23 principles. They may be the best for some countries. The Republican form of government is the one we prefer for ourselves, and for that, in its purity, and its strength, we are offering up our substance, and pouring out our blood like water. We are contending for that scheme of government for which Washington and the rest of the Fathers took up arms ; for the integrity of our country, for our national existence, for the Christian civilization of our land, for our commerce, our arts, our schools ; for all those earthly things which we have been taught most to cherish and respect Such being the magnitude of the stake in this contest, can it be wondered at, that we feel that all that wehave, and all that we can do, should be given to our country in this its great hour of trial. If there be a man among us who does not feel thus, he should leave us. We cannot endure the thought of a traitor in the midst of us. For ourselves, we are willing to make every sacrifice necessary to secure the triumph of the Government. It can have all the resources of twenty millions of people. All we ask of it is, that it shall use themquickly, vigorously and wisely. Let us have no disunited counsels, no uncertain policy, no insufficient armaments, no paltering with rebellion. The crisis is most serious and imminent. The nation is not in a mood for trifling. It believes that the surest means of suppressing the rebellion are the best. It complains only of delays, vacillation, weakness. li; wishes the strength of the nation to be collected, and when collected, used, so that not a vestige of revolt remain. We know that we have the men and the means ; we only demand of the Government that it do what it is bound to do, use them with singleness of purpose, with well-considered plan,, under the lead of the wisest counsel and the most skillful command. This rebellion is a matter between ourselves and the rebels. No person other than an American has anything to do with it. If another intrudes into it, we must regard and treat him as an enemy. And if any foreign Government, forgetting its own duties, attempts to interfere in our affairs, the attempt must be repelled, as we are sure it will be repelled, with that firmness and spirit which become the American people and their representatives. If there be anything about which we are all agreed, it is
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