Smyrna times., 1862-05-29

Consciously or unconsclousy they have been
brought into u contest with the National Gov.
ernment which involves inevitably the late of
elayery-the very existence of their civil and
social institutions. II they persist in this mad
contest with a fixed and stable Government,
having recognized place among the civilized
nations OF the earth, representing twenty mil
lions CT people among the proudest, most intel.
lIgent and most high spirited on the face Of the
earth, backed by enormous resources and only
stimulated by disaster to new efforts and new
conquests, they simply rush upon their own
destruction. There ls no instance in history
where any form Of society, however sanctifed
by time or the affections Of mankind, has sur
Ylved a contest with the advancing spirit of q
progressive age. The South call US Of the
North fandticS-but in that very fansticism, il
they were wise, they would discern the utter
hopelessness OF the warfare they wage upon us.
1t was tanalicism in England which beheaded
the King, and extlngulshed the throne, and
rooted out of the English heart the sentiments
and civil affections which had grown there
| longest and taken deepest hold on the public
mind. 1t was The fanaticiSm oi democracy
which crushed all the institutions OF the mid
DIE ages on the soil OF France, and drenched its
fields IN The blood OF all who opposed its resist.
less sweep. Suppose the people of the South
once array against slavery the full "fanaii.
Cism OF the United States, backed by the sym.
! pathy and the sentiment of the Christian world.
Can they foresee for themselves any other re.
| suit than utter and remedess ruin!
! Up TO the present time the contest Of the
/ Gov ernmeut with the rebellion which assailed
| i's existence, has been conducted with the most
scrupalous regard to the rights Of the South
under the Constitution they are seeking to des.
troy. THIS has not been done ihoughllesslY
ur without purpose. 1t has been in pursuance
of plan deliberately formed by the Govern.
menl, aud carried forward with steady, single
minded disregard Of all opposition from friends
! and foes, which may well challenge universal
admiration. The President has from the be.
ginning regarded this rebellion as a cons piracy,
as the work Of leading, active, selfish and
wicked men, who have obtained temporary
control OF the resources, the prejudIces, the
| passions of the Southern people, and are using
them for the destruction of the Union. He
believes that, If this assumption is correct, the
| Union can be restored whenever the military
power which these leaders have maFskaled on
their side be broken-and whenever the
great mass of the Southern people shall come
ID see the ia sity OF the preteXls by which they
have been msled. He has based hls policy,
therefore, on strict constitutional rlght-on
magnuDimity toward the great body of those
Who have been drawn into the rebellion. He
has re used 10 countenance or tolerate any
violation Of their rights. any waRton Hespsss
upon their property, any disturbance of their
social or domestic peace, any aggrsvation Of
tn" evils which their own acts have brought
uoon them. Not spy has yet been hung
not desertcr has ye, been shot-noi traitor
has yet been even tried by the National Gsv-
eminent. The history Of the world will be
, sou4Lt 10 vain for parallel to this magnaai-
, nous tOrbearaLce
Clearly enough this policy is experimental.
IT. Is regarded by the Government. Ii the
people OF the South open to arguments and
influences et this kind, then this is the policy
BY which the Union may best be restored. II
leaves behind 1t less OF resentment, less of hs.
tred less OF heart burning, less OF all the social
, passions which are least compatible with Q
! peaceful and prosperous Union. The Govern.
! ment does well To give il full and effective
i ! trial. Ii the experiment succeeds, Republican
civilization Will have achieved the nobesl of
all conceivable triumph. The President has
eVInced the highest possible elevation Of char
acter, the largest and most staleemanlke sa.
gaclty, in carrying toward this experiment TO
u Its final and decisive test. The end is close
, at hand. Two more battles will end the first
cumptign. Its inability to maintain de facte
government against the United States will
have been demonstrated, and it will then re.
= main 10 oe seen Wnetner the great mass ol the
Sluhern people will accept this result as de.
csIve, aud respond to the invitation of the
Federal Government to resume their position
under the Constitution as members Of the Union
or not.
Ind dcatiOns nre not wanting that they will
PERSIST in the cOntest-that they will give
{ themselves up wholly to the dominion Of pas.
d sion and a frenz,ed lust of power, and rush
. upon the ruin they have so maoly invoked. IL
Z they do they will find othing standing between
them and The " fanaticism'' they affect to dis
pise. They must prepare TO meet the fullness
of Its fury, and to perish under it's burning
u breath. The authority Of the Government Of
the United States will be maintained over every
Il foot of every Southern Safe, at whatever coat
D. to those who may resist it, and if slavery
Is is in the way, it will be extngushed, even If IL
be in the blood Of those who make it tbsjs
10 shield
The people oe the South have Just the alter.
~ native offered 20 them by the procla nation ei
le President Lincoln. Iflhey choose to take upon
20 themselves the task of initiating their deliver
ance from slavery, they can have tho aid OF
O. tho General Government in protecting them
rs from the evils nd Inconvenences which such
Il an effort may cost. lfthey refuse, and persist
ne in rebellion, they will find themselves utterly
C crushed under the power which they defy.-N
SC i. Times.