The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-03
Ranaihlh XieWs.

R0hbibAo
In late speech in New York, Hon.
BENJAMIN Wood Of that city, gave utter
ance 10 the following eloquent views up
on the war:
WHAT mas the NORTH GAINED BY GOING TO
WAR
Sir. | desire 10 shun tho language of
reproach, and 10 avoid unnecessary retro
spection. drag the past from its shroud
only as an imploration for the future
For two years We have been ieagued with
death. We have famed ourselves into
the widest state of war-like frenzy. In
our legislative halls. in our market places,
and in our temples of worship. we have
tumbled the white image Of peace from
its pedestal. Upon the edge of the
sword we have balanced our country s
fate. We have rebuked, and villifed.
and chastised and shut out from the light
of heaven all those that would not re-
echo the hoarse notes of war.
Passion, excitement, an overstrained
philanthropy, false inspiration for the
emblem of our nationality, a heroic but
mlsdirected devotion to the Union. all
these have had their sway. 1t is time
that reason should sit in judgment. taking
counsel only from humanity. We invoke
the spirit Of war to saye-it came but Ia
destroy. Our treasures are emptied.-
Our posterity will be accused with a
crushing debt. Hundreds OF thousands
Of our brsvest rest in untimeiy graves
As many more. !imbless, with shattered
frames or broken by dis.sse, mourn in
hospitals, or crave aims by I'VE hi9hxays
Everywhere the earb Of mourning affiict'
the eye-a silent repIoach from, orphans,
widows and bereaved parents. The death
blow struck upon the battle field is felt
in the cottager's distant house. There
you may find the saddest record OF thu
war. You will trace il in the lines upon
the matron's brow you will see it in the
whiteness of the Young brides cheek
you will hear it in the suhdued tones OIL
the fathers voice, who feels the staff o'
his age shivered from his grasp. Graves
in our valleys, sufferers in our hospitals
desolation at every hearth stone, dis'rust
in our rulers, distrust in ourselves, bank
ruptcy. anarchy and ruin-these are the
trlumphs won by your relentless policy.
All that has been done is but what
were the pas, revocable, reason and hu
mainly would recall. With all respect
for the valor of our armies, and witt ou
reproach to the capacity or fidelity of ou1
generals, not one tangle Of this gordiar
knot has the sword severed; motor ave
nue. has it carved through the fownint
and steady enlarging barrier between
! North and South.
The close of each campaign tells the
repeated tale of victories barren OF al
fruits, or of defeats absent Of result o
advance and retrogression of Generals
hurried up to the high post of honor, an0
as hastily thrust aside. The administra
ton, through its partisan presses. occupies
the people with rich promises Of achieve
ments in the future, but achieves only thu
stale nothing of the past. Assuming tina
the reconstruction of the Union is the OBJ
ect OF the struggle, ask every citizen
not wilfully blind to our present condi
ton, have we not been receding from tina
object2 Has all this blood letting abateC
ono jot Of the fever of rebellion Hal
it not confirmed It's malignity-deep seat
ed it into the very Southern heart Sir
it has done more it has made disuniol
the sentiment Of the entire South.