Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-13

sells to our countrymen, fully explained
the plan, operation, and results Of the
zoll-yerein, and showed how, with GER
tain notifications, it could be adapted to
sustain all those principal causes and in
tluences which have hitherto made the
United States the happiest and most pros
porous of nations.
And now, sir, lie. me inquire what has
been gained by the prosecution Of the
war? With an enormous disparity of for
ces and resources in favor of the Federal
/ Government, are we nearer the end of
the conflict than when we. begun? Does
the present prospect of military affairs
give encouragement of speedy or even
successful termination Of the strife? 1t
must be confessed by all candid minds
that these inquiries cannot be answered
in a way favorable to the cause of the
Union. Besides the results Of few in
ellectual victories, the invasion of the
enemy's country, and the capture of New
Orleans or less important towns, what
has been done but to destroy or MAIN
thousands of lives, and waste and con-
sumo millions Of property, and entail up
on ourselves and posterity the burdens of
an insupportable taxation? The present
generation of young, gallant and hope
ful men, with all their divine right TO
long and happy life, cut down like grass
before the scythe, and scattered in I'M
known graves, and the next generation,
already bowed with affection, and strug-
Cling from the loss of those whose pro-
tecting hands this desolating war has
folded beneath the sod, they, too, must
add to their griefs the toisome burdens
of lifelong taxation, and, dying, trans.
nit it to their children's children.
have said, sir, that the judgment of
the impartial nations of Europe has al
ready pronounced this war failure. Are
we too vain or too proud to be instructed
by these testimonies before our eyes p
Must multiplying visions of the dead
the dying, the manned, or wounded, or
sick, yet pass in endless procession before
our sorrowing eyes? Are our ears yet
longer to be filed with the agonies Of the
poor chilled Preside and home? Are our
tears still to flow for these broken hearts,
these bereaved women and little chill
dren Aud, sir, are we here again to
measure the tolls and miseros Of bowed
down labor in renewing exhaustng tax
bills or repeating schemes of revenue =? |
trust not; buthope, by the favor Of tlea-
ven, we may at once be spared these hor.
rors, aud rejoice to see once more the hal
cyon CLEANS Of peace.
Mr. speaker, if this war is to go OF,
it can only end on the one hand in the
subjugation Of the South, followed by
perpetual strife, and the determination
Of the white or black race, the evils Of
an immense standing army, and the utter
extinction of civil liberty there if not
here; or, on the other, in recognition Of
| the Confederate States as nation, fol-
lowed, if we are wise, by re-established
intercourse and commercial relations,
reconciling conflicting interests which,
while preserving peace at home, will, at
the same time, secure union against
foreign aggression and be the only means,
by the softcnng influences it presents, Of
restoring any political relations in the fu
ture Sir, commercial relation is oil
that is left for us to consider; political
union is utterly impossible. The sove-
reignty Of the States, their constitutions
and laws, the complete systems Of govern
ment ordained and maintained by them,
will secure every political right, or if not,
the delegated powers Of the Federal or
Confederate systems may accomplish this
The material interests, the benefits Of
commerce, will be developed and secured
by an American zoll-yerein, while the
moral and social antagonisms which have
produced the war, or are produced by it,
will find their only protection in the au-
thorties Of international law and all the
sin Of slavery, all accountability for il
here and hereafter, will be forever wash
ed away from the shrinking and sensitive
souls Of the North
Separation, RECOGNITION, dissolv-
ing finally all political relations with the
non-slavebolding States, now offers the
healing balm to the wounded breast Of
{ hHE pplibltAi dbbIitlbHiNts nc taihNhb
struggles his devotion has made attest
It's intensity in the council and the field,
and the God Of battles who hath watched
his glowing zeal will vindicate the hero
ism oe bis effort Let bis conscience
then be Gained.
Sir, the domestic law--tho Constitu-
ton and its proper sanctions has proved
too weak FOR human passion-or con
science, il you please -apd the law of
nations and its dread arbiter, the sword
must hereafter keep the peace Of our
North American continent.
Mr.. Speaker, what can this civil war
accomplish If the experience Of the past
may answer, ii will oxclaim, ruin, moth
ing but ruin, fighting, bloodshed, lamen-
tatiob, desolation, anarchy, despotism. ~
Must il still 60 on?
"Nevcr ending, still beginning,
Fighting still, and still destroying3
IF The world be worth thy winning,
Think, Oh think II worth enjoying"
If, sir, tue sword is yet 70 continue the
draa1 .rlstor ka4.yunn SO vrhtla I IL 80