Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1863-04-15
.'writhes in pain
and dies amidst its worshippers, .

I ASooiy 4SAt " uuCeIile-
Amongst statesmen, by far the great major
ity are wofully foolish. and hence it is that
amidst some few fair structures which endure
the storm, and assure us that the true and good
is still possible in human government, the re-
Prospect of history, presentsso sad picture
of fruitless energies, and piles of ruins, aud
Wondering fragments of what were once the
grandest designs. They were all built upon
the sand. One lies just behind US. The crash
OF its umbers are in our cars even now, and
the dust-clouds from its falling walls obscure
the air, but through them all the false sand
| of the foundation lies open to cur view and
reads its lesson to us and to mankind 1t was
supposed by Northern men that the temper
and spirit Of the mass of Southern people was
so much devoted to the old Union that they
would endure insult and oppression rather
than relinquish their share in its glories. In
| the insolent language of the statesmen who
form the types of that low-bred race, ..the
| South could not be kicked out of the Union -
In vain our legislatures, one by one, sent up
their solemn warnings. Eyes had they (for
Dimes but for noble purposes they saw not.
They built upon their false foundation grand
schemes of supremacy. Hence the election ii
| Lincoln by the aid of hundre Is of thousands
who cared nothing for slavery, but who cared
much for the ascendancy Of Northern influence
IN our commercial legislation Hence the cold.
dull ear which those same Indifferent bur
| plausible devotees of interest, the Northern
Democrats, turned to our complaints, and
hence the derisive laugh alto threats. Hence
the guage of battle at Fort Sumter. Hence
the call Of Lincoln for 70, 00O men, and. still
building upon this sand, hence the eager rush of
those whom We had considered the friends OF
the South in former times to the task Of the
subjugation of ''disioyal faction Hence a
quarter Of million souls have lied to their
| account, and weeping and mourning are heard
over continent. Hence the grandest govern
the blackness Of despair begins to surround it.
Had they recognized the truth that equal ii ght,
under our constitution, were deareI to Southern
people than any abstract idea of national glory,
and built upon that, they would have founded
| themselves upon a rock. They would never
have hazarded the destruction Of the govern
meut by insidous encroachments upon the
constitution. They would have been willing
to just concessions, and the United States would
to this hour have been the stateliest political
structure upon the eMth
We deal with that same people now. They
mistook our temper and spirit and we now
| behold the destruction of all the plans they
built upon their error. Let US not mistake
theirs, nor that Of any part Of them, and govern
our conduct thereby.
Our Southern journals have for long time
been filled with long speeches of Vallanligham,
and VOORHEES,, and the like of them-earnest
men who mean what they say. We find there
! in much full recognition of our old rights
under the constitution much fierce denun-
citation Of the unloly aggressions Of the Abo-
litiOn party in times past-much bold protesta-
ton against the administration-much clanor
for a cessation Of the war, and much apparent
sympathy for the South. Much in every way
to tempt US to hold forth cur hands to them.
to wish their supremacy in their national coun-
ellis to accept the amnesty, and to hope that
with the beautiful and christian sentiments
which float so readily to the surface of their
speeches, we can have little trouble in estab-
fishing with tn EN- peace and good will forever.
1t is fair anl smooth foundation upon which
to establish negotiations, if such thing be-
comes possible by their success, to cease our
efforts, to allow our armies to fall to pieces,
to neglect our internal re -ources, and trust to
diplomacy for all the rest.
1t is really the most treacherous of all the
quicksands.
For there lies in the bottom of the heart of
all these men, and of the countless multitudes
who throughout the Northwest follow them and
shout hozannas behind them, one darling idea
one cherished object, which now forms the
handspring of all their conduct aud underlies
all their plans. 1t is the reconstruction OF tn ::
Union. Whilst they cherish that. as they still
do most ardently, We can never assimilate-
can never reach common basis for our nego-
tiations. Reconciliation with an enemy who
hates US is always possible-sometimes most
sudden and unexpected but final am;ty with
pretended friend, who presumes upon our favor
and in whom we must disappoint the fondest
wish Of his soul, is impossible in human nature.
The hope of it is the syren's song. Bitterness
will at last ensue, deeper and deadlier ON ac-
count of the former semblance of fraternity
Better continue the struggle without the inter
mission, until the idea takes root in the North
ern heart that our independence is the basis
of all negotiation, the preliminary to all ces-
sation of hostilties When we observe that
sentiment begin to gain strength, then we may
well applaud and foster it as we can When
it becomes predominant then we nay meet It,
and not till then will any action of ours to-
wards change Of our plans be founded upon
a rock.
Least all in the Northwest do we see any
thing Of that. No day-break whatever amidst
all that moonshine of justice applicable to a
state of things long past and dead, and all
those angry corruscations which threaten the
administration for an insane course so dcstruc.
tive to all hopes of the accomplishment of the
grand idea We catch no messages of lasting
peace, but siren songs TO win us TO their wishes
We derive but little hope indeed of any results
N cripnla the administration for vet the de