Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-03-07

i
ing.
True to our traditions of peace and
our love of justice, we sent commission.
ers to the United States to propose fair
and amicable settlement Of all questions
Of public debt or property which might
be in dispute. But the government at
Washington, denying our right to self
government, refused even to listen to any
proposals for peaceful separation. No
thing was then left to US but to prepare
/ for war.
The first yearsin our history has been
the most eyentful IN the annals Of this
continent. A new government has been
established, and its machinery put in OPP
GRAFTON over an area. exceeding seven
hundred thousand square miles. The
great principles upon which we have been
willing to hazard everything that is dear
to man have made conquests for us which
could never have been achieved by the
sword. Our Confederacy has grown from
six to thirteen States and MARYLAND.
already united to us by haIlowed memo
ries and material interests, will | believe,
when able to speak with justified voice,
connect her destiny with the South. Our
people have rallied with unexampled
upanimity to the support of the great
principles of constitutional government,
with firm resolve to perretuate by arms
the rights which they could not peace
| fully secure. A million of men. IL is
estimated, are now standing in hostile
array, and waging war along frontier
of thousands of miles Battles have
been fought, seiges have been conducted,
and, although the contest is not ended,
and the tide for the moment is against us,
the final result in our favor is not
doubtful.
The period is near at hand when our
foes must sink under the immense load
OF debt which they have incurred, debt
which, in tlair effort to subjugate us, has
already attained such fearful dimensions
as will subject them to burthens which
must continue to Cypress them for gene
rations to come. We, too, have had our
alsSnd difficulties. That we arc to
escape them in future is not to be hoped.
1t was to be expected when we entered
upon this war that it would expose our
people to sacrifices and cost them much
both of money and blood. But we knew
the value of the object for which we
struggled, and understood the nature of
the war in which We were engaged
Nothing could be so bad as failure, and
any sacrifice would be cheap as the price
of success in such contest.
But the picture has its lights as we'll
as its shadows. This great strife has
awakened in the people the highest emo
tons and qualities Of the human soul. 1t
is cultivating feelings of patriotism, vir-
tue and courage. Instances of self
crifee and of generous devotion to the
noble cause for which We are contend
ing, are rife throughout the land. Never
has a people evinced more determined
spirit than that now animating men,
women and children in every part of our
country. Upon the first call the men
fly to arms; and wives and mothers send
their husbands and sons to battle without
murmur of regret.
1t was, perhaps, in the ordinance of
Providence that we were to be taught the
value of our liberties by the price which
we pay for them. The recollcctions oe
this great contest, with all its common
traditions of glory, Of sacrifice and Of
blood, will be the bond of harmony and
enduring affection amongst the people,
producing unity in policy, fraternity in
sentiment and joint effort in war. Nor
have the material sacrifices Of the past
year been made without some correspond
ing benefits. If the acquiescence of
foreign nations in q pretended blockade
has deprived us Of our commerce with
them, it is fast making us a sclf-support-
ing and an independent people. The
blockade, if effectual ard permanent,
could only serve TO divert our industry
from the production of articles for ex-
port, and employ it in supplying COM
rnodites for domestic use.
1t is a satisfaction that we have main
tanned the war by our unaided exer-
tons. We have neither asked nor re.
ceivcd assistance from any quarter Yet
the interest involved is not wholly our
own The world at large is concerned in
opening our markets to its commerce.
When the independence Of the Confede-
ate States is recognized by the nations
{ the earth, and we are free to follow
ur interests and inciuations by cultivat-
ng foreign trade, the southern States
ill offer to manufacturing nations the
most favorable markets which ever in
vited their commerce. Cotton, sugar,
rice, tobacco, provisions, timber and ma
val stores will furnish attractive exchang-
es. Nor would the eonstancy of these
supplies be likely to be disturbed by war.
Our confederate strength will be too great
tetempt aggression; and never was there
people whose interests and principles
committed them SO fully to a peaceful
policy as those Of the Confederate States.
BY the character Of their productions
H., 400 loo Ie..I. Il =.