The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-06-02

arena OF moral and religious controversy,
IL might have continued perhaps until
to-day without an appeal to arms. But
Il early entered the field of political COM
bat. In order to save heinselves from
the constant assaults OF the forces Ot
freedom In the halls Of Congress, John
B. Calhoun and his followers entrenched
themselves behind the ramparts Of
State. sovereignty. Insisting that slav.
ery was domestic institution, to be reg.
ulated solely by the legislative authority
of each particular State, they arrogantly
denied that the national legislature had
any right even to discuss, far less to de.
termine, the existence Of slavery In any
State or section Of the Union.
From this theory of the Federal Union
was naturally ana logically deduced the
right of any State to secede from the
compact at the pleasure Of Its people.
their ever ready threat OF destroying the
Union, Ole Southern leaders long found
themselves invincible. After many q
we'll. fought struggle, they dictated the
terms OF compromise. Until at last, no
longer on the defensive, they sought,
under the banners of their new faith,
new fields of conquest In Mexico and the
great territories of the west. But the
end was near. The men OF the North at
last awoke to find that there was some.
thing even worse than civil war. A
deep moral sentiment was at last
aroused throughout the North, which, to
the blind arrogance of the South, firmly
cried, "Thus far shalt thou 20, but no
farther!" Then the crisis came. Swiftly
ana silently, while In place and power,
the forces Of slavery armed themselves
for the struggle. Passing from theories
10 facts, passing from words to deeds.
State after State resolved to secede and
destroy the Union.
Thus have we traced the causes OF the
Civil war. Thus step by step were the
men of the South led by the sin of slav-
cry into the crime of rebellion. Thus
have we seen how the hosts of slavery
set the battle In array against their
country's flag.
How that battle was won, how the
Union was saved, how the fair inherit.
ance Of our Fathers was preserved
from dismemberment and ruin, is writ
ten in the history Of that great conflict.
And In that thrilling record Is also
written the names Of those whose mem.
ory to-day we cherish and applaud. Out
Of the homes and hearts Of the North
they went forth. Through long years OF
toll and danger they maintained the
cause of freedom. Upon a thousand
battle fields in that far Southland they
yielded up their lives. In nameless
graves, by their comrades In arms, they
lie buried. No monument marks the
spot where sleep these unnumbered
heroes. The holy peace that they con-
quered, broods over all that land, and the
green corn of another spring Is now
breaking from their sacred dust.
But for us and their country they
wrought mighty work; they achieved a
lasting triumph. e.
The stain of human slavery they wash.
ed from the garments Of Freedom with
their own precious blood, and took away
our reproach in the eyes of the nations
They have established forever that State
sovereignty is political heresy, and that
secession Is rebellion. Out of disjointed
States and opposing sections they reform.
ed a grand, consolidated and enterprisinp
Nation, filled with new purposes; ripe
for new achievements, the refuge o.
mankind, the hope of all the ends OF the
earth.