Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-03
nations, the object of the war was declared

tnce OF tne CnlOu anu the preservation OF
the Constitution, whose Integrity was
threatened, as was declared, by causeless
rebellion against both. For this, and this
alone. the government solemnly pledging
itself before the world, when the armies,
thinned by battle and exhausted by sick
ness and volunteering slackened from
various causes, invoked the absolute power
of consumption. For this the father gave
TO his country his son, the pride of his
house; and the mother her hoy, the stay
of her declining years. For this, all
ranks, sexes and conditions toiled and suf
fered, and as the telegraph, with lightning
speed. brought tidings of victory, they
rendered thanks to God that he would
preserve the Union and the Constitution of
our fathers.
Ihave said these pledges are of record.
They are found in the most solemn form of
state papers. proclamations and statutes,
formally proclaimed or enacted, in their
appropriate places in the archives and laws
OF the country. They cannot be obliter-
ated, but must be handed down from age
to age as the living, speaking evidences OF
the motives. objects and pledges of those
who embodied and represented the public
sentiment of the nation, whereby they JUS
titled themselves before the world as
waging just war for the maintenance of
the Government and the preservation of
me Constitution. 1t was only on such
grounds that the war could be justified
As war of conquest or suhjugation, his
tory would furnish no instance more un-
holy or unjustifable, and 1t could not have
been prosecuted on such grounds. Instead
of volunteers hocking to the ranks to sus-
tain the integrity of the Union and the
honor of the flag, not all the coDscriptions
or bounties that could have been resorted
to would have filled the armies, If it had
been declared the object was to impose the
A1<o lf nn q axT kIA
Union, or for the qualification of malice
or revenge And If there be any who
were actuated by such spirit, whether in
or out of the army, envy not their feel
ings even now. And when they shall be
called to that final account, from which
none shall escape, when the most secret
interests of the heart shall be brought to
light what shall be their defence, and what
the response? These were not the mo-
tives of the brave and gallant soldiers,
who believed that with the suppression of
the rebellion would come the restoration
of the Union. under the mild and peaceful
sway OF the Constitution and the laws over
the length aud breadth of the land; and
who, holding up the Constitution as their
shield and buckler, appealed to the God
OF Battles and he granted them the vic
tory. Let me present a single instance,
out of many, to be found in the laws of the
United States. The year 1861, although
productive of marked events, had passed
away without materially deciding the for
tunes of the war one way or the other.
Although the Union armies had been vic
torious at many points, yet there were vic-
tories on both sides. The year 1852 was
nearly equally balanced in this regard. On
the one hand, the successes before New Or
leans were counterbalanced by the with
drawal of McClellan's army from before
Richmond. Then followed the terrible
disaster of the second Bull Run, un-
der Gen. Pope, only compensated by the
bloody field of Antietam, when Mcclellan
restored again the fortunes of the war and
drove Lee from the soil of Maryland, pur-
suing him into Virginia and about bring
ing him to battle again when he was SO
summarily and unaccountably relieved
from command and succeeded by General
Burnside. In December Burnside sustain
ed a severe defeat before Fredericksburg,
and was relieved in January by the ap-
pointment Of Hooker. Congress was then
in session. 1t was dets rmined to resort to
q conscription law to fill the armies thus
dealeted, and which was accordingly pass
ed by Congress and approved by President
Lincoln on the 81 March, 1868 So i'm
portant was this measure considered, and
So critical the condition of the country, |
that Congress deemed it necessary to pre- |
fix to the act a preamble showing the me-
cessity, purpose. &C., of the enactment OF
SO extraordinary measure, as follows:
WHEREAS, There now exist in the Uni |
ted States an insurrection and rebellion
against the authority thereof, and it Is, un-
der the Constitution of the United States,
the duty of the Government to suppress
and rebellion, to guarantee to
each State a republican form of govern
ment and to preserve the public tranquil
lty; aud, whereas. for these high purposes
q military force is Indispensable to raise and
support which all persons ought willingly
to contribute; and, whereas, no service
can be more honorable than that which is
for the maintenance of the Constitu
lion and Union, and tile consequent preser-
patton of free gouerament I; therefore, be it
&c. With these solemn declara-
ions, in the very FORE front of the statute,
rs the apology for its enactment, Congress
proceeded to devote the life of every citi-
zen of the country, subject to military
dHty, to the lottery of the fatal wheel; and
by it thousands were forcibly taken from
battle. And other thousands, inspired
with renewed patriotism. responded to the
calls for volunteers and again filled the
ranks of the decimated armies. Once more
the country rallied to the support of the
and 1.-THE maintenance of the
Constitution and the Union"
In the month of June the President de-
manded draft of 100000 more men; in
October 300, 600 more; in February follow
ing 100000 more; In July 100000; and in
December 100000 more-all under this SOL
emn pledge, standing on the statute book
and where it stands to this
day. And so the war went on. The de-
ieat of Hooker at Charlottesville was sue
seeded by the crushing defeat of
Lee at Gettysburgh, the very turn
ing point of the rebellion !; while the cap
lure of Vicksburg by the Union forces was
quickly followed by the disaster at Ghicka-
record of events, Indicating, however, the
waning strength of the Confederates and
he concentration of the Union armies
ior O final struggle, the result of
which but few could doubt. Grant
with his immensely pre-
forces enveloped the rebel ar
mics and approximated to Richmond,
\ hile Lee contested, every inch of ground,
Is he retired before the advancing hosts.
The battles of the Wilderness were attend
ID with immense sacrifices of fife, on our
part though without decisive results, but
still indicating the inequality of the con-
test Lee was endeavoring to protract. and
the inevitable ultimate result. Meanwhile
Sherman, cutting loose from all support.
by orders, with full carte blanche
and Forward for his war cry, struck out
q march for the sea; and after series of
brilliant achievements. he turned his VIC
torious army to the northward. to effect a
junction with Grant before Richmond and
thus close the circle from which there
could be no escape. Grant, with his pow
erful armies, was advancing from the
North, the East and the West, and Sher-
man with his legions. fresh from their vic
torious march from the South. Now the
final hour had come. To all human ap-
pearance, the fate of the Confederacy was
sealed all hope gone irretrievably-yet
history affords instances of vict ,ries at
bained under less favorable prospects,
when nations and armies had become re-