Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-03-30

sed-aycs 90, noes q.
RECONSTRUCTION. Whilst all men should
lament and deplore the disruption OF our
farmer government, and the dissolution OF
our former Union-whilst all should see the
folly of attempting to restore that Union by
hostile or coerciye measures whilst the NOV
ing cause Of the present disastrous condition
OF affairs must be admitted to be the course
and conduct of the Northern States for the
last eight or ten years-wh'lst the preciplta;c
action Of South Carolina, and the separate
State proceedings of the other seeded States,
in our opinion, were urwise, impolltlc, AMI
unjust towards the Border Slave States, II
is. nevertheless, looking in the face the ac-
tua condition of thingS--and ackno" icdg-
ing the difficulties that surround Us, and the
great difficulty, especially, created by the
formation OF another Coniederacy and anoth
er Government out of what was once the
United States-it is, We say, surol y not M
7,utriofic 10 indulge in the fond h0pe-oyen
if it be hoping against hope-and to unite
in cfforts-eyen though they may be unsuc'
cessful, of seeing and endeavOring to secure
. "Reconstruction" of our old government
. and Union. The hope and the efforts may
be, as they are, decried and denounced
and vet this Reconstruction, if possible, is,
in truth, the earnest desire of tue great mass
of the people of the country--at least, with
the exception Of three or four States A.
IN evidence of this on the part OF even those
who have been looked upon as not very
strong Union men, take the following
from the Baltimore Sun--u juarnal whose de-
cided course, and whose sentiments through
ont the troubles, are we'll known. That
paper SAYS in its yesterdays issue
I'VE believe we interpret the true feeling
Of this State when We say that tbis desire
for 4 reconstruction oi the Uulon, with more
plainly expressed guarantees OF the rights
Of the Southern slave States, anlniaies III
reality the Great body Of our people this day
But these desires are scattered, Sn'ouiuer~
inr and inactive. They must he mas>"G
tnrather to make their effort unmi9takahie.
IF marty is to he formed, therefore, which,
proposes to itself any beneticent result, 1t
ought 70 be organized for the purpose OF
anahlinr She ueOplc TO act effectively IN TINS
work If reconstruction. The time between
this period unG .iIe meeting OF tue L"gisl;I,
ture - not TOO long Tor So good work; and We
shall have, after it has elapsed, time enough
10 do our appointed tax we'll. Nations
broken asundcr do not adjust in Il year their
shattered parts to all the needs o. Il separate
life: nor d. they lose in that brief space the
adhesive quality which enables SklIiul hands
to reunite them. In our case. all external
influences favor suci, reunion. Therc Is
nor n nation upon the earth which ft:;oiceS
IN our disaster There is II t q people which
would not contribute to the Te.eStahl'Hiimahf
Of eur national existence. There is not Il
King in Europe who is not more sensible OF
The evils which orr disorders Ill bring upon
the commerce Of the world, than yrauted by
the fatal tribute which we pay to royal pro-
uhecies concerning the instability ii popu-
lar governments. Is it possible .hat the Gn-
Welding obstoncy of the North VIII PERFECT
irate the ruinous divisions Of this country
In furtherance Of this, and in evident con-
demuation Of precipitate secession aud sep
ar4te State action, and in favor .; the media
ton Of the Border States, the san add>:-
I'VE, alhering to the Union, even a:."r
these outrag2s have been perpetratcd, must
demand icom the magnanimity Of these
Northern States, j. not from their justice
such amendments OF their local laws US will
suffice to maintain our rights, and such
change in the constitution aud federal laws
as will prevent discordS from spsinging up
hereafter between them and ourselves. We
have right TO expect such guarantees as we
require to be accorded from the justice and
masoanimity of the Northern States. If
these concessions, so indispensable 10 Us,
are made--as they ought to be-the North
ern States would enable Us to approach the
seeding States as mediators, bearing IN oGr
hands the fruits Of our fidelity to all sections
OF the Union. Yielding 10 Us Our reasona-
lie demands would involve no sacrifice OF
the honor Of the free States, for we have not
resisted the exercise Of their legal powers
Yielding 10 Us neeatnl changes in the consii-
tuition would Imply nc submission, for we
are. not in revolt. But with these conccs-
4 En-,