Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-12

/ TO be apologlzed for, and put away at
the earliest practicable time, our na-
ton, not only grew in population and
wealth, and material force, but in COM
pactness of union and frateT i rela-
tionship. When, by the invention of
the cotton gin, it became a source of
immense profit, and was found to be
susceptible of application as an element
of political power, and for these and
other reasons was accepted as a perma-
nent institution, and defendedas ajust
one, it became an element Of division,
discord, and weakness. Now, accept
ing Mr.. Jefferson's idea of slavery as
the teaching of nature and of reyela-
/ ton, that every attribute of Jehovah
was against it, and that it was an obsta-
Gle in the way of His purposes concern
ing our people, hold that the way
and means of its removal furnish most
striking illustrations of a benefcent
divine agency, that, overriding all plans
of leaders and parties, confounding the
wisdom of the wise, and bringing to
naught the counsels of the prudent,
has effectually broken every yoke and
let the oppressed 90 free-that has not
only done this, but at the same time
given increased power to the govern
ment at home and abroad given the
death blow to theories of wickedness
and folly, and put us in the way of
future of union and success, that ten
years ago could not have been imagined
by the most hopeful visionary among
US. In the whole Work-from the be-
ginning of the struggle until the pres
ent time-there is such a visible mani
festatioD of superhuman rule, that
every deVout mind must admIringly ex.
claim-"what hath God wrought" !"
Let me condense, as well as l can in
a few sentences, some of the evidences
of this super-human control. No par
ty desired or expected the war, especi-
aly such a war as occurred. South
ern men supposed, and with rea-
son, that they had position, and
power, to secure all their demands by
a simple unmasking of their batteries
with, at most, only a show of resistance.
They did not anticipate war, and made
sport of all proposals, or means, for
suppressing the revolt. They had
put out the eyes and strongly bound
the Sampson of the North, and looked
on all his efforts to break his fetters,
with expressions of delight. Mr.. JEFF
ferson Davis is said to have declared
he would hold all the blood that would
be shed in the hollow of his hand
Nor were Northern men, or the new
administration, possessed Of any clearer
idea of the character of the impending
struggle. Mr.. Lincoln, and his prime
minister were both confident of a
peaceful solution of all difficulties
Mr.. Stewards 60 and 80 days predic-
tions have come to be among the pleas
antries of political controversy. Even
as late as the surrender of fort Sump-
ter, rs, 900 men, and a three months
campaign, were supposed to be amply
sufficient to settle the whole difficulty.
! Neither party. if at all understanding
: the nature and extent of the strug-
gle, would have undertaken it. The
eyes of all parties were holden that
they could not see; political, prophets
i were "mutterers and mummers" whose
credit survives because all now feel
that they partook of only a universal
blindness. The inauguration of the
war was not of mans planning,
but in spite of all human skill and de
vice to prevent its occurrence. Men
were not ready for it, did not wish
it; would have sacrificed almost any
thing to postpone it, even but eveHtl
were ripe for it, necessity -iaaPeLLsd it,
Gods purposes required 1t, and 1t came.
And every stage of the contest illus
. aI0a sill
on both sides, was continually baftled,
the plans formed, the officers selected,
the policy deliberately adopted, were
constantly changing, not from tickle
ness, but from an impeTious necessity
that admitted no other alternative
Defeats were really successes in many
Instances from defects they revealed,
and elements of power they evoked.
and victories were disasters, from the
vain confidence they excited What
a multitude of military leaders were
tried with great faith and found want
ing. The administration and the peo-
pie put up many of them as idols to
worship, with assurance of success,
and the stern iconoclasm of events
broke them in pieces as fast as made.
The shore of our sea of troubles was
Uttered with the wrecks of military
reputation. Only as eUeHts formed our
plans and raised up leaders-in other
words, only as God governed IN the
case were our plans found TO be wise,
our leaders competent.
The compulsory change Of policy in
the government on the slavery ques-
ton, l take to be astriking Illustration
of Gods agency in the struggle
Though the war was inaugurated in
in the interest of slavery, and for the
Strengthening of it, yet the govern
ment declared, and l have no doubt
in perfect good faith, that it had no
purpose directly or indirectly to seek
its destruction. At first, and for two
years, the Federal force was serupu-
lously restrained from all interference.
Our commanders not only disayowed
any purpose of Intervention adversely
against the masters, but rendered to
the rebels their aid to suppress any in
surrection. Fremont,s proclamation
was promptly disavowed, and Hunters
revoked, and Gen. Phelps was dis
missed for acts hostile to the institu-
ton. And the change Of policy when
it came, was more the dictate of NOR
al and religious sentiment in a single
man, than from outward evidence of
its necessity. That by religious VOW
such as Mr.. Carpenter represents Mr..
Lincoln 10 have made, he should have
felt compelled to issue his Emancipa-
ton Proclamation, when considered in
relation to the character Of the act, and
the consequences now seen, is another
evidence of Gods Sovereignty IN the
benefcent results of the contest.
And the change in public sentiment
is as great a marvel as any ofthe series.
The revolution at the North is over
whelming, and promises to be perma-
nent and if time allowed, it could be
shown that change not less encour-
aging has taken place at the South
All parties admit that slavery is des-
troyed, and are more or less adapting
themselves to the situation. Even
Gov. Wise has discovered that slavery
was great wickedness, and avowed
his conviction that the defeat and suf-
fering at the South, are Gods .judg-
ment upon them for it.
Revolutions do not go backward.
Believing most devoutly that God has