The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-05-03

NC oIteu, lu Uut Iu PS'i0oS0j S"'oeN A'S
slowuess, and afterwards confessed that
be was fast enough. Some Of US blamed
his conservatism, aud, anon, admitted
that that too was right. Slavery, the
great monster evil and the soul Of the
rebellion, was not suddenly nor rashly
assailed. Had Lincoln struck the blow
when Fremont wished to do so, be would
have wrecked the Union, but left the
monster alive. Slowly and painfully
the war was doing the work. The FIRE
which slavery bad kiudled to destroy
the government was slowly but surely
consuming it. Thus Lincoln with sa.'
gacity beyond that Of mere statesman
saw, and patiently bided bis time.
At length tho hour came, and the
bolt which struck tho fctters from the
limbs Of milions. sped.. i. VA. 5000
enough, for it shook the country to its
foundation. It was not too soon for it
was a grand success. Men thought un.
til that moment that the country was
in advance Of tho President; but it re-
quired weeks and months for majority
ofthe people to como up with him.
The war, terrible and sanguinary,
went on. Half-hearted or falso.heartcd
leaders were dismissed, and better men
put in their places. Decisive victories
began to crown the atms,of tho Union,
and people began to feel that it they
would save the nation they must utterly
abolish that abominable thing which had
occasioned all our trouble.
In June, 1864, the friends Of Free.
dom and the Union met in Convention
in Baltimore, and not only reuomiuated
Abraham Lincoln, but resolved to abol.
ish slavery totally and at once By con.
s,itutional amendment. From that mo-.
ment Heaven blessed our arms with sig.
nal successes. In November following
the people ratified that great resolve BY
the election Of Mr.. Lincoln to second
time. Thenceforward our armies march.
cd from victory to victory without sim
gle reverse, until Sherman had made
bis triumphant aud unopposed march
through Georgia and both the CarolinasY
and then Richmond fell and Lee sur,
rendered to the indomitablc Grant.
with His blessing success is Ger.
tain" said our lamented President when
he entered upon his great mission aud
his eye grew not dim, nor vas his ma
tural force abated, until he saw the full
6lment of his prediction. Like Moses,
he had his work to do, and he did it
gloriously, exhibiting throughout all his
labors and trials, meek, humble, gentle
ye. heroic spirit. Like Moses, he led
his people as far as God intended that
he should lead them. Each saw his
people victorious nsd safe; to each il
was given to see the dawn Of gloriou:
future but to neither was i, given to dc
all the work that was to be done. T,
Moses it was given to bless his people
before he departed, saying, The eter'
nal God is thy refuge, and underneath
arc the everlasting arms; and be shall
thrust out the enemy from before thee ;
and shall say, Destroy him. Israel then
shall dreN in SAFETY alone; the fountain
Of Jacob shall be upon land Of corn
and wine, also his heavens shall drop
down dew. Happy art thou, o Israel ;
who is like unto thee, . people saved By
the Lord, the shield Of thy help, and
who is the sword of thy exceIlency ! and
thine enemies shall be found liurs unto
thee; and thou shalt tread upon their
high places.' Moses uttered these
words in his hour Of triumph and then
was called to give place to uuothcr-not
to better man, but to one better ndap,-
ed to the stern work yet unaccomplished.
His mission was filing; he had finished
the work that vss given him to do, and
for which be was so cminently fitted
Another kind Of work, requiring other
and different qualifications, DOW lay be-
fore the nation. Have wc not here a
key to unlock the strange and myste'i'
GUS Providence which hus just occurred
and thrown our nation into tears2 The
great mission Of Abraham Lincoln has
been fully and gloriously accomplished.