The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-03-30


dress to the people of the south, short
time previous to- its adjournment, of which
the subjoined is an extract:
In the revolution of '''76" our armies
and our people suffered far more than we
have done Our cities were then almost
all in the hands Of the British. and We
were entirely cut off from all supplies from
abroad, while our facilities for producing
them were infinitely less than they now
are. Green tells US that the battle Of
Eutaw was won by men who had scarcely
shoes to their feet or shirts to their backs.
They protected their shoulders from being
CALLED by the bands Of their cross belts by
punches Of moss and TUFTS OF grass. =
detachment marching to Greene's assist
ance passed through a region 50 swept by
both armies that they were compelled to
subsist on green peaches az their only
diet There was scarcely any salt for
fifteen months, ard when obtained it had
to be used sparingly, mixed with hick Try
ashes. We need but TO allude to the ter
rblo winter which Washington passed at
Valley Forge. with an army unpaid, half
starved and half naked and shoeless, to
convince us that much as our brave sol
diers are now enduring. their forefathcrs
for like cause endured far more.
Washington did not then desnair. lee
does not now despair of the faal triumnh
of a righteous cause. Why should We be
doubtful, much less desPopdcnt of our
ultimate success
1ae extent o. our territory, tie food
Producing capacity of our soil. the amount
and character of cur population, are ele-
ments OF strength which, carefully hus-
banded aud wisely employed, are amply
sufficient to insure our final triumph The
passage Of hostile armies through our
country, though productive Of cruel suf-
tering to our people, ana great pecuniary
loss. gives the enemy 10 permanent advan-
tagc or foothold. To subiugate a country,
It's civil government must tie suppressed
by a continuing military force or supplant-
ed by another, to which the inhabitants
yield a voluntary and forced obedience.
The passage of hostile armies through cur
territory cannot produce this result Per
manent garrisons would have TO be sta
toned at sufficient number of points 20
strangle' all civil government before il
could he pretended, even b. the United
States government itself, that its authority
was ATTENDED over these states How
many garrisons would it require? How
many hundred thousand soldiers would
suffice to suppress the civil government of
all the states OF the cOnfederacv, and 70
establish over them, even in name and
form. the authority Of the United States
In geographical point OF view, therefore
il may be assorted that the CONQUEST Of
these Confederate States is impracticable
Success gives US country anu proud
position among the nations Of the earth.
Failure makes us the vassals Of an AFRO.
CANT people, secretly if not openly, hated
by the most enlightened aud elevated Dor
tons Of mankind Success records us
forever in letters Of light upon one of the
most glorious pages of history. Failure
will compel rs TO drink the cup Of hunnil-
lation even to the bitter dregs Of having
the history OF our struggle written By
New England historians Success Is
within our reach We have tolled and
painted onward nearly to the goal. We
have almost grasped the costly price of
independence-neyer won except through
anguish and blood. The crown stands
ready to encircle the fair brow Of our
young republic. The shades of our mar
tyred heroes hover over W. and beckon us
on. The fearful entrcaties of our mothers.
wives and daughters to seye them from
! namt'es@ s.Jriors urge us forward Will
we pause? Can We faltcr? Will we al
low the weapons which the god of battles
has so often directed to the shifting of the
despoiiers of our homes now to drop from
our neryeless hands Shall we be dis
couraged by the superior number of the
enemy?
: In the invasion of our soil
neither private property nor age, nor sex
has been spared from the rapacity and
brutal passions of their mercenary lesions
Wherever they have passed over the
surface of our fair land, the blackness Of
desolation has marked their path, and
such barbarous desolaticn has been their
deylish boast. Public records have been
destroyed, institutions OF learning. public
and private libraries. pillagcd or burned
and the temples Of God sacriegiously de-
filed.
Fellow countrymcn, will YOU, can you
ever submit TO be ruled dy such people
Can you ever join hands with them in
fraternal union? Can you, with all these
things freshly before you, daily occurring
on your native soil, ever return To politi-
cal union with these dcspoilers Of your
houses-these yiolators OF your wives and
daughters? Never. \ dark crimson stream
divides YOU, which all the skill of ncgo-
tiation can never bridge over. The south
ern people have determined to be free
and independent, aud if their fortitude
and courage do not fail them, it is impos-
sible to doubt the issue.
But there must be no hating. no hesita-
ton, Ill the only path that leads to the
goal We must prove to our enemies,
and prove to the world, that we cannot be
conquered. We must convince them that,
though our soil may be overrun, the faith
of our people in the great cause for which
Al L