The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-07-03
DR.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, on
the War.

be vast. Contlngently, however, INC
most immediate and direct issue Of it can
have but one Of two results. Either the
seeded States must return TO their loyal
Nv to the nation, and their position as
members of the United States of Amer
lea, or the secession party must be able TO
yindicate, by arms, the course upon which
they have entered, and, maintaining the
independence Of rs many of the States
rs may finally adhere TO thom, those
States must be acknowledged by the
American people and Government as n
separate nation. Of course, there can
be no such result as the conquest Of the
seeded States, and the holding them as
Provinces or Territories, by the Federal
Government. Such an attempt is not TO
be thought of as possible-nor to be en-
tertained, for moment, even if it were
possible, as a permanent policy-but, be-
yopd all this, even if it were polite aud
easy, il would be even more abhorrent, IT
possible, than secession itself, 10 the feel
ings of the American people, and the
principles Of American liberty. Which
of these issues will DO realized depends,
apparently, OH the event of the war; con-
corning which we will add something
presently, seeing the probabilities of that
event ought to be a weighty consideration
with both parties TO it. In the meantime
let it be observed, that the mere state
ment of the case makes it manifest that
the war entered upon by the nation, not
as one of aggression and conquest, but
one of self-dcfence and selfpreservation,
can be conducted only as war upon the Sc
cession party and Government-and not
rs war against the people of the South;
a war, therefore, which would end of it.
self, upon tho overthrow of the secession
party, and the suppression Of the Confed-
crate Government erected by that party.
at seems to remain then, that the sol
itary result of the war is the restoration
of the seeded States to the Union, or
the triumph of the arms Of the secession
lists over the nation. The more complete
ly this great truth is fixed in the minds
of all parties, the better Cor all. The
moro thoroughly the nation understands
that il is fighting neither for vengeance
nor conquest, but directly for selfpreser-
vation--and remotely for the mainte-
nance of its independence in the face of
all other nations, and for its future peace,
security and advancement in the glorious
career now threatened to be cut short; the
moro it will be disposed to prosecute the
war forced upon it, in tho manner which
becomes such people, driven into such
a conflict. And the more completely
those who are in arms against the nation
realize that what they seek is really not
attainable; and the moro clearly the
States and people now seduced or terrified
into a revolt so unnatural understand that
the suppression of that revolt means, not
their degradation, but their restoration to
all that was won by the valor, and con-
firmcd by the wisdom of their ancestors
the more certain will be the cure of their
present frenzy--the more rapid their deliv-
erance from the decisions under which
they have erred exceedingly-and the
more thorough their overthrow Of the
faction now leading them to destruction.
But it seems to us perfectly inevita-
bic, that without the special interposition
of God for the destruction of this great
nation, the certainty is colnplete-that
the independence Of the Confederate
States cannot be established rs the result
of this war. In the degree that this
judgment may be supposed to be just,
two conclusions, both Of them of great
weight, follow. The first is, the wicked
ness and folly not only of the revolt it.
sell, but of the whole spirit and method
in which it has been prosecuted; the Sec
oud is the certainty that the fact itself,
in proportion rs it becomes manifest must
weaken, throughout the whole South, the
purpose TO prosecute conflict so ruinous
and so bootlcss. No doubt there arc wars
which may be prosecuted to the last ex-
tremity; and, no doubt, many thousands
Of seeessionists may have persuaded them
selves that this is such n war, or may
have so deeply wrecked all other hopes
that only this desperate stake is left to
them. But the dictates of reason and
morality-the judgement Of mankind
and the irreversible decree of posterty,
is different here. This is revolt, whose
complete success would not have justified
the war into which it has plunged great
country; and therefore, the certainty of its
failure robs its continuance of all ptetext.
And such, at no distant period, may be
expected to be the judgment Of the great
mpss of the Southern people; and by
consequence, their peaceful and cordial re-
turn TO their loyalty; and to the exercise
of all their rights as citizens of the Uni
ted States-instead of being preposter-
GUS dream--is not only the most probable,
but apparently the certain result, of a
wise and courageous treatment of affairs
LoG1c.- JIM" said a joker to his
friend, one day, "Can't prove TO you