The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-25
February 22d.

The annual recurrence of this, the |
I'D day of Februar,sis gccera,,y Oh.
served IN some way or other, rs one
Of the Nations holidays. ga. .-..tJ
The patriotic mind rcvcrts to the
tact that on this day, one hundred
aud tmrty-scven years ago, in West
moreland County, Virginia, was born
the child who was cventntually to
lead the nfant struggling Colonies,
through terrible seven years war
to final Victory, Independence, Re-
publican Government, and Peace,
and who, while living was crowned
with the immortal chaplct as the
" Father of his Country, and as
the hero who was First in war, first
in peace and first in the hearts of
his conntrymen," and who, in dying,
was pronounced t'thc greatest Of
good men, and the best OF great
non. MO- sioH.ssa Ia
Washington died December IA,
l7a9, only seventy years ago, yet
what mighty events have transpired
in these United States in those seven
y years? s..s ss., t.s-
In 1886 he wrote to Robt. Morris:
There is not man living who wish.
es, more than ] do, to see a plan
adopted for the abolition of slavery.
and now, through the folly of the
wicked slave holders themselves. the
shackles of every slave on the North
american Continent, has been brok-
G" to pieces, as an incident OF a
bloody Rebellion, they waged against
the Government founded by Wash
ington, and have been, through the
ballot IN nearly all the States, eleva.
ted to the full stature of manhood.
making our Government in fact, az
well as in theory, Republican in form
where the will of all the people, IS
the supreme law. IA ,.g
The 22d day of February, 1s47, is
another landmark in our history. for
ii WAS on that day that Santa Anna.
with 10000 men attacked General
Taylor, hemmed in as he was, at
huena Vista, with scarcely 5000
men, all told, of all arms, principally
volunteers.
Inc battle ragged with varying sue
cess, end with great fury for two
days, lcsving us in the evening of
the 23d, occupying but small por-
ton of the plateau between the en-
vlroning mountains, which our lines
had held at the opening of the con-
conflict on the morning of the 22d,
and had it not been for the retreat OF
the MeSicans under cover of tho
night Of the 23d, to Aqua Neuva, the
battle would have, perhaps, been con-
sid red to this day, a drawn one
The Mexican loss in killed and woun-
dcd was 1000, and ours TAG. Among
the slain were Colonies Yell, Mckee.
Clay, and Hardin, as gallant spirits
as ever sought "the baublc reputation
"V'n'n the lannon's mouth" or gave
Il practical illustration of the sub :
lime quotation Duice ct dceoyum est
i'9 Pattia mort.
There rs yet another I'D day of
February to which loyal people, and
those having due regard for the
propllet'es and everlasting fitness
OF things, cannot refer to without
pam and modification, aud that is.
the day when Andrew johnson. the
child otan assassin; the accident of
an accident; the betrayer in turns of
all tue parties he had ever belonged
10; ehraged with passion because his
policy Of restoring rebels to power
had been thwartcd; and infiamed to
madness by the ABDOMINAL whiskev
Of Washington; harrangued the
spies, thieves, pimps, dead BEATS
paroled rebel soldiers, Mosby's guer-
rilas: ct ID omne genus. who 90 main.
~ to make up the Copperhead party
OF the Fedora! Capitol, in such dis
graceful terms, and BULLYING Ian.
Sua%e, as to have required and iusti.
lied his impeachment and removal
sinceit is out ofour power to expunge
'his cigraceiula affair from the Nation.
al calender, on to disconnect itsunnlea.
SAINT associations with other events
which have made the day historic
leu Us terventl J be thankful that An.
drew johnson is SO speedily to pass
INTO well earned obscurity. and d;s
grace, and let us profit by his exam
pie, IN the future selection Of orr e-
sponsible public servants.