Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-03
nailp Atnnese Aournal.
Angus r A. 49,. q
Monday Morning. JMhnary 3, 1870.
TEN YEARss WoRk.

the nation has borne Itself over immense
difficulties, and planted itself on sole
foundation, which neither. faction stor
eign foes can shake. That we have carried
on the most extensive and destructive wal
of modern tifnes and Vet increased from
thirty to forty millions of people in The
SHINE perfnr Il Siit III item in the page o
wonders.
Ten years age cur government was I'M
tried it had held together against for
eign force but its strength to withstand
intestine violence had not been tried, and
here was where it was supposed to be
weak Those who framed the govern
ment were fearful upon this point, and
Washington's last words had a forehoding
Of disaster III ease civil war should arise.
iii 1860 the government of this country
Was under the control of the Shareholders
Of the South. It * true that Mr.. Lincoln
was elected President in opposition to their
efforts and wishes, but practically the con
trolling influence in the government was
sui Ill tHtt uii'iN VI tH' 2i'' 'i'"'''' -
They had 4 majority Of the Senate, which
il would have taken several years to
change against Them. and the Supreme
Court was also in their. favor anG likely to
remain 50, In reality Mr. Lincoln was
almost helpless in their hands had they
exercised with discretion the power which
they held The Senate had a check upon
Sim in the conduct Of his administration
which he could not break oyer. and with
such men as Davis, Breckenridge. Toombs
ana stephens TO exercise it. with their
skin, ability and experience. there was
ffttfe hope for Mr.. lincoln or his party
The weakness Of President with the
Senate opposed TO him has had an exem-
plification, if it needed any. in the case Of
President Johnson, which ha- made it
familiar in every household in the land.
For the protection Of Slavery they could
rely upon the Supreme Court as long as
they chose to- and SO long as it stood a
bulwark between them and the tide OF OPP
position in The North there was no power
short Of revolution itself That could harm
them, and rebellion by the republican
party must have resulted in the destruction
Of that party and tie triumph of Slavery.
But the leader, Of the staveholding
party in the South had determined upon
another line Of policy than to fight their
Battles in the Union, and so casting away
the advantages which they possessed, they
demanded s-to be bet alone" while they
broke up the Union aad establisheda gov
ernment of their own with Slavery as its
corner stone. Finding themselves opposed
In this they resorted to arms, and trampled
under foot the nations flag, subiecting the
government to the dreaded test of inter
necine war. which many of our own states
man feared and foreign nations hoped
would prove our. destruction. We look
back now, at the conmencement of 1870,
upon the struggle which followed the re-
volt Of the Shareholders, with great thank
fuiness at the. happy result. Not only
were the rebel armies defeated and obliged
70 ask for peace but the Union was pre-
served intact, and Slavery was destroyed.
If there were nothing more to look at than
this we should be satisfied. Wewent into
the contest doubling, clashing, poorly or
'ganized, with history and nearly all the
world enlisted against us either active
" or by sympathy, and we came out
with victory upon our banner, and our ma
tionality established on solid basis 1t
was gigantic work. The moulding and
controlling of the hostile elements in the
loyal States. where political parties were
so equally divided, was a delicate and diff
cult task. in which many who had acted in
the democratic party took a leading and
honorable part, standing shoulder to Shout
der with the republicans and vieng with
them in the council chamber and on the
battlefield in efforts to save the Union
How long we had TO bear reverses caused
by inefficient commanders, what havoc
was made in the ranks of our gallant men
before the tide turned in our favor, and
how hard it was TO consent to release the
blacks and permit them to shoulder the
miskct. Such another term Of triai. Of
sacrifice Of blood and treasure MAY or
country never experience. Out Of it, how
ever, we emerge stronger than ever. with
freedom firmly established all over the
country, and a development of our mate
rial resources Beyond what might have
been anticipated in ten years of peace
No nation can cope with us in war, in the
peaceful industries we are making rapid
strides, while in our mining and aglicul-
tnral re.spurcss Ne i1t"niSh the world.
Having freed from the most seryile bond
age iour millions Of human beings, and
taught their master, that this government
is not a rope Of sand, while at the same
time increasing. our population ten mil
lions, We have good cause to hr satisfied
with our ten years labor, and start on the
new decade With high courage and conf
1auca