The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-30
The moral Aspect OF the war for
the Union.

We are SO much in the habit of looking
at the political aspects Of the present
war; that we often forget that moral in-
terests of the grandest'character are also
involved in the fate Of the Union. There
is something of far more importance |
than commerce, navigation, manufactures,
banks, or slavery, wrapped up in the for
tunes of our country; it is the moral
welfare Of present and future millions Of
human beings. Patriotism is not only a
political, but a religious duty no man
can be a christian and not be a patriot
A patriot loDes his country, and seeks her
welfare with more than the ardor and
more than the fidelity that lover offers
to his mistress. TO disturb the peace, or
check the progress, or throw shadow
over the happiness of the land Of his
birth, which feeds and protects him, is in
the eyes of such man the blacklist in
gratitude For his country he Lives, and
for his country he would die. IL is in
sober earnestness of soul that he repeats
the noble sentiment of the old poet
DHccd 6scortup 81 Jro pairtd ro,t, a|- -
It's sweet and glorious to dc for our country.
Let US remember too that patriotism IN
republic is a 9reatsr virtue and a higher
duty than in an oligarchy, an aristocracy,
or a monarchy, Man was made in the
image of God, with soul as immortal
as that of his Creator, and aspirations
which cannot die, and "thcughts that
wander through eternity; !" and from God
he received the power and right to govern
himself All governments then, save free
governments emanating from the people,
are Illegal are usurpations, and patriot
ism does not involve obedience to such
governments as it does to a republic I.r
In this war for the Union, we are
fighting for free goyernmOnt-one whose
form cannot 10 iaproped, although lis details
mag BE- 1t is literally true that we are
fighting TO sustain the chest government
in the world" 1t is the best because it
leaves the mind unfettered, and gives il
its largest development. Ii is the best,
because it leaves all its citizens to
follow that mode of life most congo
NAL to their genius and feelings. 1t
is tho best, because it excites a laud
able ambition in the minds Of all, and
allows The humblest reasonable hope
of reaching the most honorable and re-
spOnsible position. 1t is the best, because
lis citizens are free not only as regards
the affairs of this life, but are left to
their own consciences and judgments as
to their duties in respect to the next
How much better is our condition in
this than that of the people Of the Old
World, who, in some countries are not
allowed TO worship at all, save in GER
tain prescribed mode, and in others are
taxed to support a creed which they de-
test? Our advantage over other nations
in this is infinite and ethardly ever re-
membercdi like the water and the air
which we notice not until their absence
in some foul cave on burning desert
reminds US how precious they arc! Alas
that we so often see not the brightness
of our blessings until they have left US
forever The cause ofgood morals, and
all other virtues which adorn social life
depend TO a. great degree upon The main
tAinanCe. of our Government, We mean
not that the death Of the Government
would be the death Of virtue, but that the
fall Of the former would inlict terrible
injury upon the latter, We see already
how muchthe sense of manly honor has
been blunted, how n regard for pledges
and oaths has been lessohed, how the
enormous crime Of petiury has come to be
regarded as q lit,le thing in the minds Of
thousands who once passed for scrupu.
Lously honest men On the side Of th,
Union are faith and honor; on the sid,
Of disunion are perjury and disbonor,s
The rebellion began in fraud, deception
and perjury and its most promipen
leadcrs-its master spirits--aromen VIII,
broke their voluntary ard reiteratc,
pledges disregayded their oath Of ofIlc,
with the most shameless eGroptery, apC
bent all their energies TO destroy th,
very Government which they solemn.
y sworn to support To the sin of per
jury end breach of trust they addcC
theft and robbery, They proCessed, Hk,
General BUcENEH, TO be training soldier,
for the United States service, while they
secretly taught their soldiers, mostly
thoughtless aud immature young men
that it was their duty as Southern gen
tlcmen 10 rebel against JINooLNs Gov
crhmcni- Nor was tins want of faith
this pupic fidelity seen among laymer
only for Ministers Of Tho Gospel Will
an infamous contempt for the laws O
oeonand their country, privately instille,
the same poison into tho minds Of thci
congregations. How great the DANCE
to morals, when the protested teachers o
religion become the high.priests Of vic
and corrnphonl Against this advancinr
Hood OF iniquiiy the armies Of the Unioi
stand like tue dykes Of Holland tina
defy the eneroachmcnts ofthe ocean. IT
yield TO the attacks OF such foes woul
degrade the moral scRtimen, and stan
dard Of our nation lower than those ,