Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-01
NO. 40.

, The history of the past three years has much
TO animate US to renewed efforts, and a frmel
} and more assured hope. A whole people have
given their hearts and bodies to repel the inva-
der, and costly sacrifices have been made on
the altar OF our country. No similar instance Ia
to be found of such spontaneous uprising and
! volunteering. Inspired by holy patriot
ism, again and again have our brave soldiers,
with the aid of Heaven, baffisd the efforts OF
our foes.
1t is in no arrogant spirit, that we refer to
successes that have cost US so much blood, and
brought sorrow to so many hearts. We may
find in all this an earnest of what, with deter
mined and resolute exertion, we can do to evert
subjugation and savery-and we cannot fail to
discern in our deliverance from so maEy and so
great peris, the interposition of that being who
will not orsake US in the trials that are to come.
Let us, then, looking upon the bodies OF our
loved and honored dead, catch inspiration from
their example, and gather renewed confidence
and irmer resolve to tread, with unfaltering
trust, the path that leads to honor and peace,
though it leads through tears and suffering and
| blood.
We have no alternative but to do our duty.
We combat for property, homes, the honor of
our wives, the future OF our children, the pres
ervation of our fair land from pollution, and to
avert doom which we can read, both in the
threats of our enemies and the acts of opprea-.
sion, we have alluded to in this address.
The situation is grave, but furnishes no just
excuse for dependence. Instead of harsh crit
icsms On the Government and our generals -
instead Of bewailing the failure to accomplish
impossibties, we should rather be grateful, hum
bly, and profoundly, to benignant Providence
for the results that have rewarded our Iabors.-
Remembering the dispropertion in population,in
military and naval resources, and the deficiency
of skilled labor in the South, our accomplish
ments have surpassed those recorded of any peo-
pie in the world. There is no just reason for
hopelessness or fear. Since the outbreak of the
war, the South has lost the nominal possession
of the Mississippi river and Fragments of her ter
ritory, which, according to past progress, will re-
guire the enemy ten years to overun.
The enemy is not free from difficulties. With
an enormous debt the financial commission, long
postponed, is surely coming, The short crops in
the United States and abundant harvests in Eu-
rope, will hasten what was otherwise inevita-
BILE. Many sagaeious persons at the North, dis
cover in the usurpations of their Government,
the certain overthrow of their liberties. A
large number revolt from the unjust war wsged
upon the South, and would gladly bring it to an
end. Others look with alarm On the complete
subversion of constitutional freedom by Abra-
ham Lincoln and feel in their own persons the
bitterness of the slavery which three years of
war have failed to infict on the South. Brave
ard sarnest men at the North have spoken out
against the usurpation and cruelties daily prae-
ticed, The success of these men over the radi~
cal and despotio faction which now rules the
North, may open the way to peaceful negotia>
ton, and cessation OF this bloody and unneces~
sary war.
In conclusion, we exhort our fellow citizens
to be of good cheer& spare no labor,nor sacrifices
that may be necessary to enable US to win the
campaign upon which we have just entered.-
We have passed through great trials of affic-
tion, but suffering and humiliation are the schools
masters that lead nations to self reliance and
independence. These disciplinary proyidences
but mature and develop and solidify our people.
We beg that the supplies and resources of the
country, which are ample, may be sold to the
Government to support and equip its armies
Let all spirit of faction and past party difteren-
be forgotten in the presence OF our cruel foe.
We should not despond. We should be self-de-
nying. We should labor to extend to the utmost,
the productive resources Of the country. We
should economize. The families of soldiers
should be cared for and literally supplied. We
eutreat from all, generous and hearty co-op-
GRAFTON with the Government in all branches of
its administration, and with the agents, civil or
military, in the performance of their duty.
Moral aid has the ''rower of the incommuni-
CABLE" and, by united efforts, by an allrconpre-
heAding and sef-sacrifcing patriotism, we can,
with the blessing of GoD, avert the peris which
environ u.s. and achieve for ourselves and chill
dren peace and freedom. Hitherto, the Lord
has interposed gracously to bring US to victory,
and in HIS hand there is present power to pre-
vent this great multitude which come against as,
from casting as out OF the possession which He
has given US to inherit.