The loyal Georgian., 1866-10-13

public declarations have been constantly
called forth on every point and phase of
the great contest which still absorbs the
attention and engrosses the energies of
the nation, lisae that is new could be
presented,
TIE progress of our arms, upon which
all else chiefly depends, is as well known
to the public as to myself, ard it is, [
trust, reasonably satisfactory and encour>
aging to all With high hqpe for the
future, no prediction in regard to it is
ventured
On the occasion corresponding to this
four years ago, all thoughts were anxious
" directed to an impending civil war.
All dreaded it; all sought to avoid it
While the inaugural address was being
delivered from this place, devoted alto
gether to saving the Union without war,
insurgent agents were in the city seeking
to destroy it without war, scaiting to dis
solve the Union and divide he effects,
by negotiation.
Both parties deprecated var, but one
Of them would make war rather than let
the nation survive, and the other would
accept war rather than let it perish, and
the war came.
One eighth of the whole population
were colored slaves not distributed gene
rally over the Union, but loca lied in the
Southern part Of it. These Flaves con-
stituted peculiar and powerful interest.
All knew that this interest was somehow
the cause of the war. To strengthen,
perpetuate, and extend this interest was
the object for which the insurgents would
rend the Union by war, while the govern
meat claimed no right to do more than
to restrict the territorial enla cement of
it.
Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or the duration which it has
already attained. Neither anticipated
that the cause of the conflict might cease
even before the conflict itself should cease.
Each looked Tor an easier triumph and a
result less fundamental and astounding,
Both read the same Bible and pray to
the same God, and each invoices his aid
against the other. 1t may seem strange
that any men should dare ask a Just Gods
assistance in wringing their bread from
the sweat of other mems faces; but let
us Judge not, that we be not judged The
prayer of both should not be answered.
That of neither has been answered fully.
The Almighty has his own purposes.
Woe unto the world because of offences,
for it must needs be that offences come /;
but woe to that man by whom the offence
cometh. If we shall suppose that
American slavery is one of these offences
which in the providence Of God must
needs come, but which, having continued
through his appointed time, he now wills
to remove, and that he gives to both
North and South this terrible war as the
woe due to those by whom the offence
came, shall we discern there is any de-
parture from those divine attributes
which the believers in living God al
ways ascrible to him? Fondly do we
hope, fervently do we pray that this
mighty scourge of war may speedily pass
:, away. Yet if God wills that it continue
\ until all the wealth piled by the bond
mans two hundred and fifty years Of
unrequited toll shall be sunk, and until
every drop of blood drawn with the lash
shall be paid by another drawn with the
sword, as was said three thousand years
ago, so still it must be said, that the
judgments of tie Lord are true and right
eous altogether.
With malice towards none, with charity
for all, with frmuess in the right as God
gives us to see the right, let US strive on
: to finish the work we are in, to bind UP
: the nations wound, to care for him who
shall have borne the battle aud for his
widow and his orphans, to do all which
may achieve and cherish a just aud a