Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-01
THE ELEMENTS OF UNION.

| the Union. This was perhaps necessary conse-
quence Of the magnitude of the military and naval
operations set on foot for the purpose of quelling
an armed sedition which itself had assumed gigsn-
tic proportions on the part of the
Government, demonstration of superior material
resources as one ground of confidence in the ult-
mate maintenance of the national authority.
And yet, as we have intimated, it cannot have
escaped the attention of every philosophical stu
dent of history that force alone is but poor re-
lance for the reduction of that hostile temper
which the great mass of the Southern people may
be expected to show, long nothing but force is
made the ground on which it is proposed to restore
the Union. twas in recognition Of the inherent
inadequacy of 9 force alone" to accomplish this
benefcent purpose that the President, in his An
nual Message Of December, 1862, suggested what
he believed to be more excellent way in his plan
Of emancipation with compensation. To this effect,
as cited by us few days ago in another relation,
he then wrote:
This plan is recommended q means, not in eIclu
sion Of but additional to- all others for restoring and pre-
serving the national authority throughout the Union. The
subject presented exclusively its economical aspect
The plan would confident peace speedi-
y, and maintain it permanently, than be done by
force alone while all it would cost considering amounts
and manner Of payment and times of payment would be
easier paid than will be the additional cost Of the war; if
rely solely upon force 1t is much-very much-tha
it would cost no blood at ALL"
We have been reminded of these views of the
President by some highly appropriate remarks
mSle by Bishop SoUTHaATE, at St. Johns Church
- oskx lat <bo nou IF nGo
giving, when he spoke as follows. We quote
from the report Of his sermon as found in the
Morning Chronicle:
"He maintained that tho of love to Southern
brethren which Christian principle and feeling demand
not inconsistent with the assertion of the and wicked
Of secession with the vigorous of every effort
to que the rebeion that after the first gun fred at
Sumter the hardly to be avoided but he would
utterly condemn the of ecclesiastical assemblies
which had spoken only provoke deeper hate and had
sent to their Christian fellows at the South those
formerly associated with them the dearest and the closest
Of bonds that bind to man, word Of loving ap
peal proposition to unite their efforts, Christian
patriots to stop the tide of slaughter and restore the old
harmony the old basis Such work could have done no
HARM and might have been productive Of great good We
have he said suffered Christian brethren of the South
to keep apart without word of the old friendly greeting
reaching their We have lost the opportunity try
the power Of Christian persuasion to awaken in behalf
of our common country the old feeling Of Christian fellow
ship He regretted he said in this respect Of the
action Of the last General Convention and argued that the
doing of duty citizens in aiding to suppress the
beion, in wise prevented distinctive Christian
action upon the precepts of Scripture relating to the diff
ferences between brother and brother precepts equally
applicable to assemblies of Christian men. We have
Thousands he said and hundreds of thousands brothers
at the South who bound to the ties of communion
in Christs Holy Church. They yearn, perhaps for
love Of old We ought certainly to yearn in love to
them. And why should not such love have uttersnce
and expression 1t might work wonders Of goodness 1t
might appease angry passions 1t might call errng Chris
tans back to duty 1t might the land The torch of
flares wildly abroad who Of is bearing the olive
branch OF peaceT
"On this point the Bishop dwe at large insisting upon
the true nature and style Of Christian action under such
circumstances those of the present war; allowing full
scope to every effort for suppressDg rebellion by force of
but declaring that to fobear the action of Christian
brotherhood to leave the prosecution Of the work TO
the powers Of evil and thus to hazard Its benefcent
1t would SEEM he said if had nothing to do but
fight, fight fight Kindly consideration, extenuating cir
cumsance the generous impulse of love, out of the
question Every thing done both sides exasperate
each other Motives misconstrued actions are misre
presented and system Of universal lying is naugurated
which shows corrupt condition of the public mind tho
roughly appalling The country does not need asehoods
and hate for its preservation II it Does it is not worth
preserving The Christian soldier will fight less brave
y and successfully with love and generous appreciation
Of his rival in his heart And all shall be nearer to the
victory of right if tell les do not bee and defame
antagonist acknowledge fairly their skill and prowess
though in bad cause and make all just allowance for the
circumstances which led to their misdong Abuse depre
ciaon infamous SANDER and vangory have not won for
us single battle will lead the strife 10 happy
termination
1t has always seemed to us that the loyalty which
sbures passion and bases itself principle would
carry its votaries farther than the loyalty which
is founded on sectional pride and hate. And we
are equally sure that those who would have the
Government hold towards The people of the South
the language of this prelate, have more clearly
than some others perceived at once the path of
patriotic obligation and Of Christian duty As the
President said Of his plan SO say we of this-that
it is recommended as means not in exclusion
Of, but additional to, all others for restoring and
preserving tho national authority throughout the
Union" Or, as Bishop Southgate expresses it,
"our duty citizens in aiding to suppress the re-
bcllion in no wise prevent, our distinctive Chris
tian action upon the precepts of Scripture relating