The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-06

now 10 llIt themselves up 10 tue helght
Of this great argument, and to deal with
it in the spirit of the patriots and great
men of other countries and ages, and Of
the better days Of the United States.
And now, sir, whatever may have been
the motives of England, France, aud
the other great Powers of Europe, in
Withholding recognition so long from the
Confederate States, the South and the
North are both indebted to them for an
immense public service. The South has
proved. her ability to maintain herself by
her own strength and resources, without
foreign aid, moral or material. And the
North and West-the whole country,
indeed-these great Powers have served
incalcuably, by holding back a solemn
proclamation to the world that the o.
Mon of these States was finally and
formally dissolved. They have left to
US every motive and every chance for
reunion; and If that has been the pur.
pose of England especially-our rival
so long, interested more than any other
in disuUion and the consequent weaken>
ing of our great naval aud commercial
power, and suffering, too, as she has suf-
fered, 50 long and severely because of
this war-I do not hesitate to say that
she has performed an act Of unselfsh
heroism without example in history
Was such indeed her purpose? Let her
answer before the impartial tribunal of
posterity. In any event, after the great
reaction in public sentiment in the North
and West, to be followed after some time
( by like reaction in the South, foreign
recognition now of the Confederate
( States could avail little to delay or pre-
vent Gual reunion; if as l firmly believe,
reunion be not only possible but newt
able.
Sir, I have not spoken of foreign ar.
filtration, That is qnite another ques.
ton, | thiuk it impracicable, and fear
it as dangerous. The very Powers or
any other Power-which have hcsitated
to aid diSunion directly or by force,
might, as authorized arbiterS most read
lily pronounce for it at last Very grand
indeed would be the tribunal before
which the great question Of the UniOn
Of these States and the final destiny OF
this continent for ages, should be heard,
aud historic through all time, the ems
bassadors who should argue it. And if
both belligerentS consent, let the subjects
controversy be referred to Switzerland,
or Russia, ar any other impartial and
incorruptible Power or State in Europe.
But at last, sir, the people of these sew.
eral States here, at home, must be the
final arbiter of this great quarrel in A.
merica; and the people and States Of
the Mort Invest, the mediator who shall
stand, like the prophet, betwixt the liv-
ing and the dead, that the plague Of
! diSuniou may be stayed
Sir, this war, horrible as 1t is, has
: taught us all some of the most import.
ant and Salutary lessons which ever a
people learned.
First, it has annihlated, in twenty
months, all the false and pernicions theo.
ries and teachings of abolitionism for
r thirty years, and which mere appeal tc
f facts and argument could not have un
r taught in half century. We have
) learned that the South is not weak, de
e pendent, unenterprising, or corrupted BY
slavery, luxury, and idleness; but pow
n erful, earnest, warlike, enduring, self
e supporting, full of energy, and mex
S hauStibIe in resources. We have beer
=; taught, and now confess it openly, tina
=. African slavery, instead ofbeing sourc,
Y Of weakness to the South, is one of he
!. main elements of strength; and benc
r the military necessity" we are told, O
= abolisbing slavery in order TO suppress
J. the rebellion. We have learned, also
that the non-slaveholding white men 0
:. the South, millions in number, are i'm
It movably attached to the institution ant
IS are its chief support; and abolitionist
e have found out, to their infinite surprise
J. and disgust, that the slave is not "pant
If ing for freedom" nor pining in silent bu
r revengful grief over cruelty and oppreS
Y sion inflicted upon him, but happy, con
!. tented, attached deeply to his master
d aud unwilling-at least not eager t
}. accept the precious boon of freedom
It which they have proffered him. ap
IS peal to the President for the proof.
is appeal to the fact that fewer slaves hav
it escaped, ev'n FROM Virginia, in nov
.e nearly two years, than Arnold and Corn
q wallis carried away in six months of in
vasion in 1881. Finally, sir, we hay
$, learned, aud 'he South, too, what the hi,
C. tory Of tne world ages ago, and our ow
it history might have taught US, that SCI
n. vile insurrection is the least of the dat
to gers to which she is exposed. Henc
as in my deliberate judgment, African Slav,
at ry, as an institution, will come out
e. this conflict Fifty fold stronger than wht
cs the war began.
n The South, too, sir, has learned mo
d. important lessons; and among thet
he that personal courageis quality cor
.er mon to all sections, and that, in battl
= the men of the North, and especially
at the West, are their equals. Hither
in there has been mutual and most mi
ill chievous mistake upon both sides. r
ii. South overvaued its own personal cor
i'd age, and undervalued ours, and we t
OBJ readiIy consented; but at the same tir
ut she exaggerated our aggregate streng
", and resources and underestimate h
no own; aud we fell into the sane errC
re. and hence the original and fatal mSta