Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-03-05
Moral Courage Wanting.

1t too frequently happens in the lives of men
that they placed in false positions simply
because they have not the moral courage re-
quisite to combat the sneers and inuendoes OF
those with whom they associated in business
or social relations. 1t is human nature to seek
and desire the applause, and to court the good
opinions of those by whom we are surrounded.
and it frequently happens that in aiming to
cure those opinions step aside from the path of
duty is taken, too often never to be returned.
And when this step has once been taken feel
ing of false pride will array itself in opposition
to the promptngs of better judgment, which
will forever close the door to return to the
right path.
In 1861, when the rebellion first broke out
much doubt was felt throughout the North as to
the probable attitude which the Border States
would assume. The true state of public senti-
ment in those States was but little understood
in the North rebel journals and speakers had
confidently claimed that it was overwhelmingly
in favor of secession, and from the stand taken by
those with whom the State administrations had
been entrusted, many were led to believe that
the assertion correct. 1t was the hour in
the Border States when their destines should
have been in the hands of their wisest most un-
prejudiced and most patriotic Unfortu-
nately this was not the case the States rights
wing of Democracy with but few exceptions held
the highest positions and the great influence
which those positions conferred was cast unhes-
itatinglv on the side of the rebellion. On the
one hand they urged forward by feeling
of false State pride and sectional prejudice to
link their fortunes with the malcontents of the
extreme South, on the other they were bound by
every principle of nationality, by every memory
of the past, by every page of our country his
tory and every sentiment of patriotism to join
hands with the defenders of the country and aid
in maintaining the Union in its integrity. 1t
would seem to look back upon the state of affairs
at that time it now appears to us, and as it
will 90 down to posterity in the pages of history,
that there could be but one course for statesmen
to adopt Yet so skifully had the traitors ma
tured and carried out their plans that while the
sentiment of the people shown by their votes
was upon the side of the Union, the State gov
ernments by being in the hands of the creatures
of jeff Davis were well nigh thrown into open
hostility to the Nation. 1t was not until cleo
tions had been held and the issue of Union or
Disunion. fairly made, that the true sentiment
of the Border States ascertained beyond IL
doubt.
Thousands of men in this State. men who had
hitherto been conservative i'll fe> ling, were car
ried into the secession ranks by the excitement
which existed at that time under the impression
that " their State =" would 90 with the South.
Like John r. Mcconnell, their allegiance was
due to narrow spot bounded by State lines,
= their State would go with the South, and
they would 90 with their State" And like
John K. Mcconnell, again, when 9 their State y
declared for the Union they had not the moral
courage to retrace their steps and declare for the
Union with her. They could not cut loose from
the fellowship of those with whom they had
been acting politically, such step exposed them
to the sneers and gibcs of their companions and
would expose them to danger of being stigma
tized by the dreaded name of - abolitonst .
We can look around and many who to be
consistent should be active members of the
step which has placed them on the other side,
and yet are withheld by feeling of false pride
from enrolling their names in the Union ranks.
No doubt they are surpriscd-we are surprised
ourselves at the radical revolution in sentiment
which this war has worked in the Border States.
But when country has like Virginia or Tennes-
see been ravaged by contending armies, it should
not surprise us to see Il revolution in sentiment
where the cause of the war is concerned. 1t
thing to be expected. and vet the most
sanguine friend of human freedom did not an
ticipatc that such result would so soon follow.
Bnt when an evil like slavery becomes the sub
ject of free discussion there can be but one re-
sult-its downfall.