Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-18
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND.
MENT.

The public have been informed, through
the ordinary sources Of intelligence, that the
sufficient number of all the States of the
Union have ratified this important measure
Every day We may expect, in accordance
with legislative provisions, the official an
nouncement of the Secretary of State of
its being q part of the fundamental law
Of the land. Then, and not till then,
will the abolition of the mighty woe and
wrong of slavery be placed beyond the posi-
bility Of question or change.
Great events are seldom, If ever, recog-
mixed to their full merit and extent at the
period Of their occurrence. The pilgrim
after buHsting the tempest and trials of the
ocean, gathering in the attitude of prayer
about the cherries rock which has since been
made memorable, regarded his efforts and
example in far different light from that in
which his descendant now estimates it. The
one looked upon it as a limited struggle in
behalf of his individual release from n Gov
ernmsnt which restrained his civil and reli-
gious liberty. The other sees in it the found
alton Of institutions which have become con.
tinental in their proportions and united in
their career.
The difference between the not over ardent
hopes Of a ship-load of Puritans and the re.
allied growth and grandeur Of thirty millioni
Of Americans, with an empire for their home
Is the difference which time makes in the ex
perienoe of men. Death throws the mantle
of charity over their faults, leaving to mem
ory and review only the virtues and worth
Of the individual. So the lapse of time bu
ries the inoongruities and uncertainties, rear,
ing above them, for the admiration of ali
the success and exploits of human events
To us our late unparalleled war, with
its hecatombs of slaughter, its defeats and
desolation, its vast expenditures and its de.
vsloped resources beyond the dreams of pos.
sibility, was part of the common life of the
people, and the terrible tragedy of civil
strife was accepted as 4 necessity, and dis
aster and triumph alike were met with al
most equal stoicism. But our children will
see in its marches, strategies, and conquests
military renown which the world has never
rivalled; and in the heroic daring and per.
ssnal feats Of its chieftains deeds of prowess
which have never been surpassed.
When the sublime action of the American
people in giving validity to the emancipation
Of an entire race shall be HISTORICALLY dis
cussed, 1t will stand out with more promi
nence and loftiness than the present can Civ,
to it. Then, it will be heralded as the
crowning feature Of civilization, and go dOwI
to posterity as the proudest tribute Of Chris
tian legislation to mankind. We know nov
only that the American is the first race that
went into the fierce conflict of war for prin,
oiPle, making the land theatre of calamity,
Of death, not for their own but the rights Of
. dsspised and hated people. We know also,
that We came out Of our Red Sea with every
being on our soil unclaimed, washing away
with the tears Of the living and the life blood
Of the slain the infAmy of slavery. The in,
cAlealAble blessings which shall accrue to US,
and tho destiny 1t opens to the redeemed
bondmsn can be known only TO those who shall
come Sfterus When We remember that Ave
ysaEs ago the man did not live who could fur.
nish . solution Of this intricate problemj that