The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-03

tHUNc ltSlUllS VI Tue COuLITy, ulu
their equipments reduced TO almost
zero, while what navy we had was
dispersed to the four corners OF the
earth. and thus the government was
practically p~owe1less TO defend itself
or protect its strongholds that were
largely in the territory in rebel
hon.
After Floyd had done all in his
power to cripple the government he
resigned his Office and allied himself
with the confederacy.
When Sumter was compelled to
surrender to an armed force that
thus assaulted the nations life, Lin
coin promptly called for Is, 900 men
TO serve 80 days, believing, no doubt,
that when the misguided men of the
south realized that he proposed to
meet force with force" they would
capitulate, and on some honorable
basis, that would be fair to both
sides, prevent a tratricidal war. But
the hot-headed southerners spurned
the thought, and. claiming that one
southern soldier. enlisted from the
"chivalry Of the SOUTH" could easily
whip tive of the ''mudsllls of the
%norlh," laughed in their hellish g.ee
and went merrily on preparing fer
and actually beginning war.
The administration experienced
great difficulty in obtaining the nee
essary equipment for even Z 5000
men, and much valuable time was
lost at the start because of this fact.
But rapidly the little army was
equipped and soon brother faced
brother in hostile array. 1T suon
became evident. however, that ii
much larger army must be put in
the field and shortly Lincoln called
for 300, 600 additional men and for
three years. The response was most
hearty, and soon the vast body OF
men were IN the field
In all these trying hours Mr.. Lin
coin had been ably supported by
Gen. Winfield Scott, who, as COM
manding general, personally directed
the organization Of the union forces,
His loyalty stood out IN marked con-
trast with that of Robert f.. Lee.
and many Others who had received
their military training at the ex-
pense OF the government t, and who
now in its great extremity deserted
the stars and stripes aud were en-
listed under the flag of secession,
thus using their military skill in an
attempt to destroy the very govern
ment they had solemnly sworn to
protect from all its enemies, within
or without. But in spite Of all dis
loyalty on the part of many, brave
men by the thousands took their
places. Some graduates OF West
Point or Annapolis; others with no
military training, but all patriots.
And thus the tremendous onset be-
gan.
AT first our armies met with de-
feat, and the great disaster at Bull
Run caused many Of the north to
feat for the safety Of the union;
while the success OF the rebels elated
them beyond degree and they proud
ly boosted that the success OF the
confederacy vas assured. Our de-
feat also had a depressing effect upon
the Sale OF our bonds, which must be
sold if funds were to be had with
which TO prosecute the war, and for
a time it looked as though some Of
the powers-notably England-mlght
recognize the confederacy, and thus
bolster their cause and add to their
faith in ultimate success. But their
victory was not quite decisive enough
to justify recognition, and, although
some secretly aided the south, no
nation gaV the much coveted rec
ognition.
For two years the battles ragged,
the government possessed the power
requisite to suppress the rebellion.
In the meantime additional calls for
men were made until by the close OF
1863, fully two millions men had been
called to the field.
Next to preserving the nation in
tact, the great question was-shall
slavery 20, or shall it stay? II the
rebels will lay down their arms,
come back into the union as loyal
subjects, shall we consent to the old
conditions, or shall we insist that as
the terms Of lasting peace slavery
must be abolished. 1t is Of record
that Lincoln would have accepted
the former to stop hostilities and the
immense flow Of blood, and yet he
was preparing to issue a proclama-
tion declaring all slaves in the retel-
lious states free men. This fact was
known to the rebels. They knew
that should they surrender to the
constituted authorities, slavery could
be saved. They also knew that their
defeat finally meant the everlasting
overthrow of slavery, but they pug
%naciously refused the opportunity,
and with a valor worthy a better
cause vigorously opposed our armies,
determined to die in the last ditch
4, before again yielding to the powers
of the federal union. Finaly, realiz-
ing that the offer was spurned, Lin
coin decided to issue the proclama-
tion Immediately after our armies
should win a decisive victory. And
on the 22d Of September, 1862, came
the browning act in the series OF
measures, which were purifying our
land from that great crime, which,
in Gods %retribullve justice, had i'm
periled our national life. and filled
hundreds Of thousands OF homes with
mourning, and the Great Emancipa-
ton Proclamation was sent forth.
By the constitution, which the
president had taken a solemn oath
TO respect, he had no right to eman-
cipate the slaves save as a military
necessity. He could not claim that
necessity in reference to West Vir-
I -s.-s. --I - ~