St. Mary's beacon., 1861-09-12


gard the reconstruction Of the Union upon
any basis. and especially upon the basis Of
the Federal Constitution. ~ altogether a
shimeric.l idsa and beyond the range Of
reasonable probability. With this convic-
ton. "" think that good and patriotic men,
instead Of laboring to bring about recon-
strncsion BY var or childishly lamentine
and complaining Of tho evils which dis
rupion may have brought upon the coun-
try. would bs far better engaged il their
energies were directed to the making Of
peace aud the most Of the circumstances
BY which ~ find ourselves surrounded
The theosy-which has alone commended
this war 70 many honest minjs--that there
IL strong oppressed Union sentiment at
the South. only waiting the successful ad-
vance If the Federal army to develop it.
self and rescue the different seeded State 9
from the daminstion Of the slave cligar-
chy. ~ It i called. is fast being dis 4. d
By intelligent aud csndii men even at the
North. This section, without we are very
much mistaken. is industriously waking
up to the conviction. that the South is a
mi: and determined upon separation. cost
what it may. Whether for good reasons
or for no reasons ut all. the South has de-
tcrmined in the mos: deliberate and solemn
manner and with an unaninity which is
without parallel in the history Of CHI
commctions. that it is we'll for her to b.
slone or 1t least to live apart from the
nan-alaye States with which she was re.
Gently connected. In the presence OF this
determination aud If an undoubted ability
30 maintain it. 1t is idle to debate the ques-
ti"n whether secession is . crime against
the Constitutions Or which section was orig
inally in fault. We DO not advance an
inch BY such discussion. If the South
is in the wrong. and the North can neither
reform her BY argument or BY force. the
very best thing. it strikes US, for the
N'rth to do in that case is to make peace
and the best international bargain she can
with the South. But it would be great,
an unbearable humiliation to cur national
pride to acknowledge the independence Of
the ConSederas-States. A great humilia-
ton il might be. but We deny that it would
be unbcarabie. There is not y nation in
'he civilized wsrsd-certainly not one upon
the continent ef Europe-thas has not been
sAi:ted With . similar humiliation, but
they have al osntrived to bear it and some
Of them have even fattcped upon It. But
: il 10 idle to whimper after this fashion,
The N"esh cannot conquer the South aud
the knows il. The South knows It aud
the whole world knows It. The acknowl-
e,.gment Of the Independents Of the Con-
felerate States u stern necessity which
may Be postponed but cannot be avoided.
and The question arises. whether the States
that still acknowledge the authority Of the
Federal Government shall consent to ruin
themselves in order to postpone for year
OF 90 humiliation which isinevitable and
which 10 likely TO be increased both in
breadth and depth the longer the war
continues. The mission Of the Peace
Party 1t Maryland. il We understand It,
10 10 avoid this ruin By bringing the war
which 10 now raging between the two Sec
sions to . speedy oonclusion. Thus In
terpreting ito purpose, We shall cheerful
~ gre to is 10 the coming contest in
this State al the aid and comfort We can
commnnd.