The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-06-04

are swept away ; we forget that we have
ever been partizans we remember only
that we are Americans, and that our
country is in peril. | speak,
fellow citizens, in no spirit of unkind-
ness TO the South 4 In no
part of the Union have l more, or more
valued friends f; but as Heaven is my
judge it Is my most profound and solemn
conviction that it is infinitely more de-
sirable for the South than the North that
this suicidal attempt to break up the I'm
ION should be frustrated"
The reference in this latter extract to
the Southern interests involved in this
movement, reminds me of the opinion
expressed on this subject, quarter of a
century since, by one of their ablcst and
purest statesmen, Hugh S. Legare,
of South Carolina. When Minister to
Brussels, in 1885, he thus wrote, in a
letter to friend in Charleston, express
ing his views on the subject of "nullii-
cation: Not only is it truly afilict-
ing, for one so much under the influence
of local attachment as am, to think of
the old families of the State leaving their
homes in it forever, but there is a still
more serious and deeper cause of regret
in such state Of facts. 1t shows, AS
have always felt, how terribly uncertain
our whole existence in the South is. 4
y Alas, my dear friend, the Judge
is right, as very much fear, and, in
J,ol Lo, tl,o, Eoo,oI 4
saw the success of notification in de-
moralizing some of our best people.
X In short whatever some OF us
may think of the expediency of having
originally established a Southern Confed-
eracy instead ofhe present, the dag is for
eper gone dy-an the mischief, aohatever 1t
be, IS done olready-and things can only
be made worse, and desperately soorse, By
an attempt Ga vain attempt besides it
would be, tor the South will not make a
united people) to rectify the mistake
now"
In the opinion, therefore, OF the wi
sest friends of the South, our defense of
the Government will tend to secure the
best interests Of the South herself, as
well as of all other portions Of the I'm
ion.
But, to return from the depression.
was speaking of the fact that the issue of
civil war has been made, and must be
met. Indeed for six months past war
has virtually been levied by the foes of
the Republic. The Government has
long endured insult and injury, endeav-
oring to avoid direct collision, and to
save the country from the calamities of
civil war. But advantage has been ia
ken of that forbearance to carry out the
conspiracy for the destruction of the I'm
ion. 4" Never, in the history of human
governments say the editors of the
most widely circulated religious journal
on the continent, a journal that has been
distinguished for its earnest advocacy of
peace on any reasonable terms" was
greater forbearance manifested than bv
our own. Ii self-reproach or regret ev-
er comes, it will be on account Of this
long suffering patience, while States and
people were Selling upon the forts, the
arms, and the money of the general gov
crnment, and turning the weapons pre-.
pared for protection, against the very
life of the government that protected
them. The first gun that was fired
against Fort Sumter was the knell of
peace. Every shot was aimed at the
heart of the American Government"
Since, therefore, war, and that in cir
cumstances of aggravated atrocity, has
been made by the secessionists against
the government, the existence of war
must be accepted as fact. The war
must be met. And the more energetic
ally it is met, the more speedily will the
controversy be settled, and the less will
be the blood shed. Life is indeed the
costliest Of all sacrifices to lay upon the
altar of our country. But it were better,
if need be, that You and l, my friends,
aud ten thousand others, should make
the sacrifice, than that the foundations of
this government should be destroyed.
And If by our want of fidelity at this
cvenlful crisis, our noble institutions
should be subverted, and tide of anar-
chy and lawless violence roll over the
land, in that state of things We shall en-
dure the just punishment Of our recrean
cy TO our solemn trust.
But the apprehension of such disas
ter as the overthrow Of this Government,
however appropriate it might have been
a few months ago, would now be out Of
place. In the spontaneous uprising of
an lnsulled, but magnanimous and brave
people at their country's calm the
blending OF all party issues in the one
overwhelming sentiment Of PATRIOTISM
lii The earnest suppllcations offered to the
Supreme Ruler OF the universe, accom-
panied by The prudent and energetic use
OF the means for the preservation and
perpetuily OF our noble insti,ulions-in
the efficiency Of our patriotic Administra-
tion-in the protecting care of Divine
Providence over us III the past, and his
apparent designs in regard to our coun-
try's mission in the luture-l see much
TO encourage hope. nay, to remove any
doubt. Of the successful termination Of
this struggle in the yindication Of the
right, and the preservation of all that is
most valuable in our free Government.
And am glad to know that christian
men are not behind their fellow patriots,
IN coming To the rescue. From pastors