Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-13
Vol. VIII. 81.

the motives, the strength, and resources
of the Confederates.
The fatal policy that a blind fanatieism
has directed here and from the White
House, has supplied all that was wanting
at the South. ] do know when | say
that the dependency which denounced
the advent of the Mayflower, and charac-
terized itas next to the fall of Adam, the
greatest evil that had afflicted man, was
relieved when the proclamation of ruin
was made against every right Of proper
ty, of liberty, of security. at the South.
| do know that, when conscription acts
were arraying the opposition, not only of
the people, but Of States, and bringing
despair to the hopes of the South, that
these proclamations raised up armed men
as volunteers from every spot Of ground,
and added ten to defend the fireside where
CONSUMPTION demanded five for the Confc-
deration. Have you considered sir the
motives that are engaged at the South in
supporting this fearful contest, or the in
duence they must naturally exert over
the minds of the Federal troops Docs
the executioner avert bis face when the
axe falls upon the sincere and conscen-
tious, though it may be erring life Of
countryman? Sir, the Judge, the Presi-
dent, the Cabinet, the Congress, who
pronounce the doom, may sit cold and
impassive, removed from the scene; but
neither the soldier of the cross nor Of
republican liberty, of Christianity or
civilization, will aid to strike down homo
and wife and children. Not an Ameri-
can soldier, not one man, with soul fit
for the destinies of heaven, will execute
the horrors demanded by these procla-
nations. Manhood recoiing from such
Internal service, the soldiers themselves
will stop this war before raising their
hands to help the mercilcss and inevitable
fate denounced against the sleeping wo-
men and helpless children.
Is there a heart Of man South, ay, sir,
or North, that viii not pour out his last
drop in such cause ? In that memora-
Die speech on Cancellation with America,
delivered in tho British Parliament by
the great Burke, he discovered some
| views Of our nature that may now prove
destructive. Speaking for peace then,
as | do now, and enumerating the iufu-
ences that distinguished the people Of
our Northern and Southern colonies, he
said
Sir, I can perceive by their manner
that some gentlemen object to tho lati-
tude of this description; because in the
Southern colonies the Church Of England
forms large body, and has a regular es-
tablishment. 1t is certainly true. There
is, however, a circumstance attending
these colonies which, in my opinion, full
~ eounterbalances this difference, and
makes the spirit of liberty still more high
and naughty than in those 10 the north
ward. 1t is that, in Virginia and the
Carolnas, they have a vast multitude Of
slaves Where this is the case in any
part Of the world, those who are free ara
by far the most proud and jealous Of
their freedom. Freedom is to them not
only an enjoyment, but kind Of rank
and privilege. Not seeing there that,
freedom as III countries where il is a COM
mon blessing, and as broad and general
as the air, may be united with much abb
ject toll, with great misery, with all the
exterior Of scrvitude, liberty looks among
them, like something that is more noble
and liberal. / do not mean, sir, to COM
mend the superior morality Of this senti-
ment, which has at least as much pride
as virtue init; but ! cannot alter the ma
turc Of man. The fact is SO: and these
people Of the Southern colonies are much
more strongly, and with higher aud
more stubborn spirit, attached to liberty
than those to the northward. Such were
all the ancient commonwealths; such
we're our Gothic ancestors such in our
days were the Poles; and such will be all
masters Of slaves, who are not slaves
themselves, In such people the haugh-
tiness Of domination combines with the
spirit of freedom, fortifes it, and renders
it invincible."
Why, sir, If it be ascertained that wo
can no longer be united in harmony, in
peace, bringing prosperity and happiness
in their train, why should Il Union be en-
forced z
If the consent Of the governed, tho
consent Of 50 considerable portion Of
those who have now dissolved their poll
teal relations, bo refused, why compel
al such fearful cost Union with burning
hate, revenge and eternal discord2 There
is no free republican Union, no real Union
Of our American States or people but
such as free consent gives, bringing
willing obedience, loyalty. and tho prin-
ciplos Of public virtue to support it. No
other is either worth creating or worth
preserving. These, sir, were tho seuti-
meRts Of our forefatbers, and will be Of
our posterity. II they are not ours, IL
is because VIC are blinded by passion.
Mr. Speaker, VIC are told that the AL
mighty 6xes the boundaries Of nations;
that the rock-ribbed mountains and the
flowing rivers are the eternal ligaments
that, binding men together in one union,
mark the limits Of political States, and