The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-03-21

skil-agaluSt the leaVlest ouus lnes ns' s.sse,
tended with courage and tortltude scarce ~
led in the history OF human endurance sus -
must know that they are outnumeereas snyss-
weighted. tired out, and in spite OF SA4ssss Z
brave words il cannot be but that they - sd
clsdly accep, any reasonable terms BIZ -
their lives their rights. and their honps -
; be guaranteed them. [Cheers: fsE
If ever this Union is restored it VIII laass 81.
by some compromise. Renewed cheers5
This war must end some time SPeasa Ane
only legitimate end and purpose ofswAE - -
on some terms must come at last. ~ ~
day could there be to speak OF peace IT, - ~ ~
day, sacred 10 the memory OF asN -.
What filter place than the city OF fein sAs s
Nav there are some reasons, too, Rh IN
from the island in which was bonn sfsns
less fitted on that account to utter IN -
will tell you why: s55s III
/ In the wear H75, when thu struE& 4
Great Britain and her rerolted coi0S
i comm Hhen ssrone end ,ta l., A.
ran one cry OF Indignation at the annacHy "
their treason, one voice, even IN the britsHf f9eh.
ate, was raised in their behalf. That voice was
an Trishman's 's-Edmund Burke. Others were
hot for war, suhjugation, and devastation. h'
counseled Cancellation, redress OF grievances
concession, forgiveness, peace. His voice was
then unheeded. Great Britain in her arrogance,
would listen to no concession, and drew inc
sword. The colonies resisted. Perpetually de-
fcated, broke up by the British arms-at one itne
their whole army did not number elght men
their final subjugation was promised from moh'h
10 month, and seemed only question OF time
Yet thcv were not subdued. A hundred oppor-
tunities for CO tilieticA were wasted. lney oe-
came free States nud were lost ~ Britain forever
And could Edmund hdrke, under the eye OF
naughty and insultcd monarch, stemming Inc
frowninr of angry England upon him-could ne
dare 10 excuse the revolt Of the American people
and pray that, to the spirit of liberty, when
they were moved, something might be pardoned,
and I, in this republic, that but yesterday was
Free in the city where Washington presided
within sight Of the room where the Declaration
of American Independence was signcd-is it un-
becoming in ME TO entreat the American people
to think Of their own history, their own origin
from successful revolt-to take warning by the
errors of their former rulers, to remember that II
was the passion and ohstinacy OF Great britain
that fixed and hardened the wavering policy OF
their forefathcrs into q unity Of resistance that
no power on earth could break, and beware lest
by following the same fatal path they, TOO, crc-
ate and confirm among the people of the Southern
States the power of cohesion, which, am per-
suadcd, even still they lack. and so render their
return 10 the ancient confederacy on any terms
undesirable. [Applause.
am more emboidcncd 10 speak thus because
know that my words can claim no force from tne
position or authority of the speaker, anu carry
with them only such weight rs their own inhc
rent Justice can command. For DO not sPeaS
for any party or any man, but only for mysell'
| am no politician. aspire to lead no lac.loii;
I would not consent to be its slave. But grateful
10 this rcpublic that has given me welcome ana
a home-loving it for the sake Of my. children,
whose birth place it is-hoping for the restora-
ton of its integrity, with nm anxiety whlcn Is
pcrhaps intensified by the conviction OF the suPe-
rior blessings Of its institutions, as compared
with those of other andS-bound to 1t by every
strong tic that loyalty can weave between the GU
izcn md the State, shudder at the idea that 10
the fanaticism of some, the apathy OF G'hels, IN
ol,stinacy, dishonesty, selhshness, rcckiessness
and folly, the golden hours Of opportunity are
fvinr by and soon the ne1orable logic of events
will pronounce the fatal words "too late y In
one word, nm for reconciliation and peace
Peace pure and simple. Peace to he eobtained by
such means rs may best bcft the honor OF na-
ton too great to bc vindctive, too powerful to DO
subducd, too generous to care 10 crush and tram
ple on n foe TThe applause here was OF the most
uproarous description, and it was several mi
nutes before the speaker could proceed But
men say 1--WE must punish the South" Merci-
full heavens have they not been punshcdf Their
cities pillaged and ruined their fields wasted,
their best blood poured out like water, shut IN
from commerce with the world, their wcaIthleSt
reduced to poverty, their proudcst-what have
they to depend on in their contest against our
nowcr but the grim giant energy of despair
against arms that may still be proof? Beware
of it: it has effected wonders before now
Against kindness it cannot avail; it will thaW
and melt like the snow Of to-day before the sun
Of spring.
How can this kindness be shown? How can
the nation testify its willingness to welcome the
wanderers back?
The course is simple. Retrace our steps: he,
turn to the Constitution and the laws Loud
and continued cheering.] BY that great charter
the confederacy was formed. BY that, and that
alone it can be restored. Return TO it, letter
and sprit Whatever We have done nconsst-
ent with its letter or spirit let US undo Us far as
we can.
Whatever errors we have committed that can
not be undone, let us repent. It was compro-
mise Of conflicting interests, preJudices and pas
sions. By that compromise the Union was FORM
cd By compromise alone the Union can be re-
stored.
But think hear some indignant abolitionist
CRY out: make peace with shareholders A
Union with negro slavery tolerated Never, ne
yer War rahcr-war to the knife ~ Well, |
have but little objection if they will agree to
carry il on altogether by themselves. But ! diff
fer from the aboltionists in this: They don 7
seem inclined to consent TO q Union in which
shareholders ore allowed to exist. am tor union
Mt any price, with slavery or without slavery, so
that it be real Union-sincere, cordial, perma-
nent and stable. [Applause.
As to this strange and peculiar race OF men
which Providence seems to have specially mark
ed for physical labor under trophical sun,
claim to entertain towards them as sincere an In
terest and pity AS the most eager advocate for
their emancipation. But have learned to DIS
trust the theories of philosophers and philanthro
psts.
The experiment now being made with tne ne
gro is terrible experiment. The civilized Woiid
will hold US responsible for his fate. his cohu'-
ton under his southern masters may have peen
bad-let us beware lest in our ignorant and mead
long philanthropy we make il worse. we cave
enough to answer for. History will bold the
American nation to account for the lives OF the
red men, the aboriginal inhabitants OF TINS con-
tinent. tho have been mercilessJ destroyed.
I consider that great crime. The negro 10
q condition of fixed and acknowledged inferior
ity. may have suffered much. But elevated sud-
denly to the level Of Anglo-Sa1on civilization,
and summoned TO perform its duties, great!iy
fear lest his lot will turn out far worse. Inc
sudden glare will be TOO dazzling. 1t may pc
wilder and blind him and on the Whole inc
worst ills Of bis former condition, to when ha-
bit had in large degree reconciled hin' may
soon seem to him light and easy rs compared
with the ricissitudes Of his new freedom. out
however that be, is If not clear that we are pay!
ing for this experiment, Of at best but eououui
result, terrible price? -
Not alone treasure. That nation can laDot