Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-31
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 81, 1851
To Be Acknowledged as Bel
ligerents.

Although our present struggle for ma.
tional integrity and unity, is as just as any
ever instituted in the prostration of rebel
lion, we begin to see that those who have
control of it, upon our side arc not equal
for the emergency-a wavering of purpose
seems visible in high places, which seems
as if our rulers were lost in the contem
plation of the undertaking. The truth is,
and we are all, with all our wisdom, be-
ginning to appreciate it; the most saga
cious of us, three months ago, knew moth
ing of what we talked about so fippaptly
We had no idea whatever of the duration,
the desolating consequences of a civil war
carried on for but three months,in q coun.
try like this, and even now We have no
adequate comprehension of what it will be
If another spring returns and sees it still
unfinished. But how could we, tie multi.
tudc know much, when the bes, Informed
were far at fault. The distinguished Pre-,
mier of the present Administration, gen
tleman of rare attaiumcnts, and wonder
full subtlety, assured Of the citizens of New
York city, only a few days prior to his ia.
king his seat in the present cabinet, that
the rumbling of the then distant thunder of
rebellion, was but passing spasm, and
that in "sixty days" all would be peace,
contcntmen. and rcpose. The president
himself, after exchanging views with men
from every section of the Union, delibo
rately told the villagers of Springfield that
the present commotion was "merely fcti.
tious," and the good, cozy man labored
under that pleasing dolusion, until facts
stubborn and naked, changed his opinion
How then could the million have any just
conception of the approaching trouble when
the captain and pilot both cried ont calls
right and we'll"
After the Inauguration of the Admins.
tration the President and the conservative
men under him, did endcavor to prove
their predictions, of no danger, truo-
They could not hold out, however, against
fanaticism and folly. The bloody teach
ings of Gan irrepressiblc conflict" were to
be put in practice, and the practical illus
tration Of the relative power of the two
sections tested to the very death. Since
the commencement, Abolitionism has had
control. They are moro responsible for
the unanimity Of the South in this rebel.
lion than iancy and all his crew. Their
violence and hatred of everything South
ern drew Alex. II. Stephens, and others
like him, into the rebellion; it was their
criminal thirst for blocd that fastened
Scott to lose our first great battle, and it
will be their infamous counsel which will
retard everything calculated to secure
lasting peace.
We are anticipating, however; we
meant to direct attention to. the following
extract from the special Washington cor
respondent of the New York Horld, a pa
per believed to be the mouthpiece of the
conservative wing of the Cabinet. 1t looks
like feeler, and as if the Southern rebel.
lion will de acknowledged by our govern
mcnt as belligerent.
A sentiment in favor of the recognition
OF the rebels as belligercnts Is gaining
ground among leading men at the capital.
The opinions Of some on this subject have
been changed by contingencies, resulting
from the capture of so many federal troops
and officers at Bull Run.
No loyalist acknowledges the right of the
southerners to claim the attitude in ques-
ton; that their prlvatcersmen are any
better than pirates, their generals entitled
to be addressed as such, or their pseudo
government worthy to enter into communi-
cation with the administration it seeks to
overthrow.
But it is urged that from military necessity
and for military convenience we must rec
'gnize them, under protest, as belligcrcnts
and then-whtp them.
Our short experience has already shown
.he difficulties opposing another course ;
hat where enemies, though rebels, muster
armies which can be counted by tens of
thousands, they command for themselves
BY might, if not by right, any equal ad-
vantage which the formalitics OF modern
Tarfar insure to contending partcs.-
People say that it is beneath the dignity
If government, to send flags of truce to
Insurgents, our pride has sadder fall in
-he Q0Ss intercourse which has been kept
lp since the 2lst of July; that, if we adj
'ress Beaurogard or johnson at all, We