Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-24
Democracy and the War.

We commend to the attentive conside-
ration of our readers of all political par
ties, the following article from the Albany
AtlaS and ArghS-the leading Democrat
ic journal of New York. 1t presents, in
calm and temperate manner, the several
phases of the war question, and gives its
own views as to the best and most practi.
cable mode of bringing the war to an end.
1t opposes separation upon any terms,-
denounces the attempt tc make the war one
of slavery emancipation, as directly sub
versive of the Consttution-ponts out the
danger and almost absolute impractcabil-
ity of holding the rebelious States in sub.
jugation by military power-and finally
advises the restoration of the Union by the
exercise of the same spirit of forbearancc,
conciliaton and compromise that inspired
our fathers when it was originally formed.
Surely these suggestions are both rational
and patriotic; and the more they arc con-
sidered, the more will all rejecting men
see their force and propriety. We believe
the time is not far distant when the peo-
pie will take the very ground here presen-
ted, and demand conclusion of the war
upon just such terms. In this belief we
copy the article, and give it our hearty
endorsement
There may be four different modes of
treating the present war, each of which
probably finds more or less favor in the
minds of the people at the present time
Let us dwell briefly upon them scverally.
l. Separation: The Administration,
pressed with the terrible responsibility of
conducting such a war as this, is likely to
be tempted to find relief from it in letting
the seeding States go--in asserting first,
perhaps, to truce, but finally to a scpa-
ration. Whatever denials may be inter.
posed by the friends of the President--in.
deed, whatever may be his own feelings on
this point at this time-it is easy to see
that, as difficulties multiply, as the full
magnitude OF this war reveals itself, the
tendency of events will be to incline him to
escape from the horrors which cluster
| around him through the pathway of sepa-
ration.
TO this mode Of relief portion of the
Republican party-the extreme Anti Sla.
very portion, and Tile Tribune school
will readily assent, and, indeed will de-
r mand this course, unless their wish to con
, vert the war into an abolition crusade can
be gtatiicd. We need hardly say what
we have so often reiterated to this
mode of ending the war, we are emphati.
cally opposed, as full of calamitics for the
; future. If such result becomes necess>
ity, the nation must submit to it, as to any
other unavoidable afllictiou, but We are in
favor of resisting it to the extent of the
ability Of the Government, and until fur,
: ther resistance is mere madness.
2. Emanc1pqtton 1t cannot be denied
that there is large class of Jealous sup
porters of the war, whose principal inter
est in it is the hope that it will assume the
character of q war of emancipation of the
slaves and become a grand crusade for
freedom. 1t is quite apparent that this
can never occur without an utter disre-
gard of the Constitution, and practical
subversion of our present form of Govern.
ment-but this matters little with the ad-
vocates Of this plan, they are men of "onc
idea abolition of slavery is,in their view
the only good to be accomplished and ev-
cry thing else should be sacrificed to that
end. If the war cannot assume this miss
ion, they are for separation. The men of
this class are more numerous than may be
generally supposed. They include not
merely your Cheevers and Beechers and
Greeleys, but vast Anti Slavery army
which swelled the triumph of Republican,
ism at the last election. The Adminstra-
tion has already disastrously felt the pres
sure of this radical wing of its party and
given way before it in its "on to Rich
mond" movement, 1t will continue to feel
it, and amid the difficulties and trials
which this war will involve, will be sorely
, tempted to hoist the banner of negro eman-
cipation, and, it is quite within the limits
POSSIBILITY, may do it. We need hard y
say that such a movement-such usur-
} patton of power and subversion of the Con-
: stitution-will be opposed by Democrats
and conservative citizens to the bitter end =,
and can hardly fail to produce counter
!. revolution at the North,
3. SuJugation; There is plausibil-
ity in insisting that this rebellion should
be crushed out and rebel States brought
back simply to their loyalty to the feder-
al laws and the Constitution, and we have
nothing to urge against the motives of
those, who advocate the prosecution of the
war, solely for that end. They sre acting
within the limits of the Copstirution-en
gagged in upholding the dignity and power
indeed the very existence of the Govern
ment, and as far as they 60, they are act
ing wisely and well, and certainly have
our sympathy and cooperation, an we be-
: lieve, that of Democrats and conservative
men penerallv Bnt In all soherness and