Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-14
An Unforeseen War.


Toe old Union OF the United States was but policy
with our interests, and finally became injurious and
tsgonistc to them. Blu; the Union of the South is
principle that will be abiding from the homogeneiy Of
our people and the harmony of our social and political
institutions. Causes for = disruption existed, per-
haps, at the formation of the original OonfederAcy.-
These became more apparent with the growing incom
pstibiy OF our systems of labor and forms of cVlEA
ton, from which Fprang conflicting interests and an
tpathies. From the time when the question srose
between US which to the ear Of jefferson sounded "ike
6rebel in the night" to the declaration Of SIRE
pressble conflict" the occasion for strife Asfrequeny
declared But that occasion was never fully recognized
BY the South until the election of Lincoln And what
were our preparations to mset it, The minds and the
hearts Of our people ready for it. They impelled
their leaders 10 decided action and rad6sdit and at
moment SINCE with all that has followed, have Shrunk
from its consequences, and their responsibility.
But what Of those leaders who had warned them
of danger so longI who had instilled into hem-in.
credulOus long-asense Of the degradation impending
the folly aud dangers Of delay yet the trials and dangers
too, of action; and who had invoked them to pledge
their last and the last drop of their blood in
the struggle they must undsrgoI Look at the state
papers Of this Congress for reply. Their record Is
there Il Is given to uS 1t will 60 to the world. Il
will remain in our archives forever. Who of them when
the moment came, when blow struck thought
of protrActed-Wari Who predicted the marshallpg
of the largest armies Of modern times in hostile
array, upon our peaceful soil A distinguished
Southern Senator proposed to drink all the blood
,;1F To- A
preparation worthy OF the crisis we're offered no calls
for men, no estimates for munitions or expenditure
were made q commensurate system Of finance pre-
sented Some /. is trus, foreS1W "Sngry clouds and
doubts and darkness" and glOOmiy ANTICIPATED that
The Union would die hard" But the torch was area-
dy thrown upon the pile, and they were consigntd In
retirement to witness the conAAgration.
But The justice Of cause the great interest that
all the nations of the earth must feel in remaining
undslurbed, the impressions had formed Of the
warike disposition of our, foe, and oVerWeeniug
confidence 10 ouIseVesin our population our resour
ees and our A0G-mAy have quiesed approximations Of
serious war These may have been relied superior
to fleets and armies and subsidies and the belief that the
world had so far advanced in knowledge and civilization
that MORAL and the PUBLIC of tie civilized
that they could oppose the moI formidable distractions
to the progress OF injustice and oppression; and that
elastic irrepressbs and invulnerabe to the weapons Of
ordinary warfare they neither to be senced or con-
quered by military poWer-that violence and arbitrary
rule would fad in them impossible and an unextn
gushAble snemy. Trunp1s may have been anticipated,
or rathe repose In the confidence that had propsted
and satisfied them No fields may have been looked for
ward to desolaed no forresses surrendered armies
subdued, no States overrun. Whatever may have been
the successes Of tie foe If unhAppy for rs, instances
should occur it may have been thought that the vanity
of their trumphs would have invoked universal repoba
ton upon cause that violated the general sense of
of the civilized world 1t may have been thought their
presumpuOus and barbarous threats should ever under
adverse circumsances arp az to the most faint
hearted as admitting Ofthe possibility of being fulfilled
threats Of puttr up wall of Are around land ofprOs
tralug and subugAng Us to desPOdc rusand with ar
scaiOns and executions sweeping away thsast
remnant of they would Hrouss an enemy
that would chsck the glory of hsir trunphs an enemy
that wOnd follow them to the scene Of their ovation
an enemy who would render their victories barren vic
tories an enemy who would deny them the realization
of Joy honor Who in the midst Of their sIultation
would hear the piercing CRY Of harOd justice who, tho
perhaps long silent would inevitably eenounee against
them the indigestion Of an enlightened and civilized
age an enemy in the combined public opinion and moral
power Of European nAOnS The interest Of foreign ma
lions II not their sentiments, may have been expected
% prOnouncs against war upon Us that competitor
would have sprung up amoog nations for our produc
ions, and that the last thought Of any nAtOnOf our
enemies evsn-Would be to make war on our cotton
Cotton was prccAimed king. Il has failed to establish
its prerOgstive. I claim may yet be recognised only
In lie maItyrdom.
That our enemies could ever be reused to serious