Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-03-20

equivocal, and irremediable failure of our
enterprise of conquering back the Union.
The failure Of the scht me is simply due
to the impossibility of its accomplish
ment. We can never, by force of arms,
control the will of a people our equals
in the attributes of enlightened manhood
and while the will of that people remains
adverse to political companionship with
us, political companionship is impossible.
Bloodshed, destruction of property, and
occupation of lands are possible--we have
too sadly proved it; but a constrained
union of sovereign States is an impossi-
bility, which, if omnipotence could &C.
eomplish, omniscience would not attempt.
Six millions Of Americans, whether they
occupy the North, the South, the East OF
the West, cannot be governed except in
accordance with their sovereign will.
Sir, | mean this not as an idle compli-
ment to the American character The
experience of the past twelve months has
revealed in that so much Of passion, pride
and bloodthirst, that | am more inclined
to humility than boastfulness. feel that
upon the fresh pure soil of the new world
we have thrown the seeds Of discord, and
they will take root But while my ex-
perience, and the testimony of our fathers
through eighty-seven years of prosperity
and progress, have well established my
faith in the bcnefcence of a Union of the
States, | cannot understand that its bles-
sings are of nature to be enjoyed upon
compulsion
But granting it possible, the question
arises Of equal moment, is it desirable
Has not the struggle already been toe
fierce to admit of unity and a.cordial feel
ing between a conquoring and conquer
ed section? Sir, I fear it has believe
that, while the memory Of this war ex-
lists, the people Of the North and South,
united by constraint, would never suili-
GENTLY forgive the past years record to
admit Of kindly relationship in the same
political household.
Right or wrong men will cling to THEN
Own impressions Of a great and sanguinary
struggle in which they Or their sires have
been participants As the living fathers
Of future generations this day feel, sc
will lhoy Jequeath to their children, ant
10 natural course, the North and Soutl
viii nurse their own and separate views
of this unparalleled epoch Of carnage anC
contention
win the textbook Of history conned
by the boys Of Massachusetts, serve here
after in the school-rooms Of the Carroll
mas? VIII the stories Of Manassas, Of
Shiloh, of Antietam, of Fredericksburg
of hundred other battle-felds, be told
in the same spirit northward and south
ward from the banks Of the Potomac?
Will the winter tales be similar when
the youth Of either section gather about
the hearthstone and feel the young blood
tinglei in their veins at the words of white.
haired heroes win the matrons OIL
Louisiana train their offspring to veneratC
the name of Butler? viii the remem.
brances of Davis, Lee, and johnson, be
identical in New England and Virginia
No, sir. Unless mutual consent should
re-unite us, the pages Of history and the
words Of tradition will breathe of the
sympathes that now exist; and the &c.
nerations to come will as surely be edu.
Gated to distinct and opposite prejudices
The schoolroom, the pulpit, and the
press, would then, as now, iuculcate doc.
irines that cannot assimilate; and in thi:
Capital, the representatives of the PEG.
7 pie would be the representatives of Sec
tional andpathies.
Sir, to avoid this, we must avoid in.
hicting the sting Of submission or en-
gendering the pride of conquest.
To me that future of domestic discon.
tent, Of jealousy, dstrust and irritation
is so palpable and painful, that, in place
Of giving life and treasure to attain il,
would make an equal sacrifice to escape
it. Oar fathers gave US Union founded
upon mutual consent, concession, and re.
ciprocal attachment; We must entail upon
our children political connection based
upon hatred, suspicion, and opposing pre-
JUDGES.
A nationality thus constituted would
De tnOckefy OF fepuDlcanlam anu lls
bane. 1t would be as the consummation
of marriage where antipathy usurped the
place Of love. A political prostitution
The joining of hands before an altar
whose divinity could attest the hearts ir-
repressibo loathiug and disgust Had
the faculty to crush with one blow the
material power Of the South, / would
not strike My pride as an American
would revolt at the thought Of dragging
them, reluctant, helpless, and spirit-bro-
ken, into a fellowship that they abhor.-
Union restored by subjugation would be
but the prelude Of increasing alteration
It is not enough to affirm that would
not enforce the unnatural connection
sir, would not consent to it. ! would
oppose it as degradation to ourselves, an
insult to our institutions, and a violation
Of our principles Of sclf-goyernment. ]
would oppose it as an impedimcnt to oui
national progress as a perpetuation Of
discOrd and contention between States