Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-10-13

the God Of liberty and shielded by the con-
sciencious dignity and grandeur Of her mis-
sion, the republic like fond and wise
mother has dealt out gifts to her children
with liberal aud impa rtial hand. II is
true that the sons have Jared very much
like the mother, cosrsly fed and roughly
handled. But at this age the cause Of
Freedom demands men OF good bone and
muscle as we'll as a healthy brain. To Sc
cure these the cradle Of liberty must be
rocked by storms. Sweet lull-a-bys and
signing winds are not favorable to the
growth OF sturdy, self-reliant, rough and
ready men. Freedom Of action and opin-
ion has ever been the boast of the republic.
Her highest aim has been to secure the
rights ofall. She ever taught her children
that the charter OF liberty which she be-
queaths TO them all as a sacred gift, was re-
ceived from heaven, signed and sealed by
Jshovah-that no man, no body Of men
have.a right to take it nway-that it is a
God-given right, dearer than life itself, and
belongs Of right to every man, woman and
child: The republic has made special
effort 70 secure this right for each one,
and as full and undisguised proclama-
tion OF her special mission to mankind,
she has written upon portals to be read and
accepted by all men, "Open field, fair
play, and God speed the right" What
then could we ask for now2 Is it not
enough to have our rights fully sacred to
us? Why then attack the republic?
Why pull down her bars and her pillars?
We appeal to the South. We ask in all
her past history and the most trying times,
whether the republic has not been exceed
ingly sensitive lest she should over-step
constitutional bounds, or violate the higher
law, and whether she has not in all social
and State affairs dealt generously, open
ly and fairly. Nay, more. Has she not
exercised national tenderness and forbear
ance beyond precedent? Although your
peculiar institutions Threatened the peace
full relations of the North and South for
more than half century the repu blic has
been slow to touch or remove them. Not
till after the dismantling Of Fort Sumpter
and your attack upon the nation BY insult
ing the national flag did the government
resort to force. And even then, hoping that
treason was limited to South Carolina, the
home OF Calhoun's free conceits, the nation
called out such small number Of troops
as TO provoke the derision of the whole
Southern Confederacy. The Wanton
slaughter of Union soldiers as they passed
through Baltimore and the threat and dis
covered plot to assassinate the Chief Mag
istrate on his way to Washington failed TO
convince the republic that the Southern
conspiracy was deep, widespread and foul
The mother could not believe that any
very great number Of her children could
be induced to sell their birth-right, slay
their brothers, involve the dear old home
stead in di~grace and utter ruin. She had
| forgotten that in the school OF slavery, the
sentiments OF justice and humanity were
secuted and that pupils however loving and
noble by virtue, soon, oh ! too soon, learn
to be barbarous, inhnman, and fendish.
Not till after the battle at Bull Run, did
the republic discover that slavcocracy had
quenched the spirit of liberty throughout
the entire South and that the Southern
leaders joined to their idols, were bent on
the construction Of u confederacy whose
cornerstone was to be slavery and whose
whole soul and body baptised in the pollu-
ted slime of tyranny, was to be devoted
to the destruction Of liberty and to be to
the republic curse and perpetual his
sing. Even after this discovery the nation
bowed in shame and sorrow, did not take
any steps to abolish the system OF slavery.
The republic was conscientious and over
sensitive lest any of the constitutional
rights of the shareholders should be vio-
lated. The cry Of war up to this date was
not to take away or to interfere or inter
meddle with the system Of slavery in any
way whatever. The object of the war tn US
far had been to bring back the revOlted
States into the Union in full possession OF
all their constitutional rights and privileges
as shareholders to maintain the integrity
of the nation and 10 restore the honor OF
the national flag. Not till after il was
! found that either slavery or liberty must
perish7-that the system Of slavery and
the republic could not fAvorably exist 20.
gether, did the President issue the procla.
nation Of emancipation, Then "a a mill
tary necessity and an act OF Justice de-
mRnded alike by the God OF nations and
our common humanity il was decreed that
the system OF slavery must be abolished
In the execution Of this decree, the re-
public manifested no blood-thirsly OF
avenging spirit. Lincoln was prOveIbally
as tender -hea rod as a child. Grant wal
modest, cool and firm, aud on all occasions
Just and fair. lie never made a aaucy
speech but once and that, not in relation
to the South, but Gen. Butler. lie never
made boAstful or long speech. Al For
DodaldaOn, ID was Surrender immedIAtel,
or shall move upon your works" Atth'
battle OF the Wilderness. he said, ~ shal
fight il out on this line, II il takes all sum
mer." A. Lees surrender, il was, "Th,
cause Of humanity demands that we shoulC
avoid the unnecessary effusiOn OF blood.
: Then Ia the conditions Of surrender, how
careful not to wound the aensibilities Of
brave soldier. Again at the time Of law
lesa butchery Of Republican,, he was urgeC
to declare war against the South, and ex
: terminate the aecursed spirit Of slavery
, once for all, he replied: "I.el us hav
I, peace. The republic hiss ever been long -su
!, sering and never fought the South unit
patience ceased to be a virtue. All he
Q great captains have manifested the sam
spirit. II 10 time that Pap Thomas, as III
9 boys in familiar way dubbed the Genera
: deah sUnmarily with southern troop
}. at franklin and Nashville. Blu
Hood had thyeaisned TO march Northwar
until he had taken the hearts blood Of th
: republic. Sheridan rode his famous hoTs
+ down the Shenandoah valley a. far as Win
chester rather faster than eVmmon men al