North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-04-26

thought then, as nop, that the Aboli-
tionists are1e the only traitors in the land,
and that the entire party deserved the same
fate AZ poor old Brown, not because they
wished to abolish slavery, but on account of
the means they have ever endeavored to use
to effect that abolition. If Brown were liv-
ing, l doubt whether he himself would set
slavery against the Union. Most, or many,
in the North do, and openly curse the Union,
if the South are to return and retain sim
gle right guaranteed to them by every tie
which We once rerered as sacred. Tho
South can make no choice. 1t is either ex-
termination or slavery for themselves (worse
than DEATH TO draw. from. know my
choice.
have also studied hard to discover upon
what grounds the right of State to secede
has been denied, when our very name, Unit
ed States, and the Declaration of Independ-
ence both provide for secession. But there
is no time for words. write in haste. |
dertaki;g such step as this, where, on the
one side, have many irienda and everything
to make me happy, where my profession
alone has gained ME an income of more than
twenty thousand dollars year, and where
my great personal ambition in my profession
has such great field for labor. On the
other hand, the South have never bestowed
upon me one kind word place now where
T have no friends, except beneath the sod
place where 1 must either become private
soldier or beggar To give up all OF the
former for the latter, besides my mother and
sisters. whom / love so dearly (althongt
they so widely differ with me in opinion,
seems insane; but God is my judge. love
justice more than do country that dis
owns it more than fame and wealth more
Heaven pardon me if wrong) more than
happy home. have never been upon bat
tie field but 0, my countrymen, could yor
all but see the reality or effects of this hor
rid war, as have seen them in every Stdtt
(save Virginia. | know you would think
like me, and would pray the Almighty tt
create in the Northern mind sense Of righ
and justice (even should it possess no sea
soning of mercy, } and that He would dry vi
this sea of blood between US, which is daily
growing wider. Alas poor country, is sh'
to meet her threatened doom7 Four years
ago, | would have given thousand lives tt
see her remain (as had always known her
powerful and unbroken. And even now
would hold my life as nought, TO see be
what she was. o my friends, if the fearful
scenes of the past four years had never beer
enacted, or if what has been had been but
frightful dream, from which we could nov
awake, with what overfowing hearts coul'
we bless our God and pray for his continua
favor How have loved the old flag cal
never now be known. A few years since ant
the entire world could boast of none so pur
and spotless. But have Of late been seein;
and hearing Of the bloody deeds of whiel
she h1s been made the emblem, and woul'
shudder to think how changed she has grow
o how have longed to see her break frou
the mist Of blood and death that circle
round her folds, spelling he: beauty and tar,
nishing her her honor. But no, day by da.
has she been dragged deeper and deeper int
cruelty and oppression, till now (in my eyes
her once bright red stripes look like blood
| qashes on the face of Heaven. look nov
upon my early admiration OF her glories as
dream. My love as things stand to day,
for the South alone. Nor do | deem it
dshonor in attempting to make for her
prisoner of this man, to whom she owes s.
much of misery. If success attends me, g
penniless to her side. They say she ha
found that "last ditch" which The Mort
have so long derided, and been endeavorin
to force her in, forgetting they are ou
brothers, and that it's imPolitic to goad a
enemy to madness. Should I reach her i
safety and find it true, will proudly be
permission to triumph or die in that sam
"ditch'. by her side.
| AConfederate doing duty on his opn re
sponsibility. J.WILKEs BoorH.