The southern aegis., 1861-09-28
Some Reasons Why We Ought to Oppose
the Present War.


Frst-Because war is, at best terrible neces-
ty, not to be resorted to until all amicable means
ofsettling national difficulties have been ex-
hausted.
1t is well known that ever since the election of
Mr.. Lincoln, the Republican party has resisted
every practical suggestion in favor of peace that
has been offered.
Toward the close Of the last session of Congress,
when final effort was made in the Senate on be-
half of the Crittenden resolutions, the motion was
defeated, one of the Senator's think has name is
Hale, saying: "We have more important business
on hand-we have Tariff to pass.''
Second-Because it is a civil war, of all wars
the most cruel and exhausting, and the most re-
pugnant to the present age.
IhTd-Because, if successful, it must be over
the ruins of the Republic. We shall have gov
ernment but it will not be the government of the
United States.
1t is an abuse of terms to speak of Union on
compulson, a Union of equals" consisting of
conquerors and conquered; besides, a government
asserted by force must be maintained by force ;
and the power necessary to hold in subsection one
halt OF the country is standing menace to the lib
critics of theSremainder.
Fourth-BecausG it cannot succeed Eight
millions of free people, inhabiting such a country
as they possess, accustomed to the use of arms
hghtlng, as they verify believe, for their lives and
for all that makes life precious, cinnot be con-
quered
Fyth-Because we enter upon it without the
morh support of the great Christian nations of
the earth and in prosecuting it are very likely
to embroil ourselves with them.
Ssrth-Because war will not settle our difficult
ties; 1t will only aggravate them. We shall
nave to negotiate sooner or later and had better
do so at the threshold of bitter war than at its
close.
Sepenth-Because of the spirit of awlessness
and fcrocity it is creating. The hand on the dial
seems to have gone three centuries backward
since this war commenced.
Etghh-Because of the conditions on which it
is waged-submission determination.
Ninh-Because it will promote the unfriendly
designs OF our great foreign rival in trade and
power
Tenth-Because it will prove ruinous to our
great cities, and highly injurious to the country
at large. 1t will load the country with heavy
national debt withdraw the strength of our pop
ulation from the pursuits of peaceful industry to
life ofhigh excitements and Irregularities drive
our commerce from the seas, or send it skuking
under convoy; the healthful channels of enterprise
and profit will be choked up the capital of the
country will be boarded or absorbed by the gov
ernment for warlike uses consumers and dlers
will be multiplied, producers will be dmnished
property will depreciate in value; the hard earned
credit and wealth of years will vanish away
there will be general bankruptcy all classes
will suffer; and the poor and vicious will be
greatly increased Such are some of the follow
ers in the train of this war. How greatly will
these evils be multiplied and aggravated in case
the war should fail of its object.
E'eoemh-Because of its tendency to demoral-
ize the government, and make it one stupendous
Jobblng concern for the benefit of contractors and
their confederates
Ipeyh-Because the Declaration of Indepen-
dence asserts the right of a people "to dissolve
the political bonds which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth the separate and equal station to
ento ho gerersn,s ann 1i are insffuted
among men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, that whenever any form
OF government becomes destructive of the ends
for which it was instituted, it is the right of the
people to alter and abolish it, and to institute
new government, laying its foundation in such
principles and organizing its power in such forms
which shall seem more likely to effect their safety
and happiness"
When New York ratified the Constitution she
expressly reatirmed those principles, and further
sad " That the powers of the government may
be reassumed by the people whenever it shall be-
come necessary for their happiness ~ the ratif-
cations of Rhode Island and of Virginia are TO
the same effect. These express conditions apply
to all of the States for all arc equal.
7hirteenth-Becauset this government was found
ed on voluntary consent; to assume that it must
be maintained by iorce is to admit that it is
failure.
F0urteenth-Because, in waging it, we as
people stultiy ourselves in all our pretensions to
the right and capacity of selfgovernment. We
vindicate the preensions of Great Britain in her
attempts to coerce the Colonies and maintain her
government. We make our forefathers traitors,
and the Declaration of Independence the round
robin OF a nest of consprators against law, order
and government.
1t makes world of difference whether we rur
with the hare or hunt with the hounds
FyteehM-Because it is not, as some suppose, n
war to sustain our government, but war to COM
pei other States, our equals. to continue members
of q government they do moi. choose to have.
Sirteenth-Because it is war for supremacy,
and not for the Constitution, a war of despera-
ton, and not of hope.
Thousands in the land believed that when Mr..
Lincoln was elected the Union was lost. Subse-
quent events confirmed those apprehensions: but
only of late has the heavy truth struck home.-
We begin to realize the loss our commercial po-
sition, if not our very existence, threatened by
protection at the North, and free trade at the
South, our national pretensions humbled, our
visions of unbounded greatness rudely dispelled;
our prosperity turned to adversely; on all sides
baffled and perplexed we yield to our passions,
fly to arms ana seek those desperate courses;
(which, if not victory, are yet revenge"
Seuenteenh-Because it is inexpedient; and,
excuse me for saying it, unnatural. Instead of
making the best of our misfortunes we or: MAX
ing the worst of them. Wisdom, true patriotism,
high conduct the respectable opinion Of ofmankind,
religion, all tell US "Let these people go."-
Protest, if you please, (saying nothing of your
own share in the business in terms of rhetoric
the most dignifed and touching, against the
course they have taken, and the ruin they have &C
comnliShp1. hnt 1at them oO. fa fhnr, nh
tile battles of the Revolution shoulder to shoulder
with their fathers; the ashes of your dead minple
in the soil ofevery State from Maine to California;
your sons have taken of their daughters to wife
ye are brethren ye have been baptized with the
same baptism-have wept at the same graves.
"And Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife,
Ipray thee, between me and thee, and between
my herdsmen and thy herdsmen, for we be breth-
rem Is not the whole land before then? Sepa-
10 tL.;sals I +laaa a.