The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-08
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR !

anu ~ seems late IN the day to repeat it,
inasmuch as it may be supposed to have
been fully answered to the satisfaction of
both North and South. Still it is an ever
recurring and most momentous question.
For what then are VIC fighting?
First, as to the South. The rebel chiefs.
would fam have their deluded followers.
and the world believe, that they are war
ring against the Constitution and Laws of
the United States IN defence Of their rights,
under that very Constitution they have
violated and trampled in the dust.
Pray, achdt are those rights which they
claim; and of which they pretend to have
been deprived? Let Alexander H. Steph-
ems, the present Vice President of the c.
). A. answer. In speech made by him
in Convention before the people of
Georgia, called to consider the propricty
of Secession, he clearly showed that the
South had no just cause of complaint
against the Federal Government. We
published that speech some weeks ago,
and refer our readers to it, without re-
publication of it.
The truthfulness of the declarations Of
Mr.. Stephens every unprejpdccd man
must admit Yet even Mr. Stephens has
been induced from some cause, to "eat his
own words" and join his fortunes 10 the
Rebel cause.
Others, less ingenious than Stephens,
have affected to find many, and grave
causes Of complaint against the Fed
eral Government Some complain that
the constitutional right of the South
to carry their slaves into the Territories
OF the United States has been denied them
Such persons seem to forget the decision
OF the Supreme Court of the United States
in the bred Scott case, the Fugitive Slave
Law, the Squatter Sovereignty Compro-
mise Bill, the Kansas Nebraska Bill, the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise Act,
and variety of other Acts which for the
sake OF peace, and by way of concession
to the South, the Northern dough faces"
agreed to.
16otit'onism, has been the harp of a
thousand strings" the "bug bear" the
"raw-head, and bloody-bones, with which
the wiley, and wicked Democratic politi-
cal tricksters, have sought to frighten and
control the weak backed masses.
These cunning, bad men, "haye seep a
negro in every bush, and have SO PLAYED
upon this harp of thousand strings ("
that they, themselves, have turned out 70
pc the most sovereign and powerful Abo-
htlonists OF the day. The wicked fanati-
eai course OF the Southern slave oligarchs,
and OF their blind, or interested followers
mas been such, that they have abolition
ised, and stricken the letters from the
slaves. Slavery, like the scorpin, has
"stung itself to DEATH"
Slavery is doomed in the United States
Not by the act of Abolitionists. or Eman
eipationlsts of the North, so much as By
the suicidal, rebellious course of the lead
ers of this rebellion. "The poisoned
Chaliee" has been Commended 70 tbe;,
own hps. They have been the means Of
enfranchising all the slaves of the United
States.
But what are the Southern Traitor,
nghflag for? For Empire. They have
become disguised with Free-Republicar
institutions, they scorn as we scorn, fur
'her alliance with Northern Democracy
lhey are intent upon stronger govern
Ment, an aristocratic oligarchy, of which
sfaoery shall be the "corner stone" o
winch we think the more probable ulti
mate design, for Monarchy, for King
Lords, aud Commons, with slavery 40 il
basis, and in which the common whit
people, or, as these slaye-lordlings ca
them, "the poor white trash, /" would hav
no voice, and "no part, or lot in the mat
ter, but to be "hewers of wood, an
drawers OF water" So long as they coul
govern the country, by and through th
dough faced Democrats" of the Nortl
these Southern f. f. VS., were content
take "tbe Lions share" of all the homo
and offices. But when, Like Othello
their Occupation is gone," they forthwith
rebel and involve our beloved country
all the horrors of a dreadful civil wa
hoping, thereby, to establish sepera
Independent Government, of the chars
ter above indicated
This Is what the Soua is fighting f
Butwhatare the Democrats, poor creatur,
feh.ing for? Of them, by-and-bye.