Year: 1864

Ducn orEanlzatlOHs Us these haN7
their incidental advantages, that they
cheer and sustain tho soldier by their
proofs, that you are looking on him as
well as caring for him. IF you could
have one hours experience of what the
soldiers say and feel as they wait for
the letters, the packages, and the kind
rsmemb berances from home, you would,
be inspired to redoublod exertions,


Turning aside moment from this
subject, let US look at the present oondi-
tion of the country. 1t has been said
aud the story has been caught up and
repeated from N outh TO mouth, that the
war is drawing to a close-that this is
the beginning of the end-that the re-
bellion has been struck a mortal blow
and is now rapidly dying, Do not lis
ten for moment to this hattsring song.
Do not slaoken your efforts for a mo-
ment because you think tho monster is
dying. IF you do, the mistake will be
fatal. Ifyou think the war is nearly at
an end you commit grievous bunder.
The war can bo ended at no distant
day by great and mighty effort or
the ultimate success of our cause he
never doubted. lie was never more
sure Of it than at the present hour and
the present moment. But we must be-
ware of being lulled into q false sscu
rity.


The crisis of our fate is at hand
We stand now where we must perish or
succeed. We have cut the bridges be
hind US and burned the shipping to
which we might have retreated. There
is no course but onward. The struggle
is now for life or death, and it will not
cease until one or the other of the
com batants lies dead in the arena.


1t is true that the enemy has been
pushed back from the great river, but
he has gathered all his strength on the
great plain between the mountains Of
the Cum berland and the Gulf of Mexi-
co, and there will take place the final
and desperate struggle. For the strug-
gle we have not man to spare, not an
, arm too many. 1t is no easy task that
lies before us. To indulge that belief
would be fatal error. We need every
man that can be raised.


Whilst this great struggle is pending
it is criminal and wicked in the sight OF
G cd to look to little measures-disouss
side issues-to take up this man or that
and force him upon the attention Of the
public-to advocate the claims Of this
party or that party, The stake is too
mighty to be endangered by petty is.
sues. Thank God, the people are awake
to this great question.


A week ago, in conversation with
the Secretary of War, lie learned that
since the frat of January 100000 men
- raw rscruits--had enlisted, and TO-.
900 veteran volunteers. The last sum
should be multiplied by three to get at
their real value. Their value as against
the rebels was at least that Of 10000
men, for they have been tried by fire
and not found wanting. On this army
of recruits and especially on these vet.
Grams he, pinned his hopes of SUCCESS.


The few weeks coming will be the
bloodiest and most deadly of the war.
The terrible battles that arc to be
fought will be greater than any that
have yet occurred, 1t is sad to think
of the number who are to fall in that
deadly strife, but what soldier is he
that would rather die in his quiet bed
than sink down in glorious death in the
midst of the wild confusion aud bloody
tempest of the salvation battlo7


Rsverting to this subject of the Fair
he said that too much could not be done
for the cause in whose aid the Fair is
held. There will be greater need for
its services in the coming summer than
ever before, This is 10 be no gala sum
mer. 1t will echo with the thuudars Of
battle and be moistened with rsinstorms
of blood.


Addressing the members of the Leg.
islature, he said he was glad to IN eot on
this occasion with the men who conduct
the affairs of the State. The records
show that Ohio has furnished two hun.
dred thousand men to the war besides
those who have streamed away from
our homes to I'LL the gaps made in the
regiments by disease and chances of
battle. And yet Ohio is but one star
in the glorious galaxy.


Ohio has earned for herselfa proud
name in this war. From Wagner and
Gregg, up to the Army of the Potomac,
through the mountains of Western Vir.
ginia, sweeping down to Chattanooga,
and bending around BY Memphis and