Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-01-10
Is Re-TKIoK FousIbIIe

The Newark New Jersey)F DDiH JOnrnaL
in discussing the question whether reunion be
nov possible, makes the following pertinent
remarks:
War cannot last forever. There will come
a time when either the energies or the animus
which impels one Or the other party to the
conflict must die out. Then the war will
cease. We begin to see certain unmistaka-
BILE symptoms of a growing WEAKNESS of the
prohtless struggle at the present time. Will
any one hazard the assertion that the peo-
pie Of either section will allow the war 70 90
on after il is clearly demonstrated to their
common sense that its results will be Of no
value TO them commensurate with its cost
Is not the pretension equally absurd that the
people are not competent to arrange amicably
the various questions which are now the sub.
ject OF dispute2
Our system Of government is happily de-
vlsed to meet all objections on this score.
We have State Governments already organ
lied, through which the people can act har-
moniously and speedily. Each is competent
TO defeAd its people against the intrusion or
Tyranny OF any other. We have no doubt that
the distracting questions that have led TO this
war would have been settled had the General
Government allowed the several States, acting
insovereign capacity, TO deal exclusively with
the.subject But the aim ofthe Federal Govern.
ment and the tendency of its action appear
10 be to destroy those Governments from
which its own power is derived and remain
master Of the field, thereby changing our sys.
TEN from a Federal to a consolidated general
Government. O. 10
Concede this power-allow this right-and
the popular features in our Federal system
are forever gone. Take from the States their
sovereignty--their power to revise, to destroy
or re-create their relations with each other,
and we strip the people Of that free citizen
ship which lies at the foundation of our in
situations and progressive civilization, To
fight State against State to enforce u Union,
is a delusion as monstrous as ever entered the
mind OF an irresponsible despot ~" '"s '"~ =
If the secession of a State from the Union
is q political crime, what term shall we apply
to that monstrous heresy to our Constitution
and to civil liberty, which would not only de-
stroy organized Governments, but domoralize
their citizens on the plea that the Union,
formed upon the consent Of the States, and
their creature for certain specific purposes, is
above even MS creator-so potent and power
fal n principle that it must be maintained at
the expense OF State governments, law, con
s~titution or popular liberties; that we must
merge all other organizations, institutions
and interests into this one great central Gov
eminent, making it the grand national idol,
into whose ravenous nav our best blood and
treasure is to be constantly thrown. Truly is
the party which conceived and is now en-
deayoring to cary out this damnahle ! heresy
by civil war, worthy of the choicest execra-
tons in the vocabulary Of villainy.
There is no hope for the Union through
war but a peace which would give the death
blow to fanaticism as q political power, would
certainly restore a practical Union between
the fighting sections.