Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-28
The Old Union Gone.-what Thoni

Itis saddepine TO contemplate seriously 'he
condition Of our country involved as IL ie IN
vide- wasting and destructive civil war. But 1t
Ia atill more saddeniDg to hear men discussing
the possibility Of division of tho Union and
the results that may be expected to now from
such division. II 10 said that II the so-caileu
Southern Confederaoy succeed In achieving
its Independence, the rest Of the Union Will re-
main undivided and form new and prosperous
Republic. Eastern journals assure us that their
section and the West cannot, In such an awful
event as the final disruption of the Union ever
be separated; bat from interest and congenial
institutions. must remain forever united unoef
one general government. a
We hear of various schemes OF Eastern
politicians and capitalists for binding the
wes. and East more firmly together such as
the enlargement of the Erie canal into o snip
canal, and the construction Of shlp canal
from the Mississippi river to the lakes. Bat
ueither the General Government nor the state
Governments are In condition to enter upon
such gigantic enterprises. We have upon our
hands the great and noble enterprise for bind
;ne In ouo-uot the East and the West, but the
North and the South; not part, but the whole
Uniou--and this is enough to tax all the ener-
pies and means Of our people without engaging
10 any minor and sectional undertakings' not
directly bearing upon this great end =.
There are many foolish and misohievous
sueculations finding their way Into public journ-
ais as 10 what will be the results of the sever
spcs Of the Southern from the Northern States
of the Union, Those speculatiOns are general
" mere idle dreams. There is no power In
these United States that can, without inapgur-
ating revelation, consent to separauon'-
The separation, If II ever take place. will be q
foroible--a revolutionary one. The Union Will
be at an end, and the Constitution cease to be
binding. A National Government will no long |
er exist. A general anarchy and disintegratlon
will be the certain results. Some Of the States
NAV be able to retain their organizations under
their several Constitutions; but even these will
be fearfully shaken and probably several Of them
dissolved. Factions innumerable will spring up,
the leaders of each dstrustful and jealous Of
each other. Cruelty and revenge, the natural
concomltants Of fear and Jealousy, will lead to
the perpetratiOn Of deeds at which humanity |
will shudder, and Of which We could not believe
our countrymen capable, had not this war dc,
veloped 90 fearfully the worst of evil passions.
What may ultimately grow out Of such q
state Of things IL is impossible for the wisest
among US to predict. What States or parts OF
States may remain independent OF the resti
and whs. may become united, and what wars OF
conquest and subjugation may be undertaken,
no living man can tell. There 10 no way OF
escape from utter and hopeless ruin-speculAte
and conjecture as we msy-.bus in maintaining
and preserving at all hszrds the UniOn' whole
and undivided, under the Constitution our faith
e,s made. They saw that In such Union lay
their country's only safety. Il lies there still.
Destroy 1t, or lie. 1t be destroyed, and oil is
lost. Ii