Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-12-07

Prior TO, and indeed up to, the
magnetic thrill of horror produced by
the coercion proclamation of Mr.. Lin
coin, Of 18th April, 1861, the people Of
Virginia were looking eagerly to the
Convention at Richmond, then occu-
pied in discussing the propriety of the
States secession. After that fearful
moment Of American history the gaze
of Lee was turned away from the
civil counsels and took in the camp
fires Of a bloody revolution. lie knew
that a people taught from theirinfancy
to cherish their ancestral pride and
love of liberty, would not tamely sub
nit TO tho coercion now immiRent,
but would appeal to the Supreme dis
poser Of all things and endeavor by
bis help to hew out for themselves an
honorable place, not among the Fed.
eral provinces, but among the nations
of the earth As long as there was
any hope Of preserving the compact Of
States, even after his dear old mother
had gone so far along the path Of Love
for the Union as TO bring upon her
children the name Of laggards on the
march, and sluggards in the storm,
She was not deserted by the Union
loving Lee, but as soon as the cdct OF
coercion bad gone forth, the cavalier
loving liberty more, found his heart
estranged from everything which at
tached him TO the Union, and his con.
science freed him from every obliga-
tion to remain with bis kith and kin.
George Washington, the rebel chief
tain OF the ragged, bare-footed men,
who 10 the first revolution, left their
footprints tinged with blood upon the
snowy fields Of Valley Forge, and
deeply impressed their deeds upon
the memory of the world, did not will
ling'y disscver the relations which
bound him as a law abiding subject to
the sovereignty Of Great Britain 1t
was the Stamp Act Extra Constitu-
tional which called forth from Patrick
Henry that powerful speech which
moved to action the startled members
Of the Colonial Legislature. A greater
wrong here-an attempt to bend the
necks Of the sovereigus to the slavish
yoke Of sectional fanalicism. As
Washington's commission was written
on the rebel paper unmasked by the
loyal badge of stamp, so the
warrant which outraged Virginia
placed in the hands Of her noble sons,
bidding them defend her, ought 60
have borne the impress, No coercion.
Virginia in her convention had lis.
tened to the voice of a distinguished
son of South Carolina, as he told OF
tho wrongs endured by the South, and
pictured the pleasing scenes Of peace.
ful secession through which he led
Southern sovoreignties TO q glorious
future. Virginia listened and was
silent Memory reverted to the gol.
den days Of the past, and she pressed
the Const,ution-the offering of her
own son-to her great beating heart.
But when struck by the blind blow of a
laundering giant as from Washington
City, Abraham Lincoln hurled the
thunderbolt of coercion among the
people, that proud old common woalt th
turned away from the idol Of her heart
now desceratod, and mastering her
grief uttered dofiantly through her
firm lips the word Revelation.
In June, 1862. We quote from
Cooks battles Of Virginia, "Johnstor
had been wounded by fragment o
shell and was lying faint and pale ia
his house upon Church Hill, in Rich
mond. Who was to succeed himg
"All eyes turned to q man as vel
little known except in military quar-
tcrs, an officer first Of the engineers
then Of the cavalry, Col. Robert n. Lee
he was then IN Richmond rode ever,
day out to the lines, but had no com
mand. He was now assigned to duty
as commander Of the Confederat,
forces in place Of Johnston.
"Tho heavy and firm hand Of tht
great Virginian was soon felt at Tn,
helm. The ship which had drifteC
rudderloss for moment afer the ial
Of Johnston, was again undor com
mand, aud bore down upon lh,
enemy's line Of battle as Nelson,
flagship did at Trafalgar"
From this time forward 10 July
1868, the various sbiftings and partisan
changes of commanders in the Fedora
army produced only blunders and dis
asters, save an occasional victory o