Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-04-29
CEDAR FALLS. IOWA, FRIDAY, 20.

l. ThlDAI, AL hlL =
The War and Restoration Of the Union.
..sr SPEECH OF ~ .-......a
HON. A. w. HUBBARD, OF IOWA,
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
."i '* MARCH 8, 1864. 5'"
Mr. HuBnARD rose and said hH'.1
i. 1t has been asserted upon this floor and
elsewhere that thousands Of lives have been
sacrificed, millions of treasure expended, and
and an immense amount of property destroy.
ed during this war. This admit but when
the persons that make these statements 60
further and state that the Administration and
its friends arc responsible for it; when they
assert that they are the cause of all this, l
meet this last statement with a fiat denial
All the fearful and ruinous consequences
which have been attendant upon this war
are chargeable upon the guilty authors of
this rebellion. They arc chargeable upon the
traitors who, without cause or provocation,
Enaugurated this. the most wicked and un-
provoked rebellion of which history gives
any record, or which has ever disgraced any
civilized nation on the face Of the EARTH
They commenced this struggle to obtain for
slavery tho mastery over freedom, and to
make the institution the corner stone of a
slave coneederacy. There is no use in closing
our eyes to the great fact, patent to ALL that
this is contest between freedom and sla-
very. .t.... ......E.l .sa.t
NATURE OF THE CONTEST.
The war on the part of the United States is
purely and simply war of dclense--of de-
fense against causeless aggression. This is
certainly sufficient to arouse the energies and
call forth the utmost efforts and sacrifices of
the bravest and noblest people that ever lived
on the face of the earth. On the part Of the
rebels this war has been carried on with an
amount of vigor and obstinacy, with de-
gree Of heroism, bravery, and selfsacrifice
which would have done lasting honor to a
more worthy and just cause. The resources
of the rebels in men and means, in all the
materials Of war, have proved to be far great
or than We had expected. The struggle has
been more protracted, moro terrible, and
moro destructive than in the commencement
we supposed it was possible for it to be- But
tho courage, the devotion and patriotism Of
the American people have been equal to the
emergency. The Government, for nearly
| three years, has conducted this war with a
far seeing sagacity, prudence, ability, and
wise craftsmanship which challenges the ad-
miration of the world, and to which the i'm,
partial historian will do ample justice, how
ever much political prcjudices may blind the
public mind at the present time. During all
this time, in sunshine and darkness, the peo.
pie have shown a high toned, self sacrificing
patriotism aud devotion to the country, and
an aptness for military affairs which has no
equal or precedent among tho nations of the
earth. + "s. ,'
| ~ - g... PROGRESS MADE. ....a,
| Notwithstanding tho thousands of lives
sacrificed, the hundreds of millions of treas
ure expended, and the vast amount of prop
crty destroyed, this contest has not been deS
titute of good results. These proud and dc.
Eant traitors have been humblcd. 1t is true
they have had their victories, but they have
never gained one inch Of ground We have
| had our defeats. but our armies have never
fallen back. We are to-day master of the
whole course of the Mississippi; master oi
all the border States, Arkansas, Tennessee,
and Louisiana. All that remains is to stine
thersssolt in the narrow territory where II
first burst forth, and back TO where it has
been driven in despair. 1t is true VIC have
sustained reverses and disasters, yet the
grand and brilliant triumphs which have
been obtained by our advancing columns
more than outweigh oil Of these revcrses.--.
Our blockade seals their ports, our flag waves
in triumph upon the soil of every rebellious
State. With defeated and demoralized ar
mics, thinned by disease, death, and deser-
ton to an extent that their mercless con-
scription cannot fill with worthless cur
rency, credit destroyed, and their territory
reduced to less than one.half its original
limits, the time cannot be far distant when
| complete success will crown our efforts, and
thclcade,s Of this foul and damnable rebellion
will receive traitors doom and q felon's
death. +" 2r #' p. <H.'"... ,7s~
Our advance hasaot been confined alone
struggle, Of mingled hope and fear, while
these grand and magnificent results havo
been accomplished by our armies, the cause
of freedom and humanity has not been stand.
ing still. We have been progressing. While
contending lcgons have been engaged OH the
| field Of battle, the people have alss been at
work. A war Of ideas has been in progress
OF vast and immeasurabe importance to the
future of this country and the cause of free
dom. Society has been stirred to its pro-
foundest depths. The people have caught
the inspiration of the hour. They have be-
come convinced that slavery is great wrong,
and that it and freedom are great enemies to
each other. This great and important truth,
which for long time had apparently been
overlooked by many, has flashed upon their
visions, and astonishcd at their former indif-
ference or blindness, they have resolved and
are now resolving that in this country in the
future universal freedom shall become the
rule and slavery the exception. 1t is hardly
necessary for me to say that when the people
have thus in their nigh. and power resolved
to do they will surely find the means to &C.
complish. -....... .ys...n .n....s.
REASONS FOR OPPOSITION. @s.
While this progress has been hailed with
the most profound satisfaction by some, il
has caused the most intense fear and alarm
to others. In the destruction Of slavery they
see the dissipation of their political hopes
and schemes Of future political aggrandize-
ment and greatness. For years slavery has
been the great moving cause, the mighty in.
flucnce which to q large extent has given
strength and power, and which has enabled
. certain party in this country to control the
politics Of the nation. In its destruction
they see the overthrow of its most powerful
ally. Hence all over this land when the
strong arm Of freedom in aid Of this Gov
crnment is stretched forth to strike the
shackles from the hands and feet Of slaves,
you hear Of opposition of opposition to the
war-of opposition to this progress Of public
opinion, and peace is proposed as remedy
for our national troubles. We arc advised
to compromise, to offer terms Of conciliation
to these traitors who are covered with their
crimes and stained with the best Blood of the
nation. Such suggestions inlmy opinion are
an filled tn Int little irnn0rtanna Thaca nan