The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-06-05

the north determined to keep the evil
within liz existipg limits, sud that the
territories should 10 free forever, but
the overbearlng exacting spirit which
the continued exercise Of arbitrary
power always engenders, demanded ad.
ditional guarantees. Time after time
had coDgress yielded 10 hsse demands.
under the threat of secession aud rovo-
luton In case of non compliance; aud
each sacrifice of principal made Ia the
belief that II was to be the last, ended
like every compromise with evil. only
la disgrace aud disaster. and With ar
rogant demands for still greater con-
cessiona The elections Of 1853 brought
q large number OF their political oppo-
nents into congress, and into Official
position IN the north, and tue Scsult Of
that election convinced them that q
few years more at the most the control
Of tho country. in the interests OF the
great slave power. would pass forever
from their hands, and from that moment
these high priests OF treason began
plotting secession aud revolution in
earnest. Aud four years lats- when
this principle OF free territories
triumphed In the election of a presi-
dent In stfict accordance with the con.
stitution, made hasts 10 put their
threats into execution. and a separa-
ton Of these states. and wanton dis
truction of the upiou wss declared in
solemn form. Sclf f-prsssvation issaid
to be the frat law Of nature with the
individual, aud Wa fail to see why IL
should not apply with equal forcs TO the
comm onweslth. This continent had
been dedicated to human liberty, and
our plsise hsd heen given 70 the world
To protect IL. tobbipe us OF . large see-
ton Of TERRITORY bought by Itbe blood
aud treasure OF the Unitsd States; !;
forming that territory into Q hostile
nation upon our very borders In the
name OF republie, but In every essen.
tiAl particular sn empire. whose foun'
dation stone was human gSlavery; .
principle 90 sntaa onistic 70 oar own
that its bare establishment under the
circumstances was a direct assault up
on the nations life, and q base and
cowsrdly surrender Of right and prin-
ciple on the one hand. or war In SELF
defense on the other became q necessi.
ty, and how poorly We we're prepared
10 enter into . long and desperate con.
! fict for existence.
In that Isst administration nnier .
worse than imbsclls Presidebt, q treas-
enable cabinet, under the false pre-
tence Of loyalty. had conspired against
the life OF the country. emptsd its
treasury and ruined its credit, scatter
Ell our army in small gsrrisons princi.
pally Ia the South. that they might
fall al easy prey 10 the foe, sent the
navy to the most distant seas. plundeI-
ell the srsenals OF all srms and mum
tons Of war and distributed these mu-
nitions In the rebellious States, and 81.
ter thus stripping the Nation Of all
| tangible means OF defence, sneered at
US as dupes aud towards, tsunted rs
with the weakness tiieir treaehery hsd
made, and dared "a % battle for right
and national unity; nor were they alone
in their view OF our helplessness -
Some foreign govsrnments looked with
glee upon what they supposed 10 be
the destruction OF seli-governInent,
and tho hated Republic was soon to
crnmble into fragments before their
eyes. Words OF sympathy aud en-
coun gemsnt were sent from many for
eigu courts, aud evcn where we had a
right to expect moral support We were
disappointed. A man 81 rank aud IN
high position in EnglaDd's cabinet
stood upon the hoor OF the House OF
Lords, aud in the presence OF that
body. with hand raised towards heaven
thanked Con the great Republic was
no more.
Thus have ieebly sketched ouI
condition and partially shown how
poorly prepared we werc TO gnpple
with the mighty problems OF the day.
and for time We were paralyzed al
the tremendous task before us. dread.
ing to take the fatal step that should
close the doorto compromise and peace
full solution. But We were spared this
responsibility, for the bold and des
peraie spirits at the head OF the new
Empire were not minded to delay; the
strength Of their cause was popular
passion, and to rest at ease aud allow
that passion to calm aud judgment re
sumo her sway. was hut to covet do
structioo, aud over the forts, nav,
yards aud ar-enals VI the South. still
hung the old dag which had been theiI
pride aud ours. under whose protec
! tiou We had grown to be sreat-ans
new its mute folds constantly remind
ed them Of the dark crime they veT,
! committing against humanity an'
filled their breasts With O hauutin,
fear that its very prssebcs aud th'
! glsrions reoollections that clustsro.
around IL, might lead back 10 loynlt,
and duty the millions of ~orkmen froll
their nuhuishei temples of ambition. =
, aud that hsg must be driven from th
!, land: ana reckless hands 1red the On
that u.Lered ia o civii conflict. the III
= of which the world had b-,t se~u, sn.
|, the end whereof none Of those poht
I. cal se~rs bad correctly iatLoa.sd q
4 foretold
The long roll sounded from obe en
!. oi the land 81 tbe other summopin
her defenders for the conflict. aud We
i se remember how the samnions VI
. answered; In the towns aud eIties bu'
a iness for the time Was suspended .
h from q blow; tho plough and haITo
A were left In the feld; the rnechaai
!. dropped his tooLs where he stood; eve
the idler on the street caught the II
. spiIati0p of the moment. and all clas
a "a aud parties gathered eager 20 ieaI
!. the true state of sfsirs; aud when me
= realized that the long threatened bio
had been struck. and their Southel
: brethren were in earnest in their dee Is
!. To sever the Union. how tie veil vi
j. lifted from before our cyes. But yeate
n day, nen stood In fear, doubts and n
/, oertainties, distrust npon every lac
n aud dark cloud of de-pOudency hur
a. over the land; now the cload LAS Ill
!, appeared, and here stands a nation
m its strength, and q mighty host of fre
"A mcn with determination on tue conut
~ nauce aud resolution IN th. heart, ren,
,s 10 give home, friends and life IL need !
~ ~ their part 10 the eternal coniiict h
n. tween freedom aud oppression. rig
an and wrong.
m Sone of those Who rest beoea
m these mounds OF flowers were Gmot
ne the first to auswer that call. clasp
r. the loved ones 10 the last fopd enbra'
M received tue parting words of love A
n. encouragement. spoke the adisn th
L.. was tn De forever. aud hasteued WI
ma tens of thousands of their eonntryo
n, tnIollod nnict this bdpu.r as the gu'
.i. diaus .f liberty. sgcsa Ia wage ber b
NJ. tla nuiil that standard was planted
IL the iastTkmpan ol rebellion aud shot
!. fOst over a uHitsl lAud.
TO. These grand armies w.ie no hireli
~ soldicry reared 10 deeds of bios
N ready 20 espouse any osuse that pro
ys ised gold on plnnder, bat they ca
al. n a