The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-12


mot within reach-the part OF It IN Texas, with
all it's stores, was made over by its commander.
to the seeding insurgents. One State alter
another voted in Convention to 70 out of the.
Union. A peace congress, so-called, met at the,
request of Virginia, to concert the terms of q
capitulation for the continuance of the
Union. CONGRESS in both branches sought to
devise conciliatory eNpedients; the Territories
OF the country were organized in a manner
not to conflict with any .preiensions of the
South, or any decision of the Supreme Court:
aud, nevertheless, the seeding States formed at
Montgomery provisional government, and pur-
sued their relentless purpose with such success
that the Lieutenant.General feared the city of
Washington might find itself "included in
foreign country" and proposed among the op-
tions for the consideration os Lincoln to bid the
seeded States depart in peace" The great
Republic seemed to have its emblem In the vast
unfinished Capitol, at that moment surrounded
by masses OF stone and PROSTATE columns never
yet lifted INTO their places; seemingly the monu-
ment OF high but delusive aspirations, the con-
fused wreck of inchoate maOnidcence, sadder
than any ruin of Egyptian Thebes or Athens.
HIS INAUGURATION.
The fourth OF March came. With instructive
wisdom, the new President, speaking to the
people on taking the oath of office put aside
every question that dlvlded the country, and
gained a right to universal support, by planting
himself on the single idea OF Union. That Union
ne declared to be unbroken and perpetual; and
he announced his determination to fulfil "the
simple duty of taking care that the laws be
faithfully executed in ali the States.
Seven days later, the Convention of Con-
iederate States unanimously adopted a Con-
stitution of their own; and the new Government
was authoriatively announced to be founded on
the idea that slavery is the natural and normal
condition of the negro race. The issue was made
up whether the great republic was TO maintain
its pIovidential place in the history OF mankind,
or rebellion founded on negro slavery gam q
recognition of its principle throughout the
civilized world. To the disatfeCted Lincoln had
said:-''You can have no conflict without being
yourselves the aggressors." To tire the passions
of the Southern portion of the people, the Con-
iederate Government chose 10 become aggres-
sors; and on the morning OF the 18th of April
began the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and
compelled its evacuation.
UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE.
II is the glory OF the late President that he had
perfect faith in the perpetulty OF the Union.
Supported i'll advance by Douglas, who spoke as
with the voice OF a million, he Instantly called
meeting of Congress, an0 summoned the people
to come up and repossess the forts, places, and
property which had been seized from the Onion.
The men or the North were trained in schools;
industrious and frugal; many OF them decately
bred, Their minds teemlng with ideas and fertile
in plans Of enterprise; given to the culture of
the arts; eager in the pursuit of wealth, yet en-
ploying wealth less for ostentation than for deve
oping the resources OF their country; seeking
happiness in the calm OF domestic life; and
such lovers of peace that for generations they
had been reputed unwarlike. Now at the Cry of
their country in its distress, they rose up with
unappeasable patriotism; not hlrellngs-the
pious ancestry, with clear perception oil duty,
unclouded faith. and fixed resolve to succeed,
they thronged round the President to support
the wronged, the beautiful flag OF the nation.
The halls OF theological semlnarles sent forth
their young men, whose lips we're touched with
eloquence, whose hearts kindled with devotion
to serve in the ranks, and make their way to
command only as they learned the art OF war.
Striplngs in the colleges, as well as the most
gentle and the most studious; those of sweetest
temper and ovelest character and brightest
NIas,.
The lumbermen sprang forward rom the
forests, the mechanics from their benches,
| where they had been trained by the eX-
| ercise of political rights to share the
| life and hope OF the Republic to feel their
responsibility to their forelathers their posterity,
| and mankind, went forth resolved that their
| dignity as constituent part of this Republic
| should not be impaired. Farmers and sons of
| farmers left the land but half ploughed, the
| Grain but half planted and, taking up the mus
ket, learned to lace without fear the presence of
peril and the coming of death in the shocks of
| war, while their hearts were still attracted to
| the charms of their rural HE and all the tender
affections of home. Whatever there was of
| truth and faith and public love in the common
| heart broke out with one expression The
| mighty winds blew from every quarter to fan
the flame of the sacred and unquenchable fire.
THE WAR WORLDWIDE WAR;
| For time the war was thought to be confined
| to our own domestic affairs; but it was soon
seen that itirvolved the destinies of mankind,
| of Europe to the centre, and from Lisbon to
| Pekin divided the governments of the world.
| GREAT BRITAIN.
There was kingdom whose people had in an
| eminent degree attained to freedom of industry
| and the security of person and property. Its
middle class rose to greatness. Out of that class
sprung the nobest poets and philosophers whose
| words built up the intellect of its people; skill
full navigators, to flnd out the many paths of the
| oceans; discoverers in natural science, whose
| inventions guided It's industry to wealth,
| in letters, and eXcelied all In trade
| and commerce. But its Government was
| become government of land, and not of
| men; every blade of grass was represented, but
| only small minority of the people. In the
| transition from the feudal forms, the heads of
| the social organization freed themselves from
| the military services which we're the conditions
| Of their tenure, and throwing the burden on the
industrial classes, kept all the soil to themselves.
| Vast estates that had been managed by monas-
| teTtes as endowments TOR religion and charity
were appropriated to swell the wealth of cour-
| tiers and favorltes; and the commons, where
| the Pc oor man once had his right of pasture,
| were taken away, and, under forms of law, en-
| closed distributively within their own domains.
| Although no law forbade any inhabtant from
| purchasing land, the costlluess of the transfer
| constituted prohibition; so that it was the rule
| OF that country that the plough should not be in
| the hands OF its owner. The Church was rested
on contradiction, claiming to be an embodi-
| ment OF absolute truth, and yet was creature
| OF the statute-book.
| HER SENTIMENTS.
The progress of time increased the terrible
contrast between wealth ana poverty; in their
| years of strength, the laboIing people, cut off
| from all share in governing the State, derived
scanty support from the severest toll and had