Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-07-08
WEAVERvIIIE, CALIFORNIA, JULY g. 1860
Our Gains.

Any view of our duties involved in the coming
period of reconstruction would be defective, I'M
less accompanied by abiding consciousness of
those positive improvements in our national con-
dition which have been brought about by the
war. In one it is true that the happy event of
the war does not mitigate the guilt of the rebels
for all the evil they designed and for all the in
nocent blood they have shed-just as the assail-
ant of Mr.. Seward remains accountable for his
murderous attack, although it may, as alleged,
have proved of no actual injury to his victim 5
bodily condition. But it makes a vast difference
in the disposition of mind with which we approach
the details of reconstruction, il we reflect as the
fact certainly is, that instead of emerging from
this mighty struggle in an exhausted and crippled
condition, are now but entering upon an era
of enlarged power and influence, and rid, by the
keen surgery of the sword, of source of chronic
weakness which otherwise might have preyed
upon the national life for many generations.
Let US glance at but two of these great nation
al gains BY the rebellion. One is the conscious
ness of internal strength, derived from trial
which, for suddenness and severity, can never
be repeated. Before the rebellion our strength
was similar to that of a growing boy--it might
be great, but would it prove ayailabeE Nine
tenths of the most competent judges in Europe,
affirmed that it would not. We might say that
it would but we all felt that it had not been
tried. None of our foreign wars, when the
country was united and the enemy was afar oil,
presented any such trial as other nations had
been subjected to, and which many had perished
under. At length, with the suddenness of thun-
der out of clear sky, the peril burst upon US
in its worst form. Nearly half the States seemed
to break from their moorings, and treason avow-
ed in the highest places of the Government,
seemed only smothered in too large portion of
the North. We were without an army, without
a navy, and without leaders known to be compe-
tent to the people. But the loyal nation at once
addressed itself to the formidable task; and
now after four years struggle, it has completely
succeeded. Henceforth we fear nothing of earth
" mold. We know strength. 1t becomes a
part of the blood and brain of every true Amer
lean 1t will not stimulate to any domineering
policy, but its influence in giving stability, ele-
walton, self-respect and magnanimity to the ma
tional character, will be priceless and pe-ma-
ncnt.
Secondly, the war has rid US of slavery. The
magnitude of this deliverance time only can I'M
fold to US. 1t was one great blot our national
fame which neutralized our republican influence
! abroad, and subjected us even to the sneers of
the Austrian and the Turk. But worse than that,
twas cancer upon our internal economy, whose
whitening and debasing influence was felt in
every part of the body polite. 1t made nearly
/ one-half of the country-that which nature had
ordained to be the farest half-a dark despotism.
where free speech and free press existed only in
name. 1t corrupted all within its sphere ut
terly that when it ready for treason, it swept
into its train military officers educated at the
national expense, Senators and Judges, and
churches of every Christian denomination. 1t
was the king of corruption. But it is now dead
and it leaves no heir. To have got rid of that
one source of danger worth all we have sut-
fered during the last four years. But then what
shall we say of the gain of 4 redeemed and re-
generated South, now opened to the industry
and the capital and all the free institutions of
the North? We repeat, time only can unfold the
magnitude of this war-derived blessing. But
we know enough of it already to dispose to
enter upon the of reconstruction with minds
free from all vindictiveness and full Of candor
and serene confidence in the future.--Boston
Journal.