The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-23

ties Of years preceding the adoption of the
Constitution. They forgot that Cancellation,
interest, and mutual charity had
been "a Nf6ndation, am Che sup
hort N IouT governme1S Ind all the rela-
ttiaas ~ liza, AT length, men appeared with
SbnAe. sec ioual and personal prejudices and
;uterests, ontweighing oil considerations of
Seneroi po6d. 3 Extremists of one section
arnisbsd tie oecssion, eagerly seized as q
pfetext BY equaily extreme men in the 9th
e., for abandoning the pacific remedies af-
forded by the Constitution. Stripped OF
all sophistry and side issues, the direct
cause Of the, var IS lit presented itself to
the honest and patriotic Citizens of the
North was simply this: sa=.-s---.--ss.
Certain states, or rather portion Of the
inhabitants of certain states, feared, or pro-
fessed;to fesf, !that injury wbuld results to
thee ugh And property from the eleYation
Of I pNftiSalat partyIts power. ! Although
the Constitution and the actual condition Of
the government provided them with a
pescsable and sure protection against the
apprebended evil, hey prepared 70 seek Sc,
curity In the destruction Sof the govern
ment which would protect them, and in the
use of force against national troops holding
ainational fortress. To eHace the insult Of:
fered to our flag, to save ourselves from the
fate of the divided republics OF Italy and
South America; to preserve our govern
ment from destruction to enforce its just
powers and laws; to maintain our very ex-
istence as nation. These were the causes
which impelled US to draw the sword. Re-
bellion against a,government like ours,
which contains within itself the means OF
self djustment and alpacific remedy for
evils, should never be COMPOUNDED with q
revolution against despostic power, which
refuses redress of wrongs. Such a rebel
lion cannot be .justified upon ethical
grounds, and the only alternatives for our
choice are its suppression or the destruction
of our nationality. -. 20
At such time as this, and in such a
struggle, political partisanship should be
merged ia true and brave patriotism!
which thinks only of the good of the whole
country. 1t was in this cause and with
these motives that so many Of our COM
rades have given their lives, and to this we
are all personally pledged in all honor and
fidelity. Shall such devotion as that OF
our dead comrades be no avail Shall it
be said that in after ages we lacked the
vigor to complete the work thus begun
That after all these noble lives freely given,
We hesitated and failed to keep straight on
until our land was saved : Forbid it heav
en-. and give US firmer, truer hearts than
that. ..... .. ..,-n 49,. L....
Oh spirits Of the valiant dead, souls OF
our slain heroes, lend US your own indom-
liable will, and if it be permitted you to
commune with those still chained by the
trammels of mortality, hover around US in
the midst of danger and tribulation, cheer
the firm, strengthen the weak, that none
may doubut the salvation of the Reptile
and the triumph of our grand old flag.
In the midst of the storms which toss
our ship of state, there is one great beacon
/ light to which we can ever turn with con
fidence and hope. 1t cannot be that thi'
great nation has played its part in history
it cannot be that our sun, which arose witt
such bright promises for the future, has al
ready set forever. It must be the intention
of the overruling Deity that this land, sc
long the asylum of the oppressed, thu
refuge of the civil and religious liberty
shall again stand forth in bright relief
united, purified and chsst ened by our tri-
ais, as an example and encouragement for
those who desire the progress of the hui
man race. 1t is not given to our weak In
tellects to understand the steps of Provi
dence as they occur we comprehend them
only IS we look back upon them in the fal
distant past so it is now. We cannot un'
ravel the seemingly tangled skein Of the
purposes the Creator-they are too higt
and far-reaching for our unlimited minds
But all history and His own revealed WORD
teach rs that His ways, although inscruta
BILE, are ever righteous. Let US, then
honestly and msnfully play our parts, aeek
to understand and perform our whole duty
and trust unwaveringly in the benefcen1
God who led our ancestors across the sea-
and sustained them aferward amid dangers
more appalling even than those encounter
ed by His own chosen people in their great
exodus. He did not bring us here in vain,
nor has He supported US thus far for nanght
If we do our. duty and trust in Him, He
will not desert us in our need. Firm ia
our faith that God will save our country,
we now dedicate this site to the memory
of brave men, to loyaly, patriotism, and
hosor. Cloud applause. 80 '.' i..'
The band then performed the "Star
Spangled Banner" and "Yankee Doodle, 81
after wh:ch the benedicton was pronounce
ed oy Rev. DR.. Sprole. ..~.-.- ..
As General Mcclellan descended from
platform, the crowd rushed about him and
gave three rousing cheers. 1t was impos.
sible that the officers who surrounded him
attempted to keep them away, assuring
them that no demonstration whatever
would be allowed They followed him the
whole distance to Roe's Hotel, cheering and
grasping for his hand, which was shaken at
every step by persons catching it with an
an almost frantic enthusiasm.