Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-07

every patriotic, loyal man; TO express ms
opinions freely. boldly, fearlessly. That such
Crisis IN our national affairs has now arriv-
ed, ali will admit. That it is well calculated
to excite painful apprehension and alarming
fears is indeed most true. Previous however
to discussing the psrilous condition of the
| country and the principles involved, 1 will al
Iude to few incidents in the history Of the
past which have particular relation to the
present subjects they were indeed the pre-
cursors of the desolation which has overspread
our land.
When President Jackson issued his procla-
nation in 1888 upon the subject of the Sc
cession and qualification of South Carolina.
had the honor to be member of the leg
lslature OF Indiana and moveda resolution for
the appointment of committee to take that
document into consideration and report the
result of its deliberations to that body. As
chairman of that committee reported pre-
amble and resolution, the substance of which
l distinctly recolleet,-they were to the effect
that although distant link in the chain of
our Union had been stricken and its vibra
ton felt-that although the beautiful cincture
that encircled the states seemed to be un
folding It's magical embrace, yet the Union
would be preserved, We believed that the
South American Republics would still look to
our country, as their polar star to guide them
Through the storms and tempests of their
revolutions to liberty and independence we
believed then, that the historian in after
times would find blotless bloodless page
for the country OF Washington. We beliey-
ed that our Roman President would preserve
his country from disgrace, its citizens from
treason, and the republican patriot in all
lands, from despair. The resolutions pledg-
ed the lives, fortunes, and sacred honor of
the citizens of Indiana for the preservation
Of the Union.
During the following summer public din
ner was given in the State of Virginia to the
Hon. VIM. Z. Rives on account of his oppo-
sltion to notification and secession in the
Senate of the United States from which he
had been instructed to retire by the legisla-
ture of Virginia. Being present at that din
nor was called upon as the author of the
Indiana resolutions to defend in the heart of
the Old Dominion, the doctrines they con-
tanned. In response to that call, l evinced
the faith of true believer, although without
the power of an eloquent advocate
Shortly after | received letter from dis
tlnguished South Carolinian, the only Union
member of the Senate of that State in which
he said In your views of notification and
secession there are many points of resem-
blance to my own, it is one thing however to
read all that has been written upon the SUBJ
ject of this nefarious doctrine, it is another
thing altogether to see its consequences
practically carried out. You may imagine
the horrors OF this moral inquisition, but YOU
have no conception Of the demoniac spirit by
which it is directed. 1t has already destroy
ed all thai is valuable and venerable and holy
in our State. All the social ties have been
dissolved. Father is arrayed against son, and
san ,oct fnth hon
word among the nations and a reproach to
ourselves.
Virginia is already pledged to the support
of these doctrines. | warn you against this
moral pestilence. If you love the country of
Washington and his character, trample under
foot this insidious serpent. Men who did not
hope to rule the empire unbrOken, dreamed
Of a Southern Confederacy, and in the mad
Authorizations of that dream have brought
the freest government On earth to the verge
of dissolution, and 1.-THE happiest people to
the brink Of destruction.
Such was the language of one of Cardinals
most distinguished sons who had seen, and
felt, and knew what he wrote.
Mr.. President, this convention has been as
sembled to elect delegates to National Con-
vention to nominate candidates for the Presi-
dency and Vice Presidency of the United
States, and to express its approval of the pol
icy and measures of the Administration, and
to indicate its views in regard to the future,
all of which has been done in an eloquent and
a patriotic manner and commands my appro-
val and admiration The past is history, the
future is prophecy; we are permitted to
judge of the future by the past. The history
of the past three years has been persever-
ing attempt on the part of the Southern
States to throw off their allegiance to the
National Government, to build up a separate
government, to establish Southern Confed-
eracy. On the part of the National Govern
ment the effort has been to defeat that at
tempt, to disrupt that Confederacy, to crush
that rebellion. These divergent views have
led to a conflict Of arms which has been no
pigmy struggle. Whether we consider the
millions that have been engaged, the dread
full implements Of destruction that have been
employed, or the heroic chivalry Of the SOL
diers who have encountered every peril, and
defed every danger, the great battles of An
tiquity must serve but as the back ground on
the canvass upon which are displayed the
more brilliant feats of American proves.
In reading the history Of these times, pos
terity will find it difficult to ascribe an ade-
quate motive for this effusion of blood. They
will not find it in the expressions of the
North upon the South-none have been as
signed; not in want of homogeniousness-
we are principally Of one race and descended
from common ancestry not in differences
of religion-our differences are non essential.
1t will, however, be found in the unchastened
ambition, the unhallowed passions, and the
lust of power which have blinded the eyes
and maddened the heads and poisoned the
hearts of the Southern conspirators, who,
with cunningly devised fables, have deceived
a confding people, and led them to treason
and rebellion.
The sacrifices that a nation or an individ-
ual are willing to suffer, depend upon the
value of the objects to be attained. In COM
parison with the value of the American I'm
ion, what picture of the reign of Patriot
King; what vision of Miltonic Republic
what faneitul Utopia, can approach its excel
lence? If it was thought by the people of
ones country, how lovely must be the death
of the patriot soldier who dies in defence of
the independence of his country, and the in
tegrity of the American Union.
This is no mere picture of the fancy. no
poetic imagining. Thousands of volunteers
have returned from the battle-felds wound
ed, manned and dying. They are to be found
in every town, in every village and in every
city. Our own city of Madison has not been
backward in furnishing patriot heroes, some
Of whom have exhibited an inhexible pat
riotism, determined valor, and chivalrous
devotion to their country, which would have
thrown dazzling lustre over the names of
Epaminondas, of Brutus and of Scipio
If the American Union is thus valuable
if millions of our citizens are ready to
offer up their lives willing sacrifice for its
preservation, how much patriotism, how
much loyalty, is there in the cavils of those