Smyrna times., 1861-05-16
A Seeded Border State View of the
Contest,

OOACCoCI
The following from the Richmond IVhig in
reference to President Lincons proclamation
for additional troops, shows the sentiment of
the people in that section of the South:
From the meeting of the last Congress at
washington, In December, till its adjournment,
IN March, four toilsom, anxious months were
spent In appeals TO Northern patriotism and
good feeling. All that was hopeful and good
and earnest il the councils of the Confederacy
devoted itself with intense soicitude to the
work of reconciliation and peace. The North
ern people were conjured by every argument
and motive that could effect their reason and
touch their hearts, TO meet their Southern
fellow-cItIzens half way, in the spirit Of kind
ness and compromise. They were besought
TO rescue the Union from disruption they were
lmplored to save its broken fragments from the
stain and shame Of blood They responded
coldly or not at all. Congressional committees
proposed plans of settlement, and they were
hooted down by the leaders, press and people
The Peace Conference interpOsed its patriotic
onhces only to be derided. Not a Governor
not Legislature, not county, not a town, as
the Baltlmore Erchdnge says, from MIME to
Masons and DlXon's line, gave ear TO the call
peace, or real sympathy to those who uttered
It, Here and there few scattered meetings,
and presses, lifted themselves tor the moment
above the mire of partlzanship and responded
as became them. But the hearts of masses of
the North were dead 10 every appeal ofbrolher-
mood, and the four months ended more in dark
ness and hopelessness than they began. Mr.
Lincoln assumed his place. He promised peace,
and his promise was almost believed But he
was not allowed to redeem il, if he meant it
md
goaded him to war. Those who, before, had
been only passively hostile, iubilant at the
hope of collision. When all had been made
ready, the collision came. The whole expe-
dltion to Charleslon-the whole suggestion OF
reIIeveing SumtGr-was teint and a trick, to
tempt the Confederate army into striking the
nrst blow, so the demagogues might kndle the
the passions of the North, by talking of insult
AID Outa {e to the flag of the Union. The
blow WIS struck. He wen will Judge to whom
Its responsibility belongs. The proclamation
followed, calling the North to arms And what
do we behold =! Cities, that were deaf 10 the
appeals OF peace, are now rampant at the sum
mons to the field. States, that might have
saved the Union by kindly word, and vet re-
fused TO say II, are now emptying their treas
uries TO accoutre soldiers. Enthusiasm and
energy, one tlhe Of which directed 10 the ga /.
VaElon OF the republic, would have rescued II
from perils tenfod greater than those to which
1t has yielded, are now laVished upon the ap-
plIances of fratricide and &c .olation.
What can all this mean 1t can signify but
one thing. 1t opens our eyes, in spite of US
to the melancholy truth. that the North had
rather try to compel the obedience of the South,
by brutal force, than keep or win its affections
Repel the conclusion as we may, it forces us
to feel and know, that the bond OF Brotherhood
IS broken and gone forever that the Union,
even at the North, is priced no longer, unless
It can be used as a chain and a domination
Union so jude ed and valued, though it survived
the present strife, must have soon gone down
1 some other battle. No men, calling them
'e YES free, can long live in fellowship, under
the same government, with other men, who
had rather attempt to subjugate them than do
them justice.