Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-25
Ohio 6tatesnram
The Princeton Review and the War.

DanciLle Repie,o, from the pen of Dr. Breckinridee
on NEGRO Slavery and the Civil War;" tina
will doubtless meet with the most enthusiastic ap
proval of the conservative people Of the North -
The views given in that article are such as mich
be expected from such ripe statesman, and truly
loyal man. No man did more at the outbreak O
this war to turn the tide of secession in the Bor
der States, and to save Kentucky to the Union
than DR.. Breokinridge. This all intelligent mer
must admit. Dr. B. has proved himself to be one
Oh tne nrst statesmen in our country, if he does
not tower above all. Hence, everything that comes
from his pen on the subject of civil war, and oui
troubles, will he sought after with the greatest in
terest. No document yet published on the state
Of the country would do more good than this il
genealiy circulated. It just the thing that il
cnannel In the great reaction that is sweepine
over the North. While its teachings are whole
some and Of the right kind, it avoids all tha
would have tendency to encourage the masses
to commit excuses, as there is always great dan
ger OF doing, in such popular reaction as is nov
gong on, owing to the corruption, tyranny ant
lmbecility OF those in power The popular minC
ought now to be tempered with the teachings anC
the advice Of the best minds and best hearts il
the land. If this could be done we may even vel
hope that all the States may be gathered under th,
protection Of the stars and stripes.
About the SAME time that DR.. Breckinridee't
article appeared before the public, another article
on The War appeared in the Princeton Reuiep
from the pen Of DIR. Hodge. Both these gentle
men are at the head of as many theological semi
naries Of the o. 8. Presbyterian chureh-the for
mer at Danville, KY, the latter at Princeton, N
d. ihey are also the greatest men in that church
so that the views of the church of which thev are
leaders may be foreshadowed .by them. as far as
we may be authorized to Judge Of their political
views in the case. -
DIR. Hodge treats the subject of the war rather
more in a moral point of view, as to the manner
IN which it should be prosecuted, and the end
ior which the war must be carried on than does
Dr' breckinridge. His reasoning is wonderfully
clear, and his points well stated He of course
REJECTS the aphorism that everything is fair aud
lustlhable in war, as cruel and worthy only Of
Daroarians A sad day would it indeed be for
our country and for civilization all over the world,
when the extreme and barbarous measures pro.
posed. even by some in high places, should be
ADOPTED by nation protesting christianity. On
TINS point DR.. Hodge uses the following Ian.
guage: Sand yet we frequently hear the doc
trine advised, that the end Of the war is to in.
met injury on your enemies, and the more injury
you infiict, the sooner and the more effectually
VIII the war be brought to an end" And act
ing on this principle, men justify burning cities,
ana laying waste countries. If we were taken
oack Into savage and barbarous ages, perhaps
we might Justify such o mode of warfare; but
Dr. Hodge justly remarks: "This is indeed
language Of passion rather than of deliberate
conviction. Nevertheless there is great reason
to fear that many of the people, and some even
IN places Of authority, have very little scrupe as
TO the morality Of the means to be adopted in the
suppression of this rebellion" As to the truth
oil these remarks, there can be no doubt, if we
can place any confidence in the declarations, or
tnreats OF those who are boiling over with Ioysi.
" and patriotism. War is bad enough at best
but such men would never be satisfied unless the
rout OF the army be marked by barren desert,
and oil the inhabitants, men, women and chill.
dren, be put to the sword. But if we were to
admit this to be the righteous desert, of all in
rebellion, yet, in mercy to ourselves it would be
well to remember that two might play at this
game. If there is any one thing more than an.
other that should distinguish christian nation
from the savages and barbarians, it is that the
former recognizes and enforces merciful laws in
carrying on war; and all who would Law straw
IN the way of having these laws enforced in time
OF war, In civilized country, deserve to have
their names blasted in infamy with those of
name, only by their cruelty. 1t is dangerous
and cruel proverb that "the end sanctifies the
means;" nevertheless it is "the creed of many
who would not dare to adopt it in its abstract
iorm." Whenever there is a war there is wrong
somewhere, on one side or the other, if not on
Doth; and one wrong con never make another
wrong right. "If," says the distinguished re.
viewer, zone word of blaspbemy against the
Savior of mankind could give us peace, the
word should never be spoken. Better that the
whole land should be buried in the depth of the
sea-" "Beiter," he continues, "let the rebels
succeed, than offend God, by reverting to the
cruel and wicked ussges Of former ages, or
savage nations" Such must be the Language
of all christian people, who are not blinded by
fanaticism; or who arc not entirely actusted BY
the anti christian spirit Of revenge But alas,
for humanity, the latter spirit too often ia the
motive power of too many, even in civilized
and christian countries. hr se
Our own civil war has not been entirely free
from this spirit, as 10 evident from the conduct
Of many who have thrust themselves forward
to conspicuous positions in this war. On this
point, Dr., Hodge makes the following remarks:
"lf men hate and disapprove of anything, they
seldom are scrupulous as to the means Of get
ting rid of it. The plains and hills of every
European nation are red with the blood shed in
obedience to this spirit" Religious zeal has
prompted men to commit exceaaes in this d.
rectiOn to lamentable extent, ss anomalous
as II may seem. The inquieition and the stake
are perpetual Witnesses of this spirit. The
history Of all Europe, though it is not confined
to Europe alone, is written in blood, that has
been shed in wars that have been waged for
tho~purpose of forcing measures and dogmas
upon others by mere brutal force, In opposition
to the diotates of reason. isI
II Dr.. Hodge is very severe on those who have
been trying from the commencement of the
war to turn il into o crusade against aavery,
instead of prosecuting is merely for tho restora-
tion Of the Union, its only Legitimate end. He
admits that the Presidents emancipation proc
lamation may be constitutional and altogether
proper as a -means Of subduing the rebellion,
rather than that the rebellion should finally
succeed. TIE President stated from the very
beginning, not only that he had no right to in
terfere with slavey any other institution, that
was under the control of the State in which 1t
may exist, but also that be had no desire to thus
interfere. .g9 t33e ,is
On these faithful protestations the grandest
army ever known was speedily raised for the
defense of the Constitution. The President took
the oath solemnly to obey the Constitution as
well as to enforce it. On this point che article
In the Princeton ReUieto contains the following
strong language: "If our Government, there
fore, has neither the right nor the obligation to
abolish slavery within the limits Of the States,
which is undeniable, and never has been denied,