Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-08-01
For the Democrat and Star.
The Death of Liberty.


The Death of Liberty.
Taking my MONDAY rest, picked up the
DEMOCRAT AND STAR and commenced read
ing the very excellent and comprehensive
little speech delivered by the editor on the
fourth of July, to the ''Walls Cases and
Chairs | read until l came to the SEN
tence: ''They have murdered liberty. .
When my eyes grew heavy and half sleeping,
half waking, / dreamed
A beautiful woman stood.before me. Her
form was tall and majestic. Her dark eye
was as piercing as the eagles. Her brow
was noble, and her forehead broad and intel
lectual. Her skin was of that roseate hue
so peculiar to the pure Caucasian. She was
robed in tri-colored silk, with thirteen broad
stripes, alternating with red, white and blue
About her neck was a string of thirty-thnee
star-lke pearls Each one had a color pecu-
liar to itself Yet the rays of all blended
together in indescribable beauty and threw
around her form perfect halo of glory On
the golden clasp, that fastened them together
on her throat, was the word ''UNIoN.
In her left hand she held a map and a
scroll the map was open, and | saw the
outlines of many States; and Wondered at
the curious manner the lines mingled togeth-
er, till | looked at the top of>the map, and
Tau. LllDtNTtDUS CHuM- Jn the 1lEnI
side of the map | read ga map of the
ocean-bound Republic. An independent
Nation of Independent States, blended In
one glorious harmony, prosperous and free. f"
The scroll was closed, but on the outside |
read; '"The Constitution and the Laws, the
Nation s guide, the pledge Of the States
Independence, and the citizens guarantee
"a liberty" In her right hand she held
wand, and from the eminence on which she
stood, her eagle eye seemed to take in wide
range Of country. She did not look in any
one direction any length of time, but with
Eternal Vigilance" watched over the whole
l noticed, too, that whenever she stretched
out her arm and waved her wand '"deserts
blossomed like the rose, forests became
fruitful fields, and cities and towns sprang
up in every direction. | stood looking at her
with wondering admiration, when a voice Of
dulcimer sweetness asked: 'Do you not
know me? Your infancy was rocked in my
cradle. Your mother lulled you to child
hoods slumber, with songs resounding my
noble deeds. And in manhood your heart
has often throbbed with delight, while con-
templatiDg my glorious achievements She
lifted small, jaunty cap from her head, and
there flashed out in letters of golden light,
the name, LIBERTY. / bowed my head with
reverence. / bent my knee in submission,
and lifted up my heart to God in heartfelt
gratitude, that He had given to earth so fair
a being, and to man SO good blessing.
| was aroused from my devotions by the
sound of multitude of voices. | looked
and 10 crowd was gathering from every
part of the vast area. They seemed in utter
confusion. Man with man toilng, and
brother with brother fighting, until the
whole country seemed one vast battlefield.
Especially on one side | could hear the
shouts of contending hosts, and see the dead
and dying strew the ground. But my atten-
ton was more particularly directed to group
of venerable looking men, who seemed di-
rectly approaching to where Liberty stood.
They were headed by tall, gaunt, bony
looking man, and they all seemed to have
portfolios, or rolls of manuscripts, so COM
pletely stuffed, that their contents could not
be hid. | could read, 'War, Abolition,
Proclamations, Con6scation, Sub
jugation, Freedmen,s Bureau, &c, on the
edges of the crowded leaves. They drew
near the Goddess and asked ''Who are
you?" She pointed to the title on her brow.
You are just the one we were seeking. +"
"What can [ do for your honors?" she ask
ed. Get out of our way, was the reply
She pointed to the necklace of pearls they
tore it from her neck, and broke it in two
She pointed to the map; they obliterated
the boundaries, and drew a bloody streak
around the whole She pointed to the Con
stitution and the laws" they snatched it
from her hand, and trampled it under their
feet, calling it an agreement with death,
and covenant with hell. F" They rent her
robe TO pieces, declaring it Haunting lie
and hates polluted rag" They wounded
her in many places, until she Law stretched
upon the ground, weltering in her gore, and
groaning in the last agonies of a painful
death.
/ had sprang forward to assist her, but my
arm was ruthlessly seized by man in blue
uniform, and bayonet placed at my breast
| noticed that others made ike efforts and
were served in like manner Having ac-
complished their object, they moved on, sig
nalizing the others to follow We were re-
leased, and the war seemed at an end. Quiet
reigned throughout the country. / ap-
preached to where Liberty lay, and to my
great joy found there was warmth in the
heart and life in the body Others Of her
friends came forward and we chafed her
temples, bathed her limbs, and applied re-
stOratives. She revived, opened her eyes,
and smiled gratefully upon US for our efforts.
She soon arose, stood upon her feet and
sand: My friends, be encouraged. This Is
my destiny. Truth crushed to earth will
rise again, and Liberty born in a nation can
never die, so long as there are hearts throb-
bing with love for her. am now weak, but
| shall gather strength My necklace shall
be restored and the circle of pearls enlarged
the Constitution is crumpled and soiled, but
not obliterated; it shall still be guide to the
nation My ghastly wounds will heal up, but
the SCARS will be an eternal reproach to the
wretches who SO basely attempted to murder
Liberty. RAVEN.
WHEN Baltimore lady is kissed, shesays
she feels as though she had been taking chlo-