Year: 1863

TO cur Government. IL ls within the Temple
of Constitutional Liberty that all these price
less treasures which we have enjoyed are to be
found. In vain would we search for then
through every other nook and corner of the
world. The legacy which has been handed
down to US is the richest that the blood oi
man ever purchased or the hand of God ever
bestowed. Il is legacy of hallowed memo
ries, of heroic suferings and achievements, OF
ancient and time-tonored principles, of lofty
and noble aspirations, Of crowded opportuni-
ties and almost beundless means of moral, So
cial and political progress. Let us not fail to
appreciate it, improve it, defend it and perpet-
uate if. If We do not, it is the last that will
ever be given Us. 1t will net do to trife with
so precious casket. We must be true to the
memories of our fathers and our own profes-
sions. We must not forget what posterity
will expect at our hands. Nor can we expect
that if our Government should go dowus we
ourselves can escape. We are all in one COM
mon ship. Our hopes, joys and interests are
there. If so mournful a wreck should ever
take place, few, if any, could be saved. Amid
all the dangers which threaten US, our only
course is to maintain the Union and the Con-
stitutisn intact, invioIate and forever.


| Many years ago an eminent patriot and phi
lanthropist uttered a noble warning to the
country. which has now a peculiar force
These we're his words: at took Rome three
hundred years to die, and our death, if we per-
ish, will be as much more signal and terrific,
as our birth, educati on and free institutions
have given us more bone, sinew and vitality.
No judgments of Heaven are so severe as
those for mercies abused, and no instumentali-
ty employed for their inHicton so dreadful as
the wrath of man! No spasms are like the
spasms of expiring liberty, and no wailing
such as her convulsions extortr'


The duty that devolVes upon US is very plain.
We must put down the rebellion. From this
poisoned fountain come all our woes and all
our dangers. The purpose Of the rebel lead
ers to subvert the Constitution, to trample
down the laws, is very clear. So long as they
have any power in their hands we may be sure
that they will not fail to use it. Like US, they
have staked everything upon the contest We
can expect no concession from them while a
large army is under their command, and the
Southern people stand ready to do their bid
ding. We can only meet force with force, de-
termination with determination, yalor with
valor, and, if need be, desperation with desper-
alton. We can make no concessions, we can
make no compromises, we can surrender no
principles. We must trust to the engines of
war and the favor of God. We know our
cause is just, but it may fall to the ground if
we do not nerve our hearts and arms in its de-
fense. The eternal principles of justice which
lie at the foundation of our Government will
| f,F-, Al. AZ
ley of the shadow of death-but let us grasp
the sword with firm hand. While we rely
upon the power of Truth and the blessing of
Heaven let Us not forget the virtues of dry
powder, heavy guns and strong battalions.


,. It is only by proper use of our material
power that we can hope to secure the advan-
tages which attend just principles and just
cause. The vigorous prosecution of the war;
is the safest, surest and speediest road to peace
The only true men-the only men who ap-
preciate the Importance of the contest-are
war men. The cry of peace is from the enc
mics of the coUntry. Let it not be needed.
I"Peg away, peg away, keep pegging away, .
says the patriotic President, and all true friends
of the country will say the same. We must
strike the material power of the rebellion in



feres with our. progess-everything that
stands in the way of a restoration of the
Union must go down. Party spirit and party
interests should be cast aside, and all the loyal
people unite against the common enemy. 1t
cannot be expected that we shall all agree up
on everything connected with the conduct and
policy of the war, but the great object in
view-the restoration of the Union, and the
vindicatiou of the national authority, is the
point to which every eye should turn and eve
ry bark should steer.


If the people of the loyal States are wise,
they will sustain the army; they will strength
en- it in every way they can. All! how little
do they appreciate the security which they
now have from the bullets and bayonets Of the
rebellion behind this "waIl of living breasts. -
Soldiers in the field have right to expect the
cordial sympathy and support of the people at
home. They were promised this when they
enlisted, aud to refuse it is the most infamous
breach of trust that ever happened. If all
the efforts and sacrifices that have been made
to restore the Union should prove Intellectual;
if the Union army should at last be driven
beyond the border, and be unable to find ref
uge from the jeers, Kisses and bayonets of the
rebels; how heavy would be their reprosches
and execrations upon the men who deserted
and betrayed them.


The war has lasted much longer than We
Expected; greater sacrifices are demanded from
us than we looked for; but shall we for that
reason give up our cause? Did we enter upon
this contest with the understanding that it was
to be abandoned if it proved too hard, or if it
did not pay as well as we expec ed? We did
not enter upon the war for any scheme of
plumber or conquest, for any vulgar glory or
vain ambition. 1t was forced upon us as the
only alternative of disunion. Not until the
purpose of the rebels was fully unfolded: not
until we learned beyond all doubt that disun-
ion is war, did we draw the sword against it;
and when we drew it, it was with the intention
never to sheathe it until we had struck down
the last armed enemy. Let this be our deter
mination now. Let us show it to be such to
the rebels and to the world. Having drawn
the sword and still holding it up, they must
perish by the sword As long as they persist
in war, they should be made to drink the dregs
of its bitter cup, We should confront them
with superior forces and superior numbers Oh
every hand and in every place. Let them
know that they have won their last victory
that we have run from them the last time, aud
that everything they can expect from theil
toll and sacrifices is renewed disaster and de-
feat. The war must go on. If we canno'
prosecute it with the assurance of success, lei
us prosecute i. with the energy of desperation
: If we cannot have the inspiration of victory
; let US have the power of despair. And
through all the lights and shadows of th'
great conflict, let this be our watchwcrd:-
Never give up the Republic! Never! never