The New York herald., 1862-10-05

dent If they had been wise men they would
have been satisfied with pressing ON the war
for the Union, because slavery could hardly
survive the overwhelming defeat Of the rebel
lion As they were fools and fanatics, how
ever. they persisted in trying to check the pro-
gress of the war until they could transform 1t
into war against slavery, instead of against
secession. 1t is this foolish and fanatical fac
ton to which General Wsdsworth belongs, and
of which he is now the representative. -
If this war has been, and shall continue to be,
war for our nationality, all the blood and
treasure II has and will cost US are nothing COM
pared with the inestimable blessings which vic
tory will bring. But if this is to be regarded
AZ a war for the mere abolition Of slavery. then
our soldiers have been aud are to be murdered,
and our treasure has been and will be stolen
from us and worse than wasted. Thaddeus Ste
vens, the Chairman Of the House Committee of
Ways and Means, declares that the war has
already cost us two thousand millions of dol
lars. Estimating the number Of slaves in the
seeded States at -four millions, we have already
spent Eve hundred dollars for the emanci-
patton of each slave within the rebel lines,
aud as far as most of tho slaves are concerned
we have spent this money in vain. Say that
one hundred thousand slaves have thus far
been freed by the war, and eaoh one of them
has cost US $4,000 and the life of Northern
white man; for we have lest fully one hundred
thousand soldiers in battle and by sickness. Ii
the rebel loss equals ours, and it no
hv
war has been redeemed by the sacrifice OF
two white men and the expenditure OF over
$4,000 Is that to be the standard prico Of
abolition for the future? If so, then the war is
dreadful failure; for the money alone
could have more than emancipated all
the Southern slaves, without the spill
ing Of a drop Of blood. Now, let any
man who believes that the war should be
conducted to abolish slavery cypher over these
figures and study the lesson they teach. Gene
raj Wadsworth especially should brush up his
arithmetic and consider this subject.
II this war should last two years longer and
end in the emancipation of every slave in the
South, each slave, man or woman, young or
old, will cost us, North and South, about two
thousand dollars, to say nothing of the lives
of two or three hundred thousand white
men. We could buy up and colonize all
the slaves for less than that amount per
head and without the loss Of life. There
fore, if we arc fighting for the abolition of
slavery. as General Wadsworth believes, we
had much better stop the war and purchase the
negroes, whose owners would be glad enough
to sell them at such prices. But we are not
fighting for the abolition Of slavery. The
people will never allow the war to be prosti-
tuted to such vain, silly and injurious object.
What we are fighting for is the preservation of
the Union and the integrity of the nation. This
Is a grand object for which no sacrifice can
be too great, no war too costly. Let procla-
nations and maniiestoes say what they may,
the heart Of the people is right, and the will of
the people shall yet make itself known and
obeyed. Let, then, all the loyal conservative
men of this State and the country rally at the
polls at the coming elections, and record by
their vstes for Governors and members of Con
gress their protest against war for niggerism
and their devotion to our war for nationality.
/