American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-12

It was the turning point of our great
struggle and the death warrant CT the
rebellion itself. And it was just because
they felt and knew it, that it reused
among its ruling spirits all the devhsh
passions that famed out most fercely du-
ring the latter period of the war. 1t
foreshadowed the appearance of the black
man himself, at no distant Gay, with the
harness of the Union on his back, as
combatant in the arena on the side OF
liberty. From that day forward, with
oniy the occasional vicissitudes to which
all wars are subject, the banner of the
Republic, with its new blazonry of Free
dom. never brooded or went backward in
battle. God was on our side. The holi
day generals, great on the parade-the
strategic imbeciles-the half hearted
martinets-who were more solicitous to
protect the chattel, than to punish the
treason of the master, gave place to
race of earnest men, heroes of the Crom-
weilliau type-who felt the inspiration OF
their work and with faith that no re-
verses could shake, and no disaster dis
turb, were ever ready to second or antici-
pate the fiery ardor of their legions, by
giving a full rein to the spirit that had
chaffed and fretted under inglorious res
traint, whether it was to plunge into the
fastnesses of the Rapidan, to scale the
Alpine passes of the Tennessee, or to
sweep with resistless force across the sun
nv plains of Georgia. The rebellion was
al h,l f,1 vfo hot
rushed up with the velocity of a meteor
into the forehead of the sky, and shed
its portentous glare for moment upon
the nations, plunged down again into eter-
nal night, to be remembered hereafter
only as one of those scourges Of hunani-
ty, that are sometimes let loose upon the
earth for high and inscrutable purposes.
But it is not for me to follow the histo-
ry Of this long and bloody struggle thro'
all its varying fortunes to the period OF
its final consummation. That is task
which belongs to the historian. 1t has
some points of interest, however, that are
not unworthy of commemoration. and not
unsuited to the occasion that has brought
US here.
The scene that has just passed before our
vision, was such as has been presented tc
no other generation Of men. Few Of US
have perhaps fully realized the impor
tance IF the part that has been assigned
to us in history The records Of our race
have nothing to offer so grand and impo
sing as this bloody conflict in its magni
tude, its causes, its theatre, end its details
A peaceful nation, schooled only in the
arts of Of quiet industry, entirely unta
miliar with the use of arms, holding
itself aloof from the political complication
of the old world, aud but thinly ditfused
over half continent-lmagining no evil
and fearing none from others-is sudden
ly startled from its repose by the blast oI
the trumpet, and the roll of the MARTA
drum, and summoned to the defense o
its institutions, its liberties, its very life
against wicked conspiracy, organized
in Its own bosom for the purpose OF des
troying it. 1t not only responds to tn
call, but astonishes the world by an ex
hibition of unanimity and zeal, and higl
religious feryor, which have had no ex
ample since the era of the Crusades. Il
utter forgetfulness of itself, of danger
aud of the comforts and endearments G
home, it covers the earth with its livin
tides, as it rushes to the rescue cf tn
object of its love. Over region almos
as wide as the united Kingdoms, of Eu
rope, million of brave hearts are MAJ
shalled in armed array, with implement
Of destruction, such as no age hath seen
Along the Atlantic coast, across the grea
rivers, and the boundless prairies Of tn
mighty West, over the swamps and sa
vannahs of the distant South, throug
forest, brake and wilderness, through
- = -. = --"sg over rugged mountains
anu aiong the cultivated plains that laug
with the abundance with which indpstr
mas covered them-the earth shakes wit
the tread of embattled hosts, while b.
and gulf swarm with innumerable pros,
ana the shores against which the tid OF
TWO oceans break, are belted arountwlth
those levlthans Of the deep, whic bear
our thnnders, and are destined preaiter
10 proclaim our power in the remotest
seas. 1t is the battle of the Ttans, with
htring accessories, with lists scarce less
ample, with enginery as cmplete, and
upon theatre almost as stupendou5, as
that which the genius of Milton has as
signed to the armies of angel odd arch
angel joined in battle for the Supremacy
OF Heaven. The old world, till now ig-
norant of the power thatdad been sleep
lug here, stands amazed at an exhibition
which its united Kingdoms would in vain
essay to match. 1t comprehends at once
the whole significance Of the struggle
1t is the worlds battle--thc same that
has been fought so often with other
watch words, and on other felds-the
old conflict between antagonistic social
forms-between the people and the Kings
between the privileges of caste, and
the Republican idea of equality. 1t feels
that the interests of all its ancient, and
hoary and moss-grown Establishments
its thrones and hierarchies aliko-resting
on the prescription of thousand years,
and buttressed by the still older tradi-
tional idea, that man is unfit to govern
himself, are stacked on the issue of this
contest. 1t sees, or thinks it sees, in
the martial array of the disciplined le-
gions of the Confederacy, inflated with