Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-09-16
Eventful, Mighty, Glorious.

The battle of Bull Run was fought the 2lst
day of July, lS6l-a little more than four years
ago. Up to that time, the bare suggestion that
the Southern rebellion would probably result ia
the overthrow Of slavery, would have been gen
orally rebuked imperiling the Union cause.
rom the black hour wherein the real result of
that battle overspread the North like pail, we
are only separated by four years in time. Yet
what an age, an experience. separates July,
1861, from our July, 1868 Through what abys-
of despair, over what craggy mOuntain-tops
of effort and endeavor, has Divine Goodness con-
Quoted US from that day to this
Four years ago, slavery omnipotent in the
larger half of our country, including four of the
predominantly loyal States. Its spirit peryaded
our legislation, our Jurisprudence, our policy.
To call a man an AbolitioniSt was to expose him
to outrage, robbery and death As for genera
tions previously, it still accounted more
heinons in fifteen States to oppose slavery than
to commit any felony short of murder. No man
who wrote for anti-Slavery Journal being
known doing so, could have traversed those
States unassaed or emerged from them alive.
Right and wrong had there completely changed
places, so that the man-stealer, the trafhcker in
the bodies and sinews of women and children.
was caressed and counted honorable, while the
reprover of his crime treated felon and
an outlaw. Law befriended the huntsman who
with savage dogs chased innocent persons thro'
woods and swamps, which lacerated their feet
and limbs and bodies they vainly sought ref
uge from him who claimed right to their earn
ings and their unpaid efforts law snatched the
child from its parents and gave 1t forever to the
negro-trader law was the side of the lewd,
coarse rufiianly ravisher, and frowned on his
struggling, shrieking victim, as a revolter against
legitimate authority. By law, women and girls
openly sold at auction for the vilest uses,
subject to brutal inspection and obscene criti-
ciSm, to which keener sting was added by the
presumption that it heard with Indifference
if not with pleasure by its sutiect. By law the
purchaser of another's wife and daughter might
do with her as lie would, so that he did not teach
her to read.
erentful. mighty, glorious four years, which
through tribulation and anguish, through sacri-
flee and suffering, have swept broad land
clear of human shackles. and transformed four
millions of chattelS into freemen ! In all the
rice-Swamps. the turpeniine forests. the cotton
fields. the canc-bottoms, there is not to-day one
human being legally, and not many actually
held in lifelong, law-sanctioned bondage. For
the first time in all history, the anniversary
celebration of our national independence has not
been marred by the moan Of a slave
FIRST Glass GENUS. Harry Parker of the
Bank Exchange, is sardine, everybody
knows. and not behind the rest of mankind in
his love of a Joke at another's expense. while he
possesses the admirable virtue of being able to
laugh heartily at one upon himself. The other
day soldier man. clad in the habimcnts Of
war, came into the TX hange at an early hour
and walking up to the counter with q confident
air. called for brandy cocktail, - and. look
here, my gay young troubador put little cham
pagne in it, to give it a flavor, said the man in
blue. with the air of one who knows what is
what. and is up to all the tricks Of the trade
Harry felt his respect for the noble representative
of Uncle Samuel service rise almost to admra-
ton, and he literally threw himself = grand
combination OF attractions which would have
been cheap az fifty cents OF any mans money.
The soldier drank i'll silence and smiled approx
ingly, then sitting down the glass moved back a
step o. two and said. = It's all right, M boy I
haven got the money with ne, but am stop
ping lust up here q lttlc WAYS and will step in
and pay it as go by" Now. look here, " said
Harry his feelings undergoing sudden change.
= this is way do business If you had no
money and wanted drink. you should have said
so in the first place" The soldier looked AZ him
with a curious expression of couutenGnce. and
replied = Well, yOu see | shonH have done so,
but when came in here yesterday morning and
told your other man just that very thing. Ac
,coaldnt girs me drink At dfl and / ain I aqoia2
to be imposed upon trice IN NE house .f' lar-
rvs feelings underwent another sudden change
leaning over the counter with bow and wave of
the hand. which would have broken the heart OF
the finest gentleman in Europe with sheer
envy. he freed his mind rs follows - That will
do. old fellow that will do You don't owe
me a red cent Allow ne to wish you very
good morning. Call again when You come this
way" Exit boy in blue, smiling and happy
i2ta. Sept IN.