The Alleghanian

One Year Ago.

One year ago we were tremblingly hanging on the verge of rebellion, yet still in doubt that there were any parties so desperate as to seriously contemplate the dismemberment of the American Union. The secession of South Carolina and her sister rebel states had in a manner demonstrated the determined purpose of the traitors, and yet the loyal free states were filled by men who persisted in urging that such acts of secession were not the result of any sincere deliberation on the part of the rebels, and that if the government would act discreetly and wisely, the states thus in revolt would be brought back to their allegiance, and the authority they forcibly renounced, would be at once more peaceably recognized. And in this spirit the government treated the rebels so far as any demonstration was concerned. Its authority was asserted, but not enforced, because the enforcement might aggravate instead of allay rebellion, and thereby a band of brave men were exposed to the fire of a gang of rebels, and the national honor so long pent up in Forts Moultrie Sumter, was at last violated by the most dastardly attack that ever was made on any military force in the history of the world.

In one year this nation has accomplished the most stupendous work of the age.—Our resources were unknown, and in many instances, where developed, they were denigrated. and the superiority of the south extolled by the very men from whom the government and the loyal states had a right to expect other conduct and speeches. One year ago, the then Secretary of War, Gen. Simon Cameron, was left in a dilemma such as would have appalled an ordinary man. The other Departments of the government, as it were, stood idle and demanded of the Department over which he presided, the means and the material with which to restore the nation to peace. The eyes of the nation were directed to the War Department while the head of that Department could scarcely trust a single officer of the regular army then in Washington, from the simple fact that treason first showed itself with more effrontery in the army and navy than in any other branch of the government. Officers were resigning who had passed their lives in idleness, drawing the money of the government for their support, while the proud capital of the nation was left defenceless, beseeching succor and protection from the liberality and promptness of the War Department.

The experience of another year, if it maintain a like character of the year that is past, will place this government in a very strong position before the nations of the world. In one year we recruited, armed and disciplined an army of six hundred thousand men. In one year we counteracted the labors of the ablest and shrewdest villains in the world, as they contemplated the destruction of this government. There never has been anything to equal it in the past, and there never will be anything to compare to it in the future, unless we excel the past in the coming year, by an achievement of immortal magnitude. One condition of affairs is certain. After we have conquered the rebellion, put an end to its mischievous jealousies, and re-established the federal authority in all the States and Territories of the Union, we will either have the world at our throats or our feet. Our war with traitors is as likely to end in a war with foreign nations as it is certain that foreign nations hope for our destruction, and are ready at any time to strike a blow to hurry on such a conclusion. Let us then look forward to another year with hope and noble resolution to meet every other emergency that may arise as we met rebellion. With more than a half a million of well-trained, hardy and intelligent fighting men in the field; with a navy that is daily growing in force and effectiveness, the worst thing that can possibly happen for our jealous neighbors over the waters, will be the termination of this rebellion. Let those who doubt this, wait a year, and then expose our sophistries if the assertion proves false.—Harrisburg Telegraph.