The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-06-16
From the Fayetteville Observer.
|" A RESTORATION OF THE UNION
FOREVER IMPOSSIBLE"

"A RESTORATION OF THE UNION
FOREVER IMPOSSIBLE"
Such was the conclusion justly arrived at by
President Davis and presented to the people OF
the Confederate States in that most remarkable
and able State paper, his Message at the opening
of the last session of Congress on the 18th of Jan
nary. We have been much in the habit OF
regarding this as a point settled beyond contro-
versy, that we have presented 1t less frequently
than perhaps we should have done Inc aamis,
sion (perhaps Inadvertently into an Influential
naner of communication in favor of reconstrue,
ton surprised and greived u.s. and induces US to
remind our readers that they must ever keep be-
fore their own minds and instil into the minds OF
their neighbors who may not read and reflect on the
subject (if any such there be,) the great leading
idea that the Union is foreuer dissoived-its re-
storation toreOer impossible.
A long series of impertinent and malignant in
preferences with the most delicate OF all the In
situations of people, by which an immense party
at the North, now majority and controlling the
government, had endeavored to stir up servile
war among u.s. and the practical denial of the most
essential constitutional rights of the South on that
subject by the refusal to execute the fugitive
slave law, had justified separation before it oc-
cured. and would have, caused it before but for
the long suffering devotion of the people to the
Union. When, however, it did take place, and
the faithlessness of the North was exposed, and
its open attempt made to subjugate us by the call
for rs, 900 troops, there end of all hope of
peace without dshonor, or of the maintenance of
any constitutional right. The only remedy was
to resist force by force. And in the progress of
gigantic and sanguinary war which has followed,
it was soon manifest that the most atrocious and
devilish malignity that ever stirred within the
bosoms Of any creatures out Of the lower regions,
controlled every movement Of these late brethren
of ours towards the Southern people. They muir
dered and plundered and outraged wherever they
went; neither age nor escaped their Jury; they
coveted our lands and houses, and openly propos
ed to their soldiers as an incentive to fight,
division of those lands and houses among them;
they have not waited for the termination of the
war or any formal act to appropriate all movable
articles of private property these they EaVe PACK
ed up and shipped to their own homes at the
North. Silver spoons, gold breast-pins, watches,
books, pictures, pianos, sofas, beds and bedding,
everything in short that could be transported has
been sent off to adorn the persons and the parlors
and the chambers of officers, from the Command
ing General down to the lowest subaltern who
could manage to steal and carry them away. And
Nv hat they could not thus carry off they have
tonly destroyed. Should Southern man
far forget his selfrespect to enter dwelling at
the North, he will almost surely be confronted
robbed from his friends and neghbors at home.
All this was sufficient to put an impossible
gulf between the North and the South. But if
any one doubted that We could never live with
them again in peace all such doubts were dispel-
ed when Lincoln issued his emancipation procla-
nation, and, since he has not only carried it in
effect wherever he had the power, but has also
armed against his sable recruits wherever he
could induce them to shoulder musket by deck
,,,. r. Al
AS President Davis said in the same admirable
Message ''this act can lead to but one of three
possible consequences: the determination of the
slaves. the exile Of the whole white population
from the Contederacy, or absolute and total sepa-
ration of tho; States from the United States.
This is too manifest for argument. Should we
again become connected with the North, they
have the power and will to carry that proclama-
ton into effect. Either the whole population of
the South would be compelled to leave their coun-
try, or they would be compelled to exterminate
their servants. The latter would not only be abb !
horrent to every feeling of their natures but would
at once bring them again into collision with the
North. Reconstruction would be end of the
war; it would rather be the beg inning of intermin
able war; Peace with the United States can only
be secured by separation. And that separation
every dictate Of honor, of interest," and of humani-
ty demands. God forbid that we should ever
again be united with people who have SO deeply
outraged our every feeling and right, and whose
intentions towards us are as black as the Internal
regions
Let no man. therefore, tolerate in himself or
others thought of so fatal policy as recon
struction of the old Union. The day for that is
forever.past. The blood Of our slaughtered sons
and brothers upon hundreds fields, from Bethel
to Vicksburg, cries oat from the ground against
an idea SO fatal and so base.