The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-01-24
TIE LATE WAR.

and bucklcr amidst scenes of peril and
Death.
TIE LATE WAR.
In addressing you on this occasion, in
accordance with the custom originating
with the republican fathers, | propose
briefly to express my opinions on such
questions as concern our common consti-
tuency and relate to our common respon-
sibilitics.
Like countries of the Old World, our
nation has had its internal commotions.
From the last of these we have scarcely
yet emerged, and during which, War s
desolation" passed over our land, leaving
its blighting influences principally upon
those unfortunate States whose people re-
belled against the Government, and not
Withstanding the agonizing sacrifices of a
great civil war, the States that maintain
ed the Government and determined that
the Union should be preserved, have con-
stantly advanced in honor, wealth, popu-
lation and general prosperity.
This is the first time that a change has
occurred in the Executive Department of
this State since the commencement Of the
War of the Rebellion ). a brief reference,
therefore, to that conflict, and It's results,
nay not be inappropriate.
We have the consolation of knowing
that the contest between the North and
the South was not, On our part, one for
ambition, FOR military renown, for terrific
rial acquisition, nor was it for violation
of any of the rights of the South, but it
was for the preservation of our own rights
and privileges as men, and for the main
tenauce Of justice, liberty and the Union.
The object of the South was avowedly
the dissolution of the Union and the es-
tablishment Of coniederacy based upon
+" the corner stone Of human slavery -
To have submitted 10 this on our part,
and to have shrunk from a manly resist
ance under such circumstances, would
have been deeply and lastingly degrading,
and would have destroyed the value Of
the priceless legacy beqUeathcd to US by
our fathers, and which we are obligated
to transmit unimpaired to future gene
rations. The patriotic and Union loving
people felt that the alternative was that
of life or death TO the Union; and under
the auspicious guidance of Abraham Lin
coin, that yirtuous and patriotic Chief
Magistrate, with the blessing of Him
who directs the destinies of nations, after
open action aud arbitrary violence on the
part of the South, the appeal to arms was
made.
We had just cause, and our citizens
approving it with degree Of unanimity
l. Il, Ior
country, left their various employments,
their homes and all that was dear to them,
and hastened with enthusiasm to the
scenes where duty and danger called, and
as the surest pledge of their answering
love and fidelity to the Union, they un-
hesitatingly offered their lives for its pre-
servation Nor was any other tribute
withheld in providing the means neces-
sary for the support of our fleets and ar
mics. Nearly two millions of soldiers en-
tered the field from time to time on DIFF
ferent terms of enlistment. The citizens
generally exhibited the highest degree of
patriotism in the prompt payment of tax
es, in the liberal contributions il! the
shape Of loans to the Government; and
the world was astonished by the amount
expended in their benevolent care for the
sick and wounded through the agency of
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions,
and other charitable associations More
than six hundred sangulnary battles and
skirmishcs were fought, in which nearly
three hundred thousand of our heroic de-
tenders laid down their lives in their de-
yotion to the nation" for God and Lib
erty."
In every phase of this terrible conflict,
Pennsylvania bore an honorable and con-
spicpous part. She contributed three
hundred and sixty six thousand three
hundred and tweny-six volunteer soldiers
to the rescue of the nation; aud nearly
every battle field has been moistened with
blood, and whtened with the bones Of