Year: 1869

ton broader than Minervas shield, and
more impenetrable than Vulcan
| wrought armor. To the alien it means
the concentrated power and the united
will OF millions of freemen, ready to
die in it's behalf. A flag signifies men
| ofwar, forts bristling with cannon, the
tread of armies, staiwart arms and
loyal hearts, and when the flag is as
sailed, it is an assault upon all these.
Nine years ago, the people of the
| United States were securely welded
to peaceful pursuits. a few only OF
the most far-seeing could discern a
speck of war on the seemingly serene
sky. From dreams Of peace they
awcke, eight years ago, to find them
selves involved in a civil war unpre-
cedented in extent in history. The
hands of those whom the nation 5
bounty had fed were raised to destroy
their benefactor Without shadow
Of a cause, and in violation Of all the
supposed attendants of honor, the
would be Patrlcides plunged them
selves into untold depths OF crime, and
the Nation into the horrors Of an in
ternecinc conflict. By reason of the
peculiar circumstances of the case,
great headway was made by the con
spirators before any legitimate efforts
could be put forth in defence OF the
menaced government. The life of the
nation was in imminent danger The
\ consplrators We're growing in boldaess
/ and power. With more than the au-
dacity OF Cataline, they stalked into
their accustomed places in the Senate
Chamber, taking part there in the
counsels OF the Unions friends, and
then retiring to pursue their treason
able designs. The plans of the Gov
ernment were known to the traitors.
The forces of the rebels were being
rapidly organized and diciplined Their
munitions OF war they supplied from
the captured forts and arsenals Of the
United States Government. From the
store houses, which they seized, they
supplied their commissariat, and the
mints OF which they took possession
furnished money for carrying on their
reasonable purposes. a Gordon of
troops was being drawn around the
National Capital, at menacing distance,
awaiting the favorable opportunity
to seize upon it with all its treason
and archives. These traitors were in
no holiday mood. They were in
earnest, and their show OF force meant
war, or mean surrender on the part
OF the Government of its national SOW
ereignty and national character. The
issue was thus presented boldly and
clearly-abdication or defence. The
latter alternative was accepted and
soon the war was ablaze al along the
4 border from the Potomac 10 Wilson's
Creek. l need not detail to YOU the
progress, fortunes and results OF that
strugele-you know them already;
how with many defeats and more vic
tories, the leal hearts ana and stout
arms of the loya! American people
vindicated the nation, and brought the
conflict to termination on the basis
of the national unity.


They certainly tail to read human
| character, and show lamentablc ig-
norance of history, who regard the
contest as an ephemeral matter, or one
that was produced by temporary
causes. 1t reached over space and
era to which the little stage OF its op.
erations and the time OF its action were
not commensurate. 1t had ramifca-
tlons and encouragement where ever
men live who detest good govern
ment, and hate virtue.


1t is related in Northern Mythology
that the God OF Force, visiting an en-
chanted region, was challenged by his
royal host to what seemed a humble
feat of strength, merely to lit a cat
from the ground. The god smiled at
the challenge, and placing his hand
under the belly OF the animal, with
superhuman strength strove, until the
back OF the feline monster arehed far
upward beyond his reach, and only
one foot Of the cat had forsaken the
earth. The god at length desisted,
but he was little surprised at his defeat
when he learned that this animal,
which seemed to be cat and nothing
more, was not merely cat, but that it
belonged to, and was par, Of that
great terrestrial serpent, which, with
innumerable folds, encircled the whole
globe.


So as | regard it, this creature,
whose paws were fastened upon the
South, was not merely rebellion
against the government of the United
States, as such. 1t was more than that.
1t was an unholy inpalience OF proper
restraint, the manifestation of hatred
at all good governmental govern
ment by the people, all equality all
liberty-which in manifold forms has
toothold in every nation and in every
land. 1t was this monster, which
draws Its strength from every land
and every cline, that we have seen
defeated in its attempts to bind around
lis another of its disgusting folds.
Like the defeated god we have only
succeeded, with all our success, in lit.
ing one foot Of the creature from the
ground.


l have not ove-lrawn the features
OF that great treason whose partial ie-
teat we have witnessed nor, l fear.
have | drawn them sufficiently clear
and distinct But | trust that | have
said enough to show that the contest
in which our comrades did such val
liant service was one of no ordinary
magnitude.


1t may not be improper for me to
remind vou that those men who CON
siituted the Representatives OF the