Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-07-26
BROoKvILLE, IND, FRIDAY, JULY g. 1867.


ment, of further removals; aud last. though
not least, the Treasury was bankrupt, the
Government in debt, and ITS trust funds
stolen by the retiring official in charge
It was in this condition that President
Lincoln took Office and assumed the i'm
portant responsibilities of his position
Without an army and navy, without
arms or ammuntion--a treasury bankrupt
and the Government largely in debt, moth
ing but his own honest purpose, confidence
in God, and the support of coniidine
and loyal people could have borne him "
for the duties Of the hour. With these
he went to work and with will that dem
onstrated the mighty power and mex
haustable means Of the Nation, Armi es
Navics, Ammunition aud Money rospon.
ded ns by magic 10 his call, and in a
miraculous period Of time our Army and
Navy was without prccodentin in the worlds
history, aud our finances in such prosper
Gus condition that astounded bankers aud
politicians ofour own and foreign countries
All Europe looked on with profound as
tonishment at our miraculous development
and, though in sympathy with the rebels
and confident of our downfall, acknowl-
edged our inexhaustable resources and
indomitable energy in their application,
1t was thus that the mighty resources and
power of the people were developed, and
out Of our weakness was manifested our
real strength and greatness as a Nation.
1t is lamentable truth. aud we regret
that the history of the rebellion can not
ignore it, that at the time that the loyal
people Of the Nation were rallying around
the flag aud upholding the hands Of the
/ President, there were men in our midst,
and some in high position, respected alike
for their abilities aud social worth, who
apparently blinded 10 the true interests of
the country, advocated peaceful sepera-
ton and M one instance, at least, limited
at the practicabiliiy of South western
/ Conlederacy, into which Indiana and the
other North western States might be in
corporated. The real devotion of the
great mass Of the people to the old flag
aud the Union, demonstrated never be-
Z fore in the history ot the world, soon
overshadowed and hushed, at least public
expression fovoring any other policy than
the inviolability OF the Union aud preser-
vatiou of the old ilag without one star less
brilliant than before. The history of this
last greatest struggle Of the American peo-
1 pie To establish the pcrmanence of Repair
lican institutions, securing life, liberty
and pursuit ef happiness to all mankind,
cannot be written by the present, but
must be reserved for the future historian.
10 attempt even a synopsis on this oeca-
sion would be futile. / can but refer 10
the great principles involved in the strug
gle as the renewal Of that brought to u
final solution, as they supposed, by our
fathcis when victory rerched upon their
banners at YORKTOWN. They fought for
/ Independence We fought to maintain
and perpetuate it. They fought to secure
to themselves and their posterity life, lib
erty and the pursuits OF happiness. We
( fought, that all pien born upon the soil,
or, assylumed in it, might be guarra anteed
that which our fathers sacrificed so much
( for They fought TO establish more
perfect Union. We fought to preserve
and perpetuate it theneeforih and forever.
They fought for liberty, justice, equality.
We fought for the right of all men 10 Le
free, as they had declared lhemo be equal
They triumphed after seven years strug.
gle, amidst yicissitudes aud trials unpre-
ceGented in the history Of mankind, and
founded the model Republic, and trans
mitted it to us as a sacred legacy for
futare generations. We too triumphed
after four years struggle iu war of gtaRts
bringing out with us our honor uatarnished
the Republic purified, its Christian and
Moral sentiments iB,prored the principles
OF our institutions better understood, and
above all, the root q the era, the curse oj
humpA siarery erad,cafed root and branch,
abolished he,ceforh and toreUermore.
/ 1t is well understood that at the ineep-
ton and outbreak of the rebellion the
statesmen of the country had no purpose
to make the adjustment of slavery the OBJ
jeet, and purpose of the war, however much
they may have desired it, as doubtless
many Of them did, but the real aud ex-
pressed purpose of the war was as declar-
ed by Congress in 1861:
"That the present dcplorable civil war
has been forced upon the country by the
disunioLists of the Southern States, now
in arms against the Constitutional Gov
ernment aud in arms around the capitol;
that. in this national emergency, Con.
gress bauishing all feeling of mere pas
si0n or resentment will recollect only lis
duty to the whole country; that this wal
is not waged on their part in any spirit of
oppression, or for any purpose of conquest
or subjugatlon or purpose of overthrowing
or interfering with the rights or establish
ed institutions Of those States. but to de-
fend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, aud to preserve the Union,
with all the dignity, equality, and rights
OF the several States unimpaired'
That the Congress were right in their
assumption that the war was forced upon
the country by southern disunionists, "
then become Southern rebels, in the hope
Of maintaining aud perpciuating thereby
the curse ~ human stdrery, is settled be
yond all dispute by the mouth of their own
chosen Vice President Though it was al
ledged aud persisted in that the "occason
Of the rebellion was the violations of the
constitutional rights of the Southern
States by Congress and the Northern
States. and the election of Abraham Lin
coin, Of Illinois, as President of the
United States ia 1860, the real cause of
tho rebellion was the long cherished pur-
pose Of Southern politicians aud states.
men to establish Southern Confederacy
on tho basis Of human bondage. This
principle was publicly announced by