Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-01-22
Rev. DR.. Breckinridge on the War

lofty PATRIOTISM ana burning eloQuence are
illustrious in the midst of the treason and
rebellion around him, is before the pub
lie with another powerful article, in the
Dannvilte Quarterly ReUieu, on the civil
war, its nature and end All of his views
are SO forcible and so ably supported, and
the whole argument so complete, that the
entire article deserves a wide circulation,
and should be put IN pamphlet form and
scattered broadcast among the people
1t is an unanswerable argument against
the barbarism and wickedness of the re-
volt. The distinguished divine commen-
ces by showing that the restoration OF
peace is impossible, except on the condi-
ton of the preservation of the Federal
Union and Constitution. He shows clearly
that no division of the country can be
agreed upon, and he says:
We readily admit that there is hardly
an imaginable contingency in which the
Confederate Government can ever con
quer, or the nation ever concede any
boundary that ought to be an allowable
basis of peace. But this only shows how
clear it is that the nation can contemplate
no alternative but triumph or ruin and
that the conspirators against its peace an i
glory have madly plunged into a wicked
rebellion, which could have no result but
the subjugation of the whole nation, or
t cir own destruction. At first, their
pretext was-the right of each State TO
secede. Now, they seek TO conquer States
that refuse TO secede-perfdiou Gus, at first,
to all the States; peridious now to each
separate State.
= In the same spirit of fearless justice,
we now give expression to our grateful
and conhdlng admiratiOn of cOndnct on
the part of the North full of high and
multiplied proofs of wisdom, magnanimity
and heroism
We still await, still confidently expect
the counter revolution throughout the
SOuth-which, under wise and courageous
treatment, would have crushed the ceses-
sion conspiracy as soon as it had devel-
oped Its nature spirit, and designs-but
which must now extinguish it when its
course is run. The grounds upon which
we expect, instead of being removed, are
every way confirmed by the progress of
events. 1t is more certain now. than it
was at first, that the conspirators have
reason to dread, and that loyal persons
may confidently rely on the resolute pur-
poses of the American people to dphold
the Union, the Constitution and the laws,
so that the assurance Of unavoidable fail
ure TO the one, and of speedy and com
pl0te deliyerance to the other. becomes
day by day the very nourishment of the
reaction which Is inevitable IN its set
time
The innumerable facts, which, in a
thousand ways, reach us from the whole
area covered by the usurped power of the
Confederate Government, confirm, in the
public mind, the conviction already stated.
ON the one hand, there comes up a sub
dued but incessant wall of loval people
grooming for deliverance; on the other. a
fierce cry for blood and plunder, mixed
with wild clamor about cordial unanill-
ity. The nation pities and heeds that
wall of our brethren, and, by Gods help,
will make it audible throughout the earth
as a lesson to all conspirators.
These are episodes in the history Of
nations. No people has escaped them; il
Is the feeble only that perish by means of
them the great survive them. and become
greater.
The secessionists would have mankind
believe that their conduct is prompted by
the most elevated principles, and directed
by the nobleSt Instincts In illustration
of these pretensions, those who were in
the highest civil stations plundered the
Government under which they were Sen
ators, Members Of Congress. and Cabinet
officers; those who were in the naval and
military service betrayed the flag of their
country and delivered up, not only strong
places, but the troops confided 10 them /;
those who had the opportunity robbed the
Government of money; those who were
on foreign diplomatic service used their
positions 10 the greatest possible injury of
~ -.
tions of honorable conduct among them
1--WE do not know of a single one) they
occurred among those of subordinate rank.
and have been concealed by their com
rades as marks of weakness All these
degrading evidences Of the total demoral-
ization Of the party occurred in that stage
Of the conspiracy Immediately preparatory
to the commencement of hostilities by
them
These random extracts will give the
spirit of the article; TO its argument no
extracts, of course, can render Justice
The writer concludes
The indispensable elements of success
are, internally, the perfect preservation of
our political system, in its whole purity,
It's whole force, and its whole extent: and
externally, the complete independence of
the nation Of all foreign powers. In
maintaining the former, our immediate
necessity IS to extinguicsaa, at whatever
costs, ms evil war. In preserving the
iat'@--, our Immediate necessity is TO re
pei, amicablv if we car, with arms il
need be, and a. every hazard, all foreign
interference in support Of this rebellion
We are able, ii God requires it at oul
hands, to do both by His help. Our stal
is set when we fail Gf doing either With
nations, there Is a grea1 choice in the way
Of dissolution The choice between the
contempt and the veneration of the hu
man race