The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-09
How Much Owest Thou P"

ment which our fathers established which emil
nent wise and patriotic men have, since their
day, for the most part administered, whose ben
efits we have felt, but never its burdens which
is consecrated to us by it's principles of liberty,
more than by all the memory of its victories );
and which our brothers have poured out their
blood in the last three years, fifty battle-elds
to support and defend. The tranquility and
public order which have been hitherto assured to
States by this National Government the
opportunities of success which have everywhere
been opened and guaranteed by it to the enter
prising and INDUSTRIOUS the security it has CIV
en- to our vast commerce on all the seas,-the
tent to which, under its protection, the land has
been subdued its mines opened, its rivers brdg
ed, its waters redeemed, its soil made to bloom
with harvests,-the rewards of labor it has
sured to the humblest, the hand of restraint it
has steadily laid on the riot of the rabble, and
on the craft and passion of the reckless and the
wicked all these have been, and are to-day
the conditions of the prosperity which fills the
homes of American citizens, and makes their
hearts to glow with happiness.
The stateliest oak, striking it's roots into the
earth, and stretching its gnarled and twisted
limbs to wrestle with the storm, does not more
surely pre-suppose, as the condition of it's devel
opment, the stability of the earth in it's custo-
the seasons, than does the proudest fortune
amassed within our country imply the perma-
hence and protection of the Government as it's
basis and defence. The most modest flower that
lifts it's head by the wayside in gardens does
not more surely need the sun to touch it with
beauty, and need the dew to fill its cups and veins
with life than does the domestic felicity that de-
lights us, require the sustaining and quickening
influence of the all-pervading power of Govern
ment, to make it sure and make it complete.
Not States alone, or cities, COURTS rest on this
as their basis are surrounded by this with their
necessary safeguards. Libraries colleges, hos
pitfalls, churches, all financial institutions all in
situations of art, newspapers, magazines, chart
table establishments, the peaceful and pleasant
intercourse of men AMERICAN HOMES, in all
that makes them rich and happy-all are now
ours because we have Government to guard
them /; and all would go as Lisbon WENT rushing
into the abyss which the earthquake had opened,
if the Rebellion that has risen against that Gov
eminent should be able to overthrow it; if dis
located, jealous, warning States, split into frag-
ments. and hot with passion against each other,
were hereafter to take the place in the world, of
that one Country, formed from many harmonized
States. which we and our fathers have known
and loved
When we take the inventory of what we owe
to the Government, to assist it in prosecuting to
successful results the present vast civil war;
when we reckon the account of what we owe to
the Men, so gallant and selfsacrifced who have
gone in our places to MAINTAIN this Government
against the tremendous assaults made upon it,
let us put on side ALL WE HAVE, which does
not come by immediate gift and inspiration from
God. and measure by that our personal indebt-
11x1 Ec l..