uOJ lOlSOb tudt COu
: ciliation, common interests, and mutual
, charity had been the foundation, and must
l be the support of our Government, and all
) the relations of life. AT length men ap,
> peared with abuse, sectional and personal
! prejudices and interests, outweighipg all
!, con iderations of Che general good. Ex'
= tremsts of one section furnished the occa,
b sion, eagerly seized as pretext by equal.
/ ly extreme men in the other, for abandon,
ing the pacific remedies afforded by tn,
4 Constitution, Stripped of all sophiStry ant
1 side issues, the direct cause OF the war al
Q it presented itself to the honest and pa,ri
= oic citizens of the North was simply this
D Certain States, or rather portion Of tn
't inhabitants oil certain States, feared or pro-
n fessed 10 fear, that injury would result t
: their rights and property from the elevation
b Of a particular party topower. Although
n the Constitution and the actual cond tio,
= of the Government provid d them with
n peaceable and sure protection against th
. i. i IL. nA -.