Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-25

ry we snail nave 10 ABIDE, SUCH counSelS
may prevail as will keep us an unit to
the last, and save us from those horrors
which no pen is able adequately to de-
scribe.
From the New York Commercial.
PEACE---COMPROMISE---ULTI-
MATE REUNION.
1t has become so common among the
supporters of the present war to charge
its responsibility wholly upon the South,
that we deem it proper to refer to the re-
cord for testimony in this matter. 1t is
even asserted that the Cotton States, hay
ing formed the deliberate purpose to
break up the Union, would accept of no
compromise whatever; and hence the on
ly alternative was, to test the stability of
the Union by force of arms. This we
conceive to be the position of most anti
Republicans who sustain the war. This
question of responsibility is an impor-
tant one, and should be definitely settled.
We propose to prove that the South, rs
a whole, was not only anxious for peace,
but that they were strongly opposed to
dissolution of the Union.
1t is no question of dispute that the
election of Republican President in
November was put forward by certain
South Carolina politicians and other fire.
eating disorganzers as sufficient pre-
text for Immediately dissolving the Union.
This, however, was not so accepted by
the Southern people generally; and even
when South Carolina was taking the pre-
liminary steps for her secession, the
movement was opposed by the almost
unanimous voice of all the other States.
From the election of President Lincoln
until the assembling of congress, the
leading men of the South-those who
are now at the head Of the Confederate
Government, and against whom the de-
nunciatIon Of rho North is iaast hieaer--
made every effort to avert what no sane
American could but consider the great
est calamity that could befall this nation.
This assertion is substantiated by their
speeches on numerous occasions. Gov.
Moore, Of Alabama, in his message to
the Legislature, November 9TH, said:
Z" am no secessionist per Sc, and
would like to contemplate our future
glory as a nation, could | have the as
surance that the Union, upon the basis
of the Constitution, would be as durable
as the hills and valleys embraced within
the vast territorial limits of its iurisdic-
ton. This cannot be the case, however
unless each section Of the country ac-
cords to every other section the full mea-
sure of its constitutional rights"
Said Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, in his
letter to j. s. Brisbin, Nov. 10Th:
I" If the North will respect and uphold
the,rights of the States, the Union will
be perpetual 4 4 In this hour
of danger, it is the duty of patriots, in
all sections of tho country, to cultivate .
kind, generous aud concilatory spirit
one tow ards another"
And A. II. Stephens, in the Georgia
Legislature, November 18th:
" say to you, don't give up the ship;
don't abandon her yet. If she can pos
! sibly be preserved, and our rights, into
rests, and security be maintained, the
object is worth the effort. Let us not,
on account of disappointment and cha
grin at the reverse Of an election give
up all as lost, but let us see what can be
done to prevent wreck The first ques-
ton that presents itself is, shall the peo-
pie of the South sccede from the Union
in consequence of the election of Mr.
Lincoln My countrymen, / tell you
frankly, candidly, and earnestly, that |
do not think they ought In my judg-
ment, the election of no man, constitu-
tionally chosen to that high Office, is suf-
ficient cause for any State to separate
from the Union. + x Let us not an
ticipate a threatened evil, If he violates
the constitution, then will come our time
to act
Senator Hunters letter, in December,
said:
" | do not consider the election Of Mr.. |
Lincoln just cause for secession. If the |
Southern States can obtain guarantees
which will secure their rights in the
Union, advise them to stand by it,"
Secretary Floyd's letter:
" For one, | am not for secession as
long as any honorable effort can be made
to preserve the Union on constitution
al basis / believe that the
great material interests Of the country
demand reconciliation Of the sections
and the preservation Of the Union. The
main study Of all should be, to prevent
any collisions between the sections, and
most especially the shedding Of the first
drop Of blood If we can succeed in
averting these calamities. the great prac-
teal business Of the country, pcrchance,
sooner or later bring about reconstruc-
ton Of the Union, and restoration of
harmony between the sections"
A. o. Z. Nicholson, of Tennessee, in
December:
eff ] am not mistaken in the senti-
ment of Tennessee, our people require
an honest effort TO be made to save the
Union by demanding additional guaran-
tees, and it is only when this effort shall
have failed. that they propose to resort
10 secession"