, 1862-07-18
HOW TO SAVE THE SOUTH FRDm
UES STRUCEl0Ns

An ainless war was never conducted to
a successful issue. 4 war waged under 3
.nisapprehension Of its legitimate causes,
responsibilities and consequences, never
ended in anything but disappointment aud
misfortune In order to know what it is
fighting for, nation must know what it
has to fight against: that is, it must under
Stand the strength and character Of The !
power which stands in the way Of its pur-
pose, and then it will waste none Of its en-
ezgies in defending what is not in danger,
or in attacking what is not in hostility:
Without this knowledge, numbers are pow
erltss, and material resources are collected
on}y to be wasted Il our grandfathefs had
not thus known what they we're fighting
for, they would hare been subdued In
single campaign. AS it was, eight years Of
e1hausting war increased and Developed
1heir power of resistance, and confirmed
the belief that Britain was not able to con-
uuer them Their purpose Was to establish
an Independent government, with the soy-
esxisn power vested in the people. The
authority Of the British government stood
in the way Of tleir purpose; therefore,
they directed all their blows at the au-
tbori;Y Of the British goverDment-noW-
ing that as soon as they should overthrow
it, their purpose would be accomplished
ard their independence achieved They
fought indirectly for their rights, by fighting
directly against the power hostile to their
rights And by no other method could
they hare succeeded.
There arc many points Of resemblance
between this war and the first Revolution.
VIC are fighting now for the preservation q
OF eur system OF government, and for ths
restoration Of its authority over the reyoitee
States. But all our efforts viii be aimless
and au cur victories frui<1ess, unless "
strike directly at the power which menace
our system OF government, and keeps thos
States in revolt It is not possible to fgb
for 8 principle, without fighting again
thst which threatens Is existence. Th
danger must be removed before peace an
confidence cau be restored. What pows
thrpateps the existence Of the Republic
Slavery. Then if we would fight Jor tt
Republic, we must fight again$ Shaver.
Destroy that which imperils our countr:
and the country viii be safe.
The existence Of warfare presuppos
two hostile powers, each striving to repul
OF overthrow the other. It presupposes
direct and open conflict between them +
the establishment, indirectly, Of dlsput'
authority o. contorerted opinion. B
each side acts on the supposition that
cherished principle Or system will ta]
care Of itself until the contest is decide
and that in tho meantime every effort mi
te used to overthrow the hostile pow
Such is xar, and such it will continue
be, in spite Of the theories OF trimmers a
pcaccme1. Its in vain to contend agail
established facts; and no fact Is better
tab1ished than that the only way to s
ccssfully defend an imperi1ed system, is
vigorously attack its foe, whether fore1
ur domestic. Have we thus conducted
present warf Have we aimed Cur bio
directly It the arch enemy Of the Republ
On the contrary, we have violated the RI
Of WEE IN order not to injuse the po1
'v1deh Is trying Its utmost to destroy
country. Is it wonderful that the suct
Of our arms has not been comnensu1
with the los Of life, the outlay Of. treas
tie splendid armament, and the numbe
men enployedf .
Suppose our grandfathers had purs
The same policy which they laid down
themselves IN 1774, and that they haG
fused to strike at the authority Of
British goycEument-what would /
been the resultf Even this-1ot
European republican would have joi
Their ranks, not one foreign governn
would have received their agents;
would universally have been conaidere
areople united for selfgoveznment,
their huief struggle wontd have ended
djseraceful overthrow. This result
clearly foresaw, and they carefully qua
against It, The very conception Of
Declaration Of Independence is stan
protest against our policy; and both
letter and spirit Of that instrument
sgainst The existence Of slavery. We
moi plead ignorance Of these things.
cannot plead the aacredness of past sti
tons, without charging our graudfa
with q aagrant breach Of faith
IN their articles Of associatipn
ayowed the strongest attachment
huuhIet allegiance to King George
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