The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-01-21

The conduct OF our omcers ana men
In the field has been highly creditable
to themselves and honorable to the
State. Upon every battlefield they
have won high encomiums for cool and
steady courage, prompt obedience and
deeds of noble daring. They are
bright jewels in the crown of the State,
and while we wear them with pride, we
cherish them with affection.
During the past year steady and ef-
fective advancement has been made in
the prosecution of the war. We have
ourselves Of large amount
of the revolted territories, and the tri
umphs of our arms and policy that have
sire rsngthened d us, have materially weak
ened our adversaries. Present events
indicate very strongly that the end of
the rebellion is rapidly approaching.
The contest has been fierce and san
culinary, and has been protractcd beyond
the expectations of our people. But on
the other hand it is to be remembered
that it was precipituted upon us under
every possible disadvantage. On the
part of the rebel leaders it was not ou-
ly coolly and deliberately planned, but
years were spent, while they were still
in the councils and even control of th c
Government, in preparing for it. They
even exercised this control to disarm
US, in great measure, of men and ma
terials for conflict. They trained and
educated their people to it, by filing
them with falsehoods and inspiring
them with hatred Of the people of tho
Northern States, and our republican
form of Government. They auticipa
ted much, no doubt, from the supposed
weakness of that Government to pro
tect itself from such an assault, on thC
one hand, and from political CO opera
ton in the Northern States, on the 9th
er. They brought about rbyp thei
management, the necessity Of ofwhAtithel
termed a Sectional election" of PFesi
dent, and then seized upon that as
pretcxt to put in practice what they as
sumed to be the right Of "peaceable Sc
cession.' They undertook the revo
luton of the Government; but prepared
for, and eventually adopted the alterna
tive of armed rebellion. We wero no
prepared for the first onset. We ha,
armies to gather,and arms and ammuni
ton to provide for them; a navy t
collect, whence rebel leaders, while i
power, had scattered it, and equip it 70
the strife, and it was only with tn
lapse of time that we realized the mag
nitude and strength of the rebellion
and the elaborate and effectual mean
that the leaders had taken for its pros e
cution and success. When all thes
things nre carefully considered, ou
people should not be surprised at tn
duration ofthe conflict, or the cost 0
blood and treasure it has involved.
By no act of wrong or oppressio
did the people Of the Northern State
provoke this rebellion. 1t has no war
rant Of Justification whatever. We ha
infringed upon no right guaranteed
them by the Constitution Of the lane
We had assented to all the eompro
misses they presented to US, and keI
our faith; while they violated, repeale
or destroyed them at pleasure. Will
the great mass Of tho people of boil
political parties refrained from in
terfering with their peculiar in
stitutiOu, we first family protested, an
then more resolutely declared again'
, its being made an engine of politici
power, and for this purpose, extendc
over territory that otherwise should b
free. We urged the Southern poop
to con6ne that constitution" within i
, existing limits, and take with it all III
r guarantees the nation could give for i
: quiet and peaceful enjoyment; but "
= could not consent that the blightin
influence of slavery should be spren
over free territory, merely to Great
, slave States, in order to preserve 18th
balance of political power" For tn
r check to their political ambition, tn
, leaders inaugurated this gigantic r'
bellion; and large portion of the
D people took upon themselves the cor
sequences, in an armed attempt to de-
troy a government under which the
, had been prosperous and happy to dii
olive Union Of States that had bee
their protection and strength--withot
contemplating the possibility of fai
ure, or the fact that success must in
| poVerish rather than benefit their col
: dition.
According to the magnitude of tn
. rebellion the result of restoration
a onr Governinent will be notsnt in ;to /,