Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-03-20


the structure is but memory so intense
that it seems reality, but the substance
is not there Rebuild it if you can, but
you must first secure the free will of the
South, which your armies and navies can.
not do.
Why, then, make loud protestations
that the Union must and shall be pre-.
served, when you lack the first requisite
of preservation ? 1t were folly, sir, to dc
so, if it were but the dream of an infa.
tuated people; but when out Of that
dream comes the reality of bloodshed
ruin and desolation; when to sustain the
illusion the stimulants of war, in its most
terrible form, must be applied, it is no
longer folly-it is crime 1t is an invi-
tation to the Almighty to launch his curse
upon blood-enamored race.
If we will cease the mad attempt to
enforce fraternity and to compel concord
perhaps the sundered links may be re-
joined hut not one stroke will fall upon
the anvil until the echo of the last gun
of the last battle shall have ceased to vi
brate over the last battle plain. Self
exculp patton and reproach alike must cease
for the country's salvation lies not in the
justification Of either section, but in the
mutual remission of offences. They have
both their faults, but bending before hard
blows is not among them. Doubtless
wrong and injustice have been done but
it is for calmor minds and less excited
times to strike the balance, and mete out
to either side the measure Of its blame. -
1t is not the original error that we have
to do with now; it is the present daily,
continuous crime of multiplying human
sacrifices to the spirit of our nationality,
whose very essence is fraternal love. 1t
is spirit that was born of compromise
and generous concession; and now, when
CORY hecatombs are hoapcd before its
shrine, ours is the fault if it loatho the
offering and desert our desecrated tenn
pies.
Sir, appreciate the extent Of this GO
vornmenfs military resources / ac-
knowledgoils wonderful strength in ships,
men aud ammunition. Had we foreign
foe to grapple with, one-half the battles
we have waged against the South would
have decided the issue to our triumph. -
No earthly power could resist our mag.
nifcent machinery of war, directed in Q
causo that touched the peoples heart. --
If the confederate armies, all massed to-
( gcther and fred with the lust Of subiu-
cation, should invade one northern state,
the thought Of our violated fresidcs would
arouse an energy that would scatter the
invaders like leaves before the wind. -
But in this war VIC have no principle that
comes homo to the heart Of the masses
we are fighting for subjugation with a
! patriotic Interior purpose, perhaps, but
still for suIjugation. If that is n prin-
ciple, it is one that can never arouse the
energies of the American people.
The foe has us at disadvantage, sir.
lie believes that he is fighting for the
sanctity of his home for the freehold Of
his native soil; for social institutions that
he was taught to justify, and for his con-
ception Of self-government.
Sir, the American soldier, without Sec
tional distinction, fights best in such q
cause No dream Of laurel crowns can
make the notes Of war harmonious to his
soul no greed of conquest lures him to
far off battle fields But where, within
sight, the smoke curls from bis cottage
chimney; where the corn waves in the
furrow where he planted it, and the pas
lures and pathways about him arc his IA
miliar haunts he stands a warrior born.
He counts not the number of his foes, be
measures not their strength, he knows
himself indomitable
Therefore it is thatth South has main
tanned itself, defiant, resolute and hope
full, against the most formidable military
operations known in the history of war
The question of superiority in skill or
courage is not at issue. In these we
stand upon equality, and mans power to
resist is greater than his equals power
to compel The only prospect Of accom-
mediation rests in O calm, dispassionate
appeal 10 the judgmentand better feelings
Of the contending parties.
With such convictions, and believing
that every hour Of hostilities tends to our
further ostrapgemont, | have never voted
dollar for the war. As legislator, as
a citizen, and as a man, claim to be abb
solved from all participation in this muir
derous strife. With all my humble abb
liiies / have endeavored to arrest it, /
shall still endeavor, and if in vain, let
my efforts attest before God and man that
am unstained with the blood Of my
countrymcn.
II, by giving all latitude to govern
ment, could discover a possibility Of
eiiecting friendly reconstruction by dint
Of terrible encounters between armed
hosts, | might look on in silence and pa
liently await the end But even in the
event Of the NEST complete and crushing
victories, / sec but the sullen, forced and
temporary submission Of the vanquished
to a rule that they abbor Can this stab
bing and shooting, and rending with
shells convince the wrong, or reconcile