The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-07-20


field But | cannot close this long list
of glorious martyrs without paying a
sacred debt Of official duty and personal
friendship There is one dead soldier
who possessed peculiar claims upon my
love and gratitude; was an ardent patriot,
an unselfish man, a true soldier, the beau
ideal of sta IF officer-he was my aid de
camp, Col. Colburn. There is a lesson to
be drawn from the death and services Of
these glorious men, which we should read
for the i. csent and future benefit of the
nation.
War in these modern days is a science,
and it should now appear to the most
prejudiced that in the organization and
arming of armies, and the high combina-
tion of strategy, perfect familiarity with
the theoretical science of war is requisite.
To count upon success when the plans or
execution Of campaigns are iutrusted to
men who have no knowledge of war, is as
idle as to expect the legal wisdom of
Story or a Kent from skilltul physi-
elan.
THE CAUSE FOR WHICH WE FIGHT.
But what is the honorable and holy
cause for which these men have laid down
their lives. and for which the nation still
demands the sacrifice of the precious
blood of SO many of her children?
Soon after the close of the Revolution
ary War, it was found that the confed-
eracy which had grown up during that
memorable contest, was falling to pieces
from it's own weight. The central power
was too weak 1t could recommend to
the different States such measures as seem
ed best, and it possessed no real power to
legislate, because it lacked the executive
force to compel obedience to its laws.
The national credit and self-respect had
disappeared, and it was feared by the
friends of human liberty throughout the
world that ours was but smother added to
the long list of fruitless attempts at self
government The nation was evidently
on the brink of ruin and dissolution when
some eighty years ago many of the wisest
and most patriotic of the land met to seek
remedy for the great evils which threat
ened to destroy the great work of the
revolution. Their sessions were long and
often stormy; for time the most san
gnine doubted the possibility of sue
cessful termination of their labors. But
from amidst the conflict of sectional in
terests. of party prejudiees and of per
sonal sel6shness, the spirit of wisdom and
of cancellation at length evoked the Con-
stitutien under which we have lived so
long. 1t was not formed in day; but
was the result of practical labor, of wis
dom, and of the purest patriotism. 1t
was at last adopted by the people of all
the States-although by some reluctantly
not as being exactly what all desired,
but the best possible under the circum-
stances.
1t was accepted as giving US form of
government under which the nation might
live happily and prosper, SO long as the
people should continue to be Influenced
by the same sentiments which actuated
those who formed it; and which would not
be liable to destruction from internal
causes SO long as the people preserved the
recollection of the miseries and calamltles
which led to its adoption. Under this
beneficial constitution the progress Of the
nation was unsurpassed in history. The
rights and liberties of its citizens were
secured at home and abroad; vast terrific
ries were rescued from the control of the
savages and the wild beasts, and added to
the domain of the Union and civilization.
The arts, the sciences, and commerce grew
apace; our flag foated upon every sea,
and we took our place among the great
nations of the earth. But under this
smooth surface of prosperity upon which
we glided swiftly, with all sails set before
the common breeze, dangerous reefs were
hidden which now and then caused rlpples
upon the surface, and made anxious the
more careful pilots Elated by success
the ship swept on-the crew not needing
the warnings they received, forgetful of
the dangers escaped at the beginning OF
the voyage, and blind to the hideous mael-
strom which gaped to receive them. This
same elements of discord, sectional pre-
| judices, interests and institutions which
rendered the formation of the Constitu-
ton so difficult, threatened more than
once to destroy it. But for a long time
the nation was so fortunate as to possess
series of political leaders, who to the
highest abilities, united the same spirit Of
Cancellation which animated the founders
of this republic, and thus for many years
the threatened evils were averted. Time
and the long continuance of good fortune
obliterated the recollection of the calam,
tiles of years preceding the adoption OF the
Constitution. They forgot that concilia-
ton, common interests and mutual chari
ty had been the foundation, and must bt
the support, of our governments and al
the relations of life. At length, men ap
peared with abuse, sectional and persona
preiudices and interests, outweighing al
considerations of the general good. Ex
tremists Of one section furnished the oc
oasion, eagerly seized as pretext by
equally extreme men in the other, for
abandoning the pacific remedies afforded
by the Constitution. Stripped of all sop
histry and side issues, the direct cause o
the war as it presented itselfto the homes
and patriotic citizens OF the North wa,
simply this:
Certain States, or rather portion O
the Inhabitants of certain States, feared
or professed to fear, that injury would re
suit to private property from the elevation
of particular party to power. Although
4 u i