The national Republican., 1861-08-22
CIVIL WAR CONFINED To THE SOUTH

CIVIL WAR CONFINED To THE SOUTH.
Civil wars are those waged between citizens
OF the same country, arising from differences of
religion, or race, or more usually, from diver
stiles of preference between different dynsaties.
chieftains, or parties. Such wars are rroverb- |
tally more cruel and destructive than external |
wars. They divide neighborhoods, and even |
families into hostile Factions, sad q human
passions are intensified by the nearness Of the |
object Of resentment, civil wars have been sig- |
nalized in all ages by Assassination, conIasca. |
ton, and the EXTREMIST use Of the power Of
victors over the vanquished.
In this proper sense Of civil war, the United
States, as whole, are not now involved In one.
Whether the existing struggle be regarded as
waged between the National Government and
an iusurrectiouary locality, or as one between
two great sections Of the country, Il is still not
war in which the parties combatant are In
termixed in the same community, and is there.
tore not civil war in any essential character
istic. So far as the North Is concerned, st any
rate, It Is as completely an external war ~ that
with Mexico was.
It is in the South that this struggle is assn.
mipg the malignant features of civil war, tbs
struggle being as yet confined 10 limited local
tiles, but before long to extend to tie Gulf Of
Mexico and to the Rio Grande. Where il exists,
and as fast and as far as ii extends II Is attend
ed with al intensity Of animosity, which those
remote from 1t will find 1t somewhat difficult
to thoroughly realize. The feeble passions,
evoked by the struggle between the Govern
,nent and rebellion, or between the North and
the South, sink into insignifcance in compar-
ison with that fury Of hate with which the
Union and dsunion parties Of the South pursue
each other. Father is srrayed against son,
brother against brother, and neighbor against
neighbor. For the one party, or for The other
there is nothing but submission, or exile, OF
death. Men arc stripped Of their property and
driven naked away, buoyed up by the single
hope of returning to take vengeance on their
enemies. This is what we are Witnessing to-day
in Virginia and Missouri. It 10 Whist We should
witness to-day in Baltimore, If the fires Of In.
fernal passions were not smothered by IN over.
whelming pressure OF military power. 1t ID
what we shall witness everywhere at the South
as the advancing national armies enable the
Union men, now silenced but still wstchful, 10
assert their long suppressed opinions.
This struggle between the two parties at the
South is most painful subject of cootsupls
tion, whether we regard the terrible scenes o
blood and spoliatiou by which 1t is and vii
be marked, or the relentless feuds which 1t vii
leave behind, and which II will require more
than one generation 10 obliterste. The strug
gle, nevertheless, exists, and can have no othe
issue than clear victory for the ono side, OF
the other How it is to be settled Is question
OF power, but there is no medicsment of com
promise, which can heal it up. Aud that sucl
struggle exists, so incapable Of adjustment
and so fraught with the inevitable ruin of on
Of the parties TO IT, Is a circumstance which, il
itself, precludes the possibility Of an assent b.
the Government to the separation of any q
the States from the Union. We can never d.
liver up our friends to the unbridled will
their and our infuriatsd enemies.
The question is sometimes stated rs one ,
embarrassment, what shall be done with Nj
Davis. Mr.. Toombs, Mr.. Slldell, and their oon
peeIs, when this war is terminated? No sue
question will ever embarrass the National Go,
ernnent. 1t is the Union men Of the South wh
will inaict vengeance upon these traitors, and Ii
nation will have no other duty than to tempe
this vengeance as far as possible, by sugge
tions Of humanity aud forbearanee.