The weekly union record., 1865-07-22


oil the solemn 10Y Of Independence Day. be
.wore not Only TO pToiec, oar fathers work,
but wherein the structure was imperfect,
He woa,d rebuild Alright
If 6od wo0i6 give him greater lisi..
This great struggle is OYER This uupsral
leled storm which shook the universe has
passed away, and the sunlight Of peace beams
once more upon our land. II has tcen The
sadiest chapter in the annals OF time. Ou-
sacrifices have been great and 10 day when
we gaze over ,he period of that struggle. We
fad that many Of our wiSest, Hoblest and brav-
est fail 10 answer to the roll call. Every de-
partneat of lie has to record some missing
members We gaze upon the plsins and val
leys that for years have marked nothing but
the prosperity of man, and zee arising from the
soil an unnatural crop. rwould seem the
seeds Of Death had theu been sown. and that
the lullness of the harvest too well did evidence
the richness Of lhe soil.
Where are cur hosts Of strong young men
whose brawny arms were the security Tor oor
prosperity? All ! they are gone Their
arms are powerless now Liberty, iu her de-
fence, did call them to the grave, and with
glad shout they welcomed death. Sleep on.
brave cues. Annually when the ever rolling
wheel of Time shall usher in the gentle Spring.
a mourning nation shall repair TO your last rest
ing place, and mingle tears With the flowers
they slrew upon yoar graves aud when in
after years your names would otherwise have
been forgotten, some gray haired sire shall
take prattliug infant on his knee and she'll
recount your glorious deeds, and, pointing to I
your graves, shall teach them how grand and
glorious 'tis TO die 10 freedoms cause. In life.
you were noble; in your death, glorious
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
With all their country's honors biest
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold.
Returns 10 deck their halowed mold.
She there shall press a sygeeter sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
Fen honor comes, pilgrim gray,
To bless the mold that decks their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair.
And dwell a weeping hermit there"
But where is be of the eagle eye which
flashed like Heavens lightning when Freedom
was assaed, and whose big heart had fed upon
the freedom OF this mountain air; whose iron
gray locks were Freedoms signal in our State.
and upon whose words OF eoqueDce nation
hung spell bound Upon Lone Mountains
top. soothed by the gentle murmur OF the sea
leaving the shores of the land he loved 50 well
and whose proud champion be was, BAKER is
at rest.
And he OF the imperial intellect, who ever
threw the gauntlet at the foot of Freedom $
foe, and stood firm and immovable in that be
deemed the right, aud whose single arm iu his
country's defence was worth hundred regi-
ments, sleeps where the northern waters, that
have oft echoed back the name of DouGLAs
chaunt his requiem. He died not in battle
but he died OF war, bequeathng to the world
as legacy the Inspired wisdom of departingX
greatness expressed in his last words addressed
TO all who would take counsel of the great
llliroisian "OBEY THE CONSTITUTION ASD
THE LAWS"
But there is one man gone whose uama
draws forth cur tears. He was the admira1
tion Of the world--the nations pride and love-
Great without brlliancy, sagacious without
art, he arose from obscurity and entering the
lists where rank and talent had arrayed them
selves, with no aid but his talent and no capi
tal but his integrity, he distanced competition
and stood before the world as man and q
statesman without parallel in modern times
Tried 10 on ord, ,al such as man was never be
fore tried in. be came forth without the smel
OF TIRE npon bis garments-s,rcken down at a
time when his power was acknowledged. and
goodness and mercy were influencing his acI
tons. We can but mourn bis loss as becomes
nation, when friend, benefactor and a
father has gone. Twere vain TO attempt y
euiogy upon the character of ABRAHAM LIN
COLIN His public life is before the world and
bis immortality secure. God grant that the
salutary effects OF bis pure example may be
lelt as long as his memory is cherished.
And what lesson has all this taught Us? It
has taught US that nation to be free. must
be pure. That God neither toerates 10 na-
tions or individuals hypocrisy, and that He
VIII not smile upon people where the strong
oppress the weak, and whose system Of laws
bind a fellow man to the altar OF human slav
cry. Through three fourths of q century of
comparative peace, the God of Justice has
spoken through his spirit, working upon the
consciences of men through the eloquent voices
OF those who have ever combatted this oppres
sion, and through the divided councils OF a "a
tIon and the low mutteriDgs of coming war.
and SAID 10 the people of the United States
Let my people go, and put away the defing
sin from among you - And we have, if not
hardened our hearts lent Indifferent attention
to the command. Now be has spoken through
the awful thunders of this great struggle, and
has made his voice heard and his people Free
And, sir, hencelorth and forever If this Re-
public exists, they shall here continue free.
Every principle of justice, of humanity and
Christianity. as well as a consistency in our
OVID professions, renders 1t an Imperative ne
cessiiy to recognize the rights of this people
and trust to day the American people en-
brace it as pleasant duty.
do not sir, for moment think with those
who believe the negro race should be placed
upon social and political basis Of equality
with ourselves. l could not, sir, consent to
see him, an enfranchised citizen of our COM
monwealtb, debating 10 our councils, demand.
ing our safrages and participating 10 the en-
actment of the laws which govern u.s. This
cannot be. Nature has placed barrier be-
tween the races which it were as impolitic as
impossible to break down. Yet the same
power which has made this inequality and
him our Inferior has endowed the black man
with right TO live and breathe the free air OF
Heaven, and worship his God in bis own man
ner; and it is duty not only TO him but to
ourselves that We should award him those
rights.
1t has taught US that there is limit beyond
..L l. L