The weekly union record., 1864-07-09

unoer these ccDceSsio0S, true 10 lis lDStDcis,
claimed more-6nally demanded and declared
for empire This, freedom resisted. Slavery
invoked war, snd with FIRE and fsSot entered
The very citadel OF liberty and By force OF
arms, determinited to dismember The terrific
ries OF the Union ; 10 make conquest Of its
largest and most fertile portion, and 10 as-
grsDdize itself with the revenues, trade and
commerce Of the dismembered part, BY con
stituting separate nationality and rival
empire II found the ADMINISTRATION of Mr..
Buchanan opposing no obstacles to lis military
preparations; his Secretary of War and Navy
being directly engaged 10 the ,reasousble plo,
OF disuniou. During the last DAYS OF the ex-
! piring term OF that administration. secession
ordinances were passed by several rebel States;
troops were raised and armed; the forts. arse.
nals and custom houses in their borders were
seized; and everything was ready for the re-
belon to bcrst forth, on the retirement OF
Buchanan and the accession of Mr.. Lincoln.
Such was the situation when the new presi-
dent, elected 10 perfect conformity with the
laws and the constitution, took the chair, first
dgnihed by the immortal Washington.
The only question which the malcontenis,
prepared and ready for hostilities, proposed TO
Mr.. Lncolns administration for solution. was
the simple and plain oposltion-whe,her be
would allow them peaceab!y 10 dismember the
Union and constitute rival empire over
more than one half Of the jurisdiction OF the
United States.
So unwilling was the PIeSiden. to precipi
tate the unavoidable conflict, that neither IN
his Inaugural message, nor for q month after
wards, did he deign an answer 10 the diShon
orable proposition and, when be did reply, it
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Of his constitutional duties, in sending ship,
not of war. but of provisions, 10 beleaguered
fortress IN the rebel port of Charleston. As
the Union ship appeared in the outer harbor,
and turned It's PROV towards the beleaguered
fortress, the first shot fred from rebel batteries
was sent on its message of hostility and the
vessel silently withdrew from the range cf The
implements of bloodshed, and returned to bear
the sad report TO the supreme authorities OF
the Republic at Washington. Then burst forth
upon that beleaguered fort an iron storm Of
war. from au hundred cannon, planted by reb
el hands without opposition during days OF
peace.
That gallant band Of Sumter, destitute Of
necessary supplies, seeing no hope of timely
relief with tears oD their manly cheeks, sur
rendered the fort; and the flag of the Union
gave place 10 the stars aud bars dedicated TO
the embrvo Empire of slavery. The news OF
the fate OF Sumter feh upon the ear OF the na-
ton, like clap OF thunder from cloudess
sky.
The humiliation of the flag OF the Union
the absence of all decent pretence or justifca-
ton for the act-,he preciptancy with which
the dread issue of civil war was forced on this
free and fostering government OF the people.
penetrated the heart of the whole republic; and
more than seventy FIVE thousand freemen rush.
ed to arms TO save the government from subJu
CATION, and the country from Gismemberment
and complete overthrow by baughtv and
defiant slave power armed and organized for
aggr andsement and conquest. Money IN ul-
told millions flowed in constant stream into
the National treasury, the free and voluntary
gift ofthe people. Their goods, lands, treasure,
all, they would have given to the Government
to vndcate its honor and integrity. Money
did not enter into their estimate of the value
of an endangered constitution and Union. Pa
triotism is now fully aroused-the noble and
unselfsh sentiments of the nation have trium-
pied. Never before did a government receive
such moral and material support from twenty
millions of freemen. The power and majesty
of the government, inspired with new life, and
raised by the upheaving Of the mighty mass
the popular element on which it rests-towers
over the momentous issues of the struggle, the
very type aud image of Omnipoteuce itself.
Conscious in its strength and the justice Of lis
cluse, il has gathered its inexhaustlble resoUr-
ces for the conflict, with calm dignity, that
gives assurance to the whole world, that it is
master of the situation. Five hundred thous
and freemen are now in the field determined to
do or die for the Union. Brave men patriots
will be your reward, The hopes and homes of
millions the constitution esrth's best aud
greatest government, all all, have been com
mitted TO your protection. March on, march
on the victory shall be yours. A nations
gratitude will hail the triumph of your arms.
If in the progress of the war, thus forced upon
the government for the preservation Of our ma.
tionality, any great mistake has been made by
the Administration in conducting it, the mis-
take consisted in undertaking the power and
preparation Of the material forces engaged on
the side Of the rebellion. But experience soon
corrected this mistake, and the proper remedy
has been thoroughly and efficiently applied.
We have not tirae, nor do we propose, to
give correct history of the rebellion Its
history will be faithfully written when it is
ended. Its vast schemes and vision of empire
and dominion has, in the progress of three
years of war, been wonderfully abridged aud
/ curtailed, by the irresistible courage and self
immolatng patriotism Of The Union armies.
The territory it FIRST he'd and embraced exten-
ded from the Potomac, the Onion, and the
Missouri on the north, 10 the Gulf of Mexico
Oh the south from the Atlantic on the East,
to the Rio Grande with indefinite extension
90 the west. Its military unity was one year
4 to day divided iD the centre By the fall OF
Vicksburg, aud the reopening Of the Missis
sippi, by that furnace Of affection for rebel
armies-that "devouring scourge' Of slavery's
battalions-the persistent, EVER PRESSING, NEVER
RESTING, EvEk-CRUsH1SG IHUsDERBoLT OF WAR
-ULYssEs S. GRANT. The great States Of Mis-
souri,, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, have
I been torn forever from rebellion's grasp
Nearly the whole Of Virginia is forever re
deemed. Sherman is tearing away al the very
vitals of the rebellion 10 Georgia. Steel holds
Arkansas securely. Candy takes Louisiana
safelyfuto his cbsrge. An Insignificant army
of about twenty thousand rebels roams some
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