The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-07-10
...-.r .-, From the Nsso York Herald.
The Awful Condition of the Country
Who are Responsible ?

Three years ago this country was the
envy of the world. Thirty millions Of
people of all classes, conditions, religious
and nativities were living happily togeth-
er under the freest government upon the
face of the earth. The poor and the op-
pressed of all nations found Il refuge upon
our shores Our flag was known and re-
spected in every land and on every sea.
Our commerce bore to distant climes the
products of our soil aud of our manufac-
lures, and brought US in exchange all the
comforts, and luxuries we could desire
10 be an American citizen was SO great
an honor, that even the aristocrats OF Eu-
rope showed US especial favors, and treat
ed our representative with distinguished
consideration. We had just sent France
her Emperor and Italy her Liberator,
after having received and protected those
illustrious exiles. The future King of
England had visited US to see for himself
the supreme greatness and happiness of a
free people under government of their
own choice. Peace, contentment and
prosperity at home-admiration, envy
and honor abroad-in these words is pic
tured the condition of the United States
three years ago. .r~. a.-...a 4.
To-day one-half the country is in rebel
lion against the Government. Three
hundred thousand American soldiers are
arrayed against each other around the
national capital. The loyal armies are
destroying public and private property at
the South, and the rebel armies are inva-
ding and devastating the North The
flames of burning towns and villages are
answered by the red glare of burning ships.
Our commerce is almost totally destroyed,
and what is left of it has abandoned our
flag aud sought safety beneath the British
ensign. Rebel pirates infest the seas,
ravage our coasts, and dare to enter our
harbors. Fifty millions of dollars worth
of property was destroyed or captured in
Maryland and Pennsylvania last week,
and our losses elsewhere are double that
sum. Thousands of brethren who lived
in .amity and peace three years ago, have
since been slain by fratrieidal hands, and
now sleep beneath the sod. The national
currency has deprecated till gold is at an
enormous premium. The necessaries of
life command extravagant prices. Our
manufactures have ceased almost entirely
in some sections Of the country, and 'in
others are kept in feverish activity only
by the demands of the war In one Of
our largest cities business is suspended
that the citizens may arm to meet the
rebels. 'a9'- y 'hS '''.'
Peculation, embezzlement and corrup-
tion are rioting in official circles. A few
hundreds of men without souls are becom-
ing amazingly rich, while the masses Of
the people suffer. Our statesmen have
degenerated into scheming, thieving poll
ticians. The national debt, already large,
is daily and hourly increased by war ex-
and knavish hands are dill
gently engaged in robbing the Treasury
in a thousand ways. Such is the awful
condition of the Republic. Who are re-
sponsible F? ,@ 't''.'
Thirty years ago few fanatics began
the agitation about the negro. It is now
a matter of history that, if this agitation
had not occurred, slavery would have
died a natural death in most of the South
ern States, as it did in New York, New
Jersey and elsewhere. '9 ' Il
These fanatics came originally from
New England. 1t was believed in oIden
times shat Boston and its vicinity was 1ir un-
derthe) curse Of God for its Puritaniical
prosecutions! With this curse the New
fanatics have Infested the nation.
After preparing the way by tracts, lectures
and SERMONS, the Abolition faction drag
ged the negro into politics. The South
efh shareholders resented this attemptsto
deprive them Of their property. The ex-
tremists Of both sections Joined hands in
the infamous work Of dividing and de-
stroying the country. Through its sue
cessiye stages, like some foul disease, this
abolition conspiracy against the Union can
be traced BY The impartial historian. !, All
sorts Of remedies were attempted /; but all
failed, because they were merely temporar
ry, and did not aim at the determination
Of the disorder The great men, Of the
nation passed away uttering fearful warn
ings Of impending danger, At last the
cfisis came. !, a set iof unscrupuleus poll
ticians gave tie Abolitionists the opportua-
nifty they desired, and sectional party
seized the reins Of government Goaded
70 madness by, the inaammatory appeals.
Of Southern ,fre-eaters, one slave Stat, ,af. 4
ter another left the Union, The Aboli-l
tieonists enist encouraged and tapplauded this