The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-29

the battle Of Fort Donslson, rhers he fell
gallantly cheering ON his men of the i'm
mortal I'd Iown, 5ut not published until
after h his death.
CAMP BENTos, ST. Louis,l
November Z, 1861.
EDrToR COURIER The war in which we
are now engaged, to a superficial observer,
might seem to be mere strife of personal
or sectional ambition: or controversy about
the negro, or an insurrection of local preja.
dices because Mr. Lincoln was elected Pres.
ident rather than Mr.. Douglas or Mr.. Breck.
inridge or Mr.. Bell; OK as some will have 1t,
because Of the persistent intermeddling Of
the North with the peculiar institution" of
the South. All this may show itself on the
surface; but IN fact the war is, at the bot
tom, no such thing; and whoever takes this
view only. altogether fails to comprehend
the contest and the real questions AMI inter-
ests at stake. The contest is not Of persons
'or sections, as sacA, but Of Principles. The
election Of Mr.. Lincoln has served "a the
occasion, butn the cause of the disturbance.
1t is np strife between the North and South
merely; it is conflict between two hostile
and irrsooncilable theories Of government
and Of human rights. It is two distinct
types Of civilizstion--or rather it is civilisa.
tion and harbarism graphing in hand-to-
hard fight for the possession Of this CONT
nent. The negro is but the representative
Of the essential equality and absolute rights
Of man. The South stands to-day upon the
same platform on which absolutism has al
ways stood. II enuneiatss the same philos-
ophy and puts forth the same arrogant claims.
It sets up banner and inscribes on it that
old lie Of tyrants, that !'might makes right"
II SCOTS at the idea Of human equality. 1t
renounces the sentiment Of absolute justice.
It despisss the masses as fit only to be ruled
It afirms that capital sustsins its true rela-
ton to labor, only when it owns the the la
borers. II builds its sham confederacy on
the doctrine that one class If men are born
to be trampled upon and chattelized by an
other. In . word. it sneers at the fathers of
tho republic IS dreamy and fauciful enthusi-
asts; it denounces the Declaration Of Inde-
psndence; rejects every principle Of the Rev.
olution; despiscs the doctrines Of genuine
Democracy; substantially plapts itself upon
the assumption Of the divine rights Of kings,
and represents ideas as thoroughly and cru
oily despotic as ever sat upon throne or
ground . people into the dust
We shall not stop to produce the evidence
sustaining the above assertions. Let those
who question the fairness Of the representa-
tons, consult DeBow's Review for 1860 and
1881, aRd we think there viii. be no pistaas-
ing the premises upon which the South has
planted herself There is no mistaking the
principles or logical results of the political
philosophy which we are there furnished. II
these are granted, then must the Republican
constitution and government which our
fathers framed be thrown away. All that
the friends Of freedom have through the ages
been contending Tor, must Be given up
Austria and Naples must be accepted IS the
only just interpreters Of political science.
Every popular movement which has ever
made despot tremble, or . tyrant shake in
his seat. is proved wrong, and our Wanted
Bill Of Rights arc only SO much lying paper
that should - soon Is possible be committed
to the flames.
Seventy years ago. VIM. Pinckney, oi
MARYLAND, himself . slaveholder, .foretold
that unless Democracy destroyed slayesy,
slavery would destroy Democracy; and this