The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-12-25
COMMUNICATIONS.
IFoR THE LANCASTER LEDGER
No. III.

The present struggle between the Nor
shern and Southern people, has startled
and perplexed the civilized world. In its
commencement,it would seem, that neither
party anticipated the persistence, which
both have displayed ; nor Can any suffi-
cient reasons be assigned for its con,inu.
ance, much longer. The mighty foreign
trade Of the country has been suspended
the prudent economical habits of the
North have given place to the.most waste.
full expenditure and so far as the results
have been developed, all their caIcuIa-
tions have been disappointed. The
thoughtful men among them, if there be
now any such, must see that "the game
is not worth the candle" AS the war pro,
crosses, their professed object Of main.
tanning the Constitution Of the Union,
has been entirely abandoned for that
Constitution, itself, has been prostra.ed,
throughout their own borders.
History will record that the people
have been afflicted with a madness al
most demoniac. Such intense excitements
are not enduring but must eventually
subside, as FIRE expires for want of fuel.
1t is manifest that the bad spirits, by
whom this frenzy has been inflamed, arc
fearful Of giving the patient time to cool;
and the infatuation is fed by continued
stimulant. The people are hurried from
one abomination to another, ever rushing
on from bad to worse.
Their Government has already drawn
from reluctant capital, all that deIusion
and false promises could seduce them to
contribute; and it now intimidates, and
is preparing to extort, by force, the neces
sary supplies Yet, so far, there is no
substantial fruit no real success. The
truth is studiously shut out from the peo.
pie.
"a sceptre snatched with an unruly hand,
Must be as bosterously maintain'd as gain'd,
And he that stands upon n slippery plice
Makes nice Of no vile hold to stay him up.
Those he commands, move only in command
Nothing in love now does he feel the title
Hang loose upon him, like a Giants robe
Upon dwariish thief"
How long this may continue, none car
foresee ; although the South, against
whom all this blind fury is expended, are
satisfied, that such self consuming mad.
ness, must eventually exhaust itself, and
break like shattered waves, on the rocks
of manly forttude.
The Southern people should regard
their present embarrassment and periIs,
rs Providential chastisement. They
have a magnificent country OF vast extent.
and inexhaustible resources. They are
the appointed guardians Of a numerous
people, who are under their tutiIage, and
protection ; and they must learn, by SO.
we're trials, that state Of supueness and
dependence on others, is unworthy OF
their rich inheritance, and manly respon
,sbiIities.
These are
''But the protractive trials of great Jove
To find persistive constancy in men,
The fneness Of which metal is not found
In fortunes love"
All that we have so far endured, MANY
times multiplied, would not be too great
a ransom for our independence Of the
pernicious Union, to which we were be-
trayed, by false ambition, and the deu-
sions Of selfish avaricc.
The States by combined efforts, with
the aid of the Almighty founder OF ma.
,ions, had won for each, its Sovereignty,
,an nd independence, and the freedom OF the