The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-12-21
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.

Rev. Dr.. Breckenridge, uncle of the trail
tor ex-Vice President Breckenridge, has
comprehensive and powerful article, in the
Danville Quarterly ReUieeU, on the state of
the country, two extracts from which are
as follows:
MORAL CONDITION OF THE CoUNTRY-THE
CRIME OF TREASON.
When we speak of the moral condition
of the country, we do not intend, especial
| ly, its spiritual state, as in the sight of
God. We mean that moral state which is
the sum of all the good and all the evil,
presented in our mixed and confused pro-
stationary state, and presented to US now
and among ourselves, as characteristic Of
our con dition, and as decisively infuentia
upon the future.
This rebellion begins in an outrage upon
many of the clearest obligations of natural
religion; loyalty. love of country, fidelity
to public trusts, gratitude for honors be-
slowed, truth and manhood in the dis
charge of obligations voluntarily assumed,
nay, eagerly sought; how many of the lead
ers Of this rebellion are free from the stain
of their personal honor, of deliberately
transgressing some, or all of those natural
obligations, which no contingency under
heavens can justify any one in violating !
We speak not of the mere fact of treason,
as defined by human laws. What We speak
of is the perGdy, in every revolving form,
which has marked this treason in its birth,
in its growth, and in its present frantic
struggle. Men seeking to overthrow mon
uments cemented by the blood of their i'm
mediate ancestors. Men dishonoring their
names, ilustrious through many genera
tons. Men betraying their friends, their
neigbbors, their kindred. Men seducing
children to take up arms against their par
ents. and then banding them with savages
| to desolate their own homes with fire and
sword. 1t is a madness-a fearful mad
ness. No madness can be greater, except
the madness that could induce this great
nation to suppose that God allows it to let
this go unpunished.
! HOPELESS BANKRUPTCY OF THE TRAITORS.
It seems to US impossible for
the Southern States. even if the war could
| be arrested at once, to extricate themselves
from their deplorable financial condition,
without extreme sacrifices; just as it seems
to us that the main source of their afffu-
ence, in their own opinion-their virtual
/
worlds forever ended. If they pr0tract
this war to their utmost power, the Confed-
crate Government, and every State Govern
ment connected with it, will come out of the
war utterly bankrupt. The creditors of all
those Governments will be so far ruined as
the loss of some thousand millions of dol
lars due them by those Governments can
ruin their creditors Some thousand mill
ions more will be sunk in individual losses
unconnected with the Governments. Every
species of property will fall. over one half
or more, in its merchantable value. The
whole paper currency, after falling gradu-
ally till it csases to be competent for any
payment at all, will fall as an entire loss on
the holders of it, the precious metals hav-
ing long ago ceased to circulate. In the
mean time. if the country is not speedily
conquered, it passes over from the hands of
the present usurpers into the hands of three
or four hundred thousand armed men, hose
only means of existence is in their arms
This. in every item of it. means desolation.
In the aggregate. it presents condition
which al the statesmen In the world have
not the wisdom to unravel int prosperity,
without first passing through multiplied
evilg, the least of which is infinitely greater