The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-06
BEL AIR. MD. FRIDAY MORNING.

all my little stock of learning and skill
both as astheslogian and an amateur poll.
tician, though 1 had the decency always
as my friends know, to keep politics en-.
tirely out of my Sunday lectures. When
the increasing needs Of my country seem
ed to demand the sacrifice, II heartily
threw my person, as we'll as my voice. in
to the tide Of carnage, willing even to die
that the Union might live, and ready fol
any policy looking to that end, in the spi.
rit of the dangerous maxim, "All's well
that ends we'll" The negro-having
studied him in real life, not in the pleas
ing fctions of the Beechers-I knew too
well to care about disturbing him., unless
as convenient make-weight, to be thrown
into the scale when other means should
fail. I was proud of our regiment-had
some lingering faith in the President
and somewhat more (though hardly full
con6dence) in the wisdom and virtue of
our Generals. Thus I went forth in hope,
trusting mainly in God and our vast num-
bers for success, and proud to find so
many Old friends rushing with me to the
field. u
This was Six months ago. Anybody
with open eyes, campaigning even three
months in the Southwestern army, ought
to learn something that could not we'll be
learned at home. Our boys have been
learning, and don't claim to be duller
than the rest. Ergo, my faith in Presi-
dent Lincoln has changed from grain of
mustard-seed to perfect nonentity; my
trust in Union Gencralship has dwindled
to the verge of despair, as the machinery
Z which officers are made becomes more
bare, and their characters, when made,
more visible and notorious. Noble ex-
ceptions there are, but these are the men
that soon resign, or find themselves court
martialed. My sentiments touching the
black idol have changed from good,natur-
ed indifference to downright disgust; and
l need hardly add, my hopes of the Union
are reduced to mere hope in some new
political dynasty, which shall now pray
and toll for with all the zeal and industry
my nature is capable of.
Were | alone in these painful discover
les, l might be inclined to distrust my
own judgment, or at least repine in ST.
lence But when [ find the same views
and feelings pervading our whole regi-
ment, and every other we are brought in
contact with, vented in louder and still
louder whispers, burdening the letters to
every home, seasoning the broth at every
mess-table, and deepening the murmurs
around each bloody grave-when I know
all this, 1 have no longer pretext for
feigning Ignorance of facts which, if men
could ignore them, would cause the stones
to cry out.
What are we fighting for? In the
name of reason and humanity, what is the
sublime result which car justify year after
year of sackcloth at home and butcbery
here, of neglected fields, but thick strewn
Golgothas, of empty churches, crammed
hospitals, deferred bridals, accelerated
bankruptcy, and the ever-lengthening line
of pensioners, who for paltry stipend and
a puff of praise, must hobble armless, eye
less, footless, to the pauper's grave!
For what were these things begun, for
what must they continue, without even
the remote prospect Of an end? Nobody
knows. But from the many conflicting
rumors on the subject, we may examine
four of the more common and plausible ;
each and all of which, instead Of justify
ing the war, are conclusive reasons why
it should be condemned, and at once aban.
doned.
Firstly. We are fighting, it is said, to
cram the pockets and wiue-cellars of a COM
missioned aristocracy, whose reign and
reveling must end when peace removes
their shoulder-straps. Gladly would I
pronounce this mere SANDER, butt pro-
missed to write an honest letter. Doubt
less there is just enough truth in it to de-
mand this one remark, namely That
such cause of warfare, however agreeable
to the privileged class alluded to, can not
alpays satisfy the rank and file on whose
blood they are supposed to fatten. Even
glory grows irksome at last, when conse-
Grated by no higher aim than the aggran-
dizemept Of tyrants. / have heard that
bayonets could be turned upon their en-
ployers, but Iinever believed that. .f !
Secondly. We are fighting TO abolish
slapery, the Union to survive or perish as
may direct. This, too, has
truth in it for alarge class in New Eng
land, and for few in the West. To1
them Caucasian blood is SO inferior, when
with African, that we can af !