Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-01

bAAo VI LuIoPe, anu SILL = Win Iear OF chahBo
perplexes monarchs~
The reader has already made for himself the ap-
piication Of the lessons taught by these great his
toric events for the instruction of our own times
We are living in the very centre ola gigantic
instruction. Whether we find the well-heads of
this conflict in differences of political opinion, in
antagonisms of economical interest, or in contra
rieties OF civilization engendered by distinct social
systems, certain it is that the origin of our con-
ict dates almost far back in the history Of this
nation as the comparatively short period Of its
existence will permit. Is it about slavery that we
are fighting? Then the origin of the contest
plants Its roots in the foundations of the Republic
Tor 1t was in differences on this subject that the
compromises of the Constitution were formed with
the most difficulty, as they have ever since fur
nished the shsrpest points of contact between the
Slavehoding and Non-,laveholding States Is it
question of constitutional relations between the
States and the National Government which has
put arms In the hands of angered and contending
sectlonsl Then the war takes its origin and mo-
tive from political differences contemporaneous with
the birth of the Constitution, for the heresy of
secession is but the natural product Of the State
rights doctrine as it came in the end to be distorted
in the hands of its peculiar patrons The terrible
war which is shaking our continent is not thing
of yesterday. "Far off its coming shone" And
the acar as no. itself the reUo1uion through aohich
this people IS passing It is but a symptom Of
the fever which has been long raging in our sys-
TEN, and which no bloodletting has yet availed to
reduce.
AS in all great historic movements of this kind,
there has been in the past no revolution stirring
society to its lowest depths and yet marching with
steady and equal steps to predestined conclu-
sion-as there have been GIBBS and flows, eddies
and regurgitations, marking the tidal movements
of the conflict not only in the phases it has assum
ed from day to day, but in the stages through
which it ha. passed from the period Of its rise to its
final decline, we have no reason to suppose that
our great civil catacysm will form any exception to
the general rule just as we'll could Falkland foresee
on the morning of the day in 1913 when he fell in
the battle of Newbury the mutations through which
England would pass before she found peace under
William and Mary in the revolution of 1888, as we
can predicS the intervals lying between the begin.
ming and the end Of this Titanic revolt There are
those who descry the end of the revolt only IN
soar--MoRE WAR for three years to come than we
have had for the three years just passed. though
this were physical possibility. There are those
who descry the end Of the revolt only in peace, as
though mere cessation of hostilities would bring
with it the old fraternal feeling which was soured
by generations of political dissensons before it
curdled under the 'exasperations of war. The yea
lots who talk of the military "subjugation" and
" determination" of the Southern people know not
the meaning of the words they use And the OPP
timists who, in their visions of "peace," expect
that we shall wake up some bright morning and
find that we have shaken off our consuming sorrow
like hdeous dream of the night, are equally shall
low in their fancies and fond in their hopes. The
nation that becomes prey to physical forces as
huge and political passions a, towering as those
which now impel the American people is nation
which 10 some measure has parted with an assured
control over its own destiny.
We cannot be sure what fate awaits us so-mor-
row, or in the next year, much less in the next
decade. 1t i, vastly easier to recount the imposs-
bities than the possibilities of situation, if
men have regard to logical solution of our con-
ict as seen from the one side or the other of the
dividing line which parts the belligerents. The
logical result Of the war, as viewed from he
North side Of this line, can be reached only when
the processes Of confscation," "subjugation,"
and determination" shall have eradicated ali the
means and agents of armed resistance at the South.
Is this possible! The logical results of the war, as
viewed from the South side of that line, can be
reached only when secession shall be admitted as
political right, and disunion be accepted as ply
sioal necessity. Are these results possible Is
1t not evident that the "logio Of events" must
modify on both sides the passions which commit
us to endless WARP For is not endless war as i'm
possible as it is unendurableH Foso peace yill
come no man predict, but it will come, because
it must come in the nature of things, When it
will come no man predict, for who can tell
what day will bring forth when the thoughts of
men have left their old channels Who has so
calculated the elements Of our great social and DO
.ica agitation that he can fix the points at which
the nation will pause or find permanent rest from
the turmoil of our troublous times
AS the first condition of all right knowledge is