Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-01-19

ments as there are States, each claiming
Sovereignty and independence as to all tn,
others When the war was begnn. there
fore. there was bnt one of two things fol
the Government to do, either to suppres.
the rebellion anh assert its integrity as
Nation. or to abdicate its authority ard
confess itself without right to enforce its
DEGREES and perpetuate its existence, by
coneeding the want Of national unity anil
the right of recession 1t must be admitted
hat between these two there was no mid
die ground. and the Government was forced
at once to q choice between national life
and national death, the life only to be
preserved by the total suppression Of the
rebellion that meIaced it. Between these
contending theories there could, in the ma
tire OF the case be no compromise. as they
were utterly antagoni,tic and irreconciIa.
bile. The rebellion was begun ucon an al
legged right upon which it must stan or
fall. and was resisted bv the Government
upon the ground ;hat its own life could
not be preserved, il the existence of Thu.
right were in any manner or TO any extent
conceded.
1t is hardly worth while to consider
what would be our condition ir this rebel
lion were successful. The most th"ught-
less or stupid mind cannot TAIL to perceive
that the several States, fragments OF once
happy and powerful republic. could not
live together IN prosperity and peace bat
that war following upon war. anarchy anI
the destruction of personal liberty, wonlI
inevitably result, to be succeeded by the
night OF de>potism. brrying in utter dark
ness the fair hopes and glorious prospects
which once illuminated our national hori-
zon. Whatever j, may cost usto preserve
the Union. we may he assured it will cost
us every thug to lose il. A refusal to pros
ecute the war because it Is expensive.
wonld not be unlike the case of man who
should resolve to die because the employ
ment Of physician would embarrass his
financial affairs. Nor would it hc less alb
surd to refuse 10 sustain the Govern
ment and prosecute the war. upon the p,e-
tence that by so doing constitutional rights
and personal liberty would be endangered.
when we know full well that il tine rebel
lion succeeds. civil and religious Liberty
AMI constitutional rights. of whatever Kind
will be overwhelmed in one common
ruin.
Let us hope thai human slavery. which
has ever been the source of national dis
sensions aud heart buInings; which from
the beginning has ariaye,l our people into
classes. a7d fretted them into mutual la
ireds; and for the preservation and pros
p"rity of which it has solcmnly avowel
that this mighty war and most bloody re-
bellion were begun and are prosecuted; has
received its mortal wound. and will soon
he consigned TO the common grave of
loathsome tyrannics. from which there is
no resurrection. Should the Congress &C
the United States pass joint resolution
to prohibit slavery. or involuntary servi
tnde throughout the United States. | do
most earnestly hope that the people OF the
several States will hasten TO give it their
solemn sanction. so that it may pass into
our fundamental law and go ont to all the
world. that our country is in fact. as IN
name. 1.-THE land of the Free" as well a.
',the home of the brave"
.. p. MORTON.