Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-03-17

lesS u lflenu OF slavery no less IN love Win Nv
minion, than in former times. The enemies ot
slavery, now masters of their own policy, would
not surely be made more moderate BY separation.
Wha: would the Southern Confederacy be to the
North foreign power established in America,
with frontier of fifteen hundred miles-a from
tier open on oil sides, and consequently, always
threatening or threatened This power, hostile
by reason Of its vicinity, and still more 80 on
account of its institutions, would possess some
of the most important portions Of the New World.
She would own half Of the sea-co8sts Of the
Union-she would commaGd the Gulf of Mexico,
an inland sea one-third the size Of the Mediterra-
mean. She would be mistress of the mouth Of
the Mississippi, and could at her will ruin the
people Of the West. The remnant Of the old
Union must, then, always maintain an attitude
OF defence towards their rivals. Customhouse
and frontier difficulties, rivalries jeaousies-aH
the scourges Of old Europe, would at once over
Whelm America. It would be necessary to es-
iablish custom houses over an extent of hve hum
dred leagues-tO construct and arm forts along
this immense frontier, support large standing
army and navy. In other words-they must re-
nounce the old constitution-weaken municipal
independence and concentrate power. Adieu
then to the old and glorious liberty Adieu to
those institutions which made America the COM
mon country Of all those who lacked breathing
place in Europe. The work of Washington
Houiu Oe utterly uestrOyeui anu the new C0hdl-
tion Of things would he full of difficulty and Of
peril. understand how such future might
rejoice the people who can never pardon America
her prosperity and her grandeur History is
full Of these deplorable jealousies But l under-
stand, even still better how people accustomed
to liberty should risk their last man and their last
dollar TO keep the inheritance of their fathers.
and respect it. What do comprehend is, that
there should be found in Europe, people, calling
themselves liberal, who reproach the North for
her courageous resistance, and counsel a shame-
full abdication. The war is q terrible evil but
from the war o durable peace may spring. The
South may be worn out by an exhausting sirug-
gle The old Union may be again restored-tho
future may be saved But what can be the issue
of separation, if not WAR WITHOUT END aud mise
ries without number? The dismemberment Of
the Union-the rendering assunder of the coun-
try, would be a DEGRADATION WITHOUT REMEDY.
fate so shameful is to be accepted, only, when
one is utterly crushed out and trodden under
foot
$50 far have argued OH the hypothesis that
the South would remain an independent power.
But unless the West should join the Confederates,
re-establshing Union which should exclude
New England, this independence is chimera.-
1t might last few years, but in ten or twenty
years, when the West shall have doubled or
tripled its free population, what will the Con-
ASuOihSy uu-ntuhtutuy per IQFcet Dy befFllG
cultvation--oOmpared to people of thirty mil.
lions of men shutting her in on two sidesY In
self-defence the South would be forced to lean on
Europe. Her existence would depend on her
being protected by maritime power. England
alone is in condition to guaranty her
sovereignty. This would be new danger for
free America and for Europe. There is no navy
in the South, and with slavery there never will
be any. England at once would seize the mouo-
mil u nf and n;sb H., O.,
capital and ships. In two words the triumph Of
the South is the re-establishment Of England on
the continent, whence she was driven by the
policy Of Louis Sixteenth and Napoleon. It
weakens neutras, it entangles France 0gain, in
all those vexed questions of liberty of the seas,
which have cost US already two centuries Of
struggle and suffering The American Union,
while defending its own rights, had assured the
freedom Of the seas. The Union destroyed,
English supremacy would revive again. 1t is
peace banished from the world; it is a return to
policy which has so far only favored our rivals
" This is what Napoleon felt to be true--this
is what we forget to-day. 1t would seem as if
history were merely collection of pleasant
stories to amuse children. No one is willing to
understand the lessons of the past. If the ex-
perience of our fathers was not lost upon our
ignorance, we should see that in defending her
own independence, and in maintaining the ma
donal unity, the North defends our cause as we'll
as her OWL. All our prayers would be for the
triumph of our old and faithful friends. To
weaken the United States will be to weaken our
selves. AT the first quarrel with England we
shall regret, but too late, that we abandon poll
cy which forty years has been the guaranty Of
our own safety.
Z" In writing these pages, do not expect to
convert those who have in their hearts an innate
sympathy for slavery. write for those honest
souls, who allow themselves to be enticed by the
great words Of national independence, paraded
before their eyes purposely to deceive and delude
them. The South has never been threatened
To-day she might come back into the Union,
even with her slaves 1t is only demanded of her
not to destroy the national unity, and not to
subvert liberty. We cannot repeat it too often:
the North is not the aggressor. Il only defends,
as every true citizen shosld, the national COM
pact, the integrity of the country. 1t is sad that
it has found so little support in Europe, and
especially in France. They relied on us-in us
they placed their trust-and we have abandoned
them as if the sacred words Of COUNTRY and Of
LIBERTY no longer awake q response in our
hearts. What has become Of the days when the
whole of France applauded the young Lafayette,
as he buckled on his sword in the cause Of Amer
ca? Who has initiated him. who has recalled
that glorious memory? Have We grown so old
as to have forgotten oil that
''What will be the issue of the war II is i'm
possible to foresee The South may succeed
The North may be divided and exhausted by iu-
testine strife. The Union is, perhaps, even now,
but a great memory. But whatever may be the
future, or whatever fortune may attend it, the
duty of every man who does not allow himself to
be carried away by the success CT the present
hour, is to sustain and encourage the North to
the last-to condemn those whose ambition
threatens to destroy the most perfect and the
most patriotic work Of humanity-to remain
faithful to the end of the war, and, even after
defeat, to those, who will have fought to the last
moment for RIGHT and Liberty.
WILLIAM HI. THOMPSON,
c,,,.s.,~ q, r. NOuTTT