Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-02-27
Published by Request.]
What are We Fighting For!
A WORD TO THOSE WHO FIGHT THE BAT
TIES AND PAY THE TAXES.

what are we Flghtlng ForF
A WORD TO THOSE WHO FIGHT THE BAT
TIES AND PAY THE TAXES.
In times of sudden and imminent peril,
prompt action, rather than reflection, IS
called for. But when that action has placed
the person in comparative safety, common
sense teaches us that q careful search to find
the cause of danger, and efficient measures
to remove that cause, become an immediate
and imperative duty. And what is true in
the case of an individual, is eminently so in
the case Of nation.
Two years and half since, we found the
life of the nation in peril. Deadly foes as
sailed her, all the more to be feared in that
they were of our own household. But our
nation, though unprcpared, found prompt
and willing defenders, and what was lacking
in military knowledge-thc result of years of
profound peace-has been more than bal
anced by energy and perseverance. But the
time has now arrived, when, as sober think
ing men, from whose ranks must come the
hands to fight, and whose toll must pay the
cost-it is time, say, for us to look about
us and see where we stand, and carefully
seek out the causes which have placed us in
the condition in which We find ourselves.
We are in the midst of a horrible war.
Our treasures have been poured out in a ru-
inous flood but alas! that is as nothing
when compared with the precious lives that
have been offered up. Over our beloved
ones the angel of death has spread his wing.
Our streets ere filled with mourning, and our
hearts with desolation Where is the noble
Lindsey; the gentle Rector; the brave Els
worth, and Spencer, and Scott-but space
would fail me to even mention the names of
all the brave and noble dead, who, in the
smoking battlefield or recking hospital. have
laid their lives down OH their country's altar.
Bcreaved fathers and heart broken mothers :
mourning brothers and sisters, and orphaned
children. demand Of US, in tones that must
be needed, Why is all Ills The question
cannot be evadcd. 1t must be met and an
swcred, and in my humble way propose now
to meet and answer it. And | besccch your
patient and earnest attention; for on the COR
rect reply to this question depends consc-
oucnces Of unimaginable weight and import
ance.
What, then. are we fighting for?
AS we proceed to examine this subject,
however vast its proportions at first view,
We shall soon find that it will narrow itself
down to single point. Gancing over the
past history of our country, we find various
questions that have agitated the public mind
for season, and which have becn the rally
ing cry of parties, and have been submitted
to the ordeal of the peoples votes; but that
vote has always settled each question in turn,
and when question has been so settled, ag-
itation has ceased, and the whole matter has
sunk quietly into oblivion. Such was the
question of the national bank the regula-
ton of the tariff; q sub-trcasury, &c. But
all these questions were those of policy rath-
or than of pyinripic. Nothing vital to the
interests of men were involved in them, and
men in our day do not often fight about mat
ters of mere policy. But two sections Of our
common country are now involved in bitter
and deadly strife, and wherefores Because
q question has arisen which lies at the very
foundation of our national existence and well
fare, and the essential rights of man arc at
stake. The alleged cause on the part Of the
So"th is, "thc aggrcssions Of the North, an
unwarrantable interference with their sacred
rights" Well, what rights: The answer
has been, "the right to remove with our
property into and occupy certain parts Of our
common Territory" Now what property
are they denied access with, to any and eve
ry portion of all our States and Territories
Are they forbidden to carry their silver and
gold, cattle or raiment, or anything else rec
ognized by the mass of mankind as the sub
iects of ownership: No one ever imagined
it. What then There is and can be but one
answer. "The right for which we of the
South contend is the right to take and hold
men as slaves" For," say they, " if we
have the right 10 hold men as slaves in one
State or Territory, we have right to take
and hold them anywhere else in our common
country" In one point here made. ! fully
and unreservedly agree with them, with my
whole heart and soul.
lfthey have tho right anywhere, they have
the right everywgere; for rights are God-giv.
en- and inali-nable, and no man or body Of
me can be derived Of them by their fellow
men. Men may be, and alas! often are
robbed Of the exercise Of their rights, but the
rights remain, for they are understandable as
the throne Of Omnipotcnce and eternal Jeho.
yah. l know that party platforms, even
among the more advanced parties, have con.
ceded any virtually acknowledged that in Ger.
tain spots Of earth, enclosed by certain lines,
slavery has legal right TO exist. and also
know that all such platforms are rotten. total
ly unfit for honest men to stand on, and dan.
eerous for villains. Thus we find the contro.
versy in this horrid and bloody war narrowed
down to this question. Has slavery a right ia
exist And l most solemnly adjure you to
examine this question with me, coolly. care.
fully and honestly for depend upon it, it il
the most momentous that ever can rise in this
our day; for the consequences depending