Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-11
LORD BROUGHAM on WEE WAR IN AMERIO.


The following extract, from speech OF Lord
Broug6am bforc the Moral Silence Meetings in Elm
burgh rs remarkable, when we consider the anttsvery
antecedsnts of that hObeman. It IS taken from let
ter received from Edinburgh by clergyman Of Rich
mond who placed at the disposal of the Central Pres
byterian:
"The term civil war Is now hardly applicable to this
miserable contest Tle people of the South are banded
against those of the North, e1act any two European
nations differing in all respects sIVe anguage-the
Aus;rans and Prusaians, for example. But gveit what
pame We may, one can doubt that II is cruel ca
lamty to the AmericaQs themselves, and though in g
much less degres to the rest Of the world which, With
one accord, joins in reprobadDg their conduct while
amentiDg its effects Each party, of course seeks to
east on the other the heavy baBe OF bres king the
peace. Ga the side is the wicked allegation OF prop
ery 10 hYnIn beings; on the other the hollow preteIt
of making war to free America Of sllvery.
Hollow wo may call it for those who proclaim
emancipation confess that it of hostility
the whites and designed to procure slave insurreo
ton, from which the much enduring nature of tee
happy negro saVed the country.
"Ay esteemed friend, the prelate, who e1alts g his
eloquence and his virtues the name of WUbeforce
whIoh he nheTts, declared tina. the authors of the
measure cared little for the blacks freedom az for
the whites and they cal FOR determination of the
one race 10 libeEate the other But, whatever might
have BEEN the proxmAte Of the contest its con-
ample and without bounds individuals subject 10 Thu
fail Bg arc despised not baed and it is an ordinary tx
pression respecting him who ia WthoHt the weakness
thaShe is too proud to be vain. But when peopo are
seized with it, they change the name and call love of
glory. OF the SirdVldual we often hesr tho
il leads TO no bad action. NCthing be more
Alss it leads 10 many crimes, and to tnat disregard Of
truth which is the root of all offences. Certainly n pro-
duees none of the worst crnsa Tho man who is a
prey to vanity thrsts not for the bo5d OF his neghbor
How fearfully otherwise is il VII nationis its slave
MagniyDg itself bey ond all MEASURE and dsspisng the
rest OF Mankind blinded and intoxicated with sslfsAt-
.isacon, persuaded that their crimes proofs %
greatness, and believing that they are both admired
aud euyied the Americans have not only been content
With the destruction of half million, but been vain Of
the slaughter. Their object being to retain great
among nations for their extent of territory they
exult in the Wholesale boodshed by Whsh it mus. be
accomplished because others were unable to make such
a sacrifice. The struggle o! above two yeara, which
loosen AL tie bonds tia. hold society together,
andaesye 10 millons the means Of shosing their
capacity, has produced no genius civil or mil
itary while the submission to- every caprice
OF tyranny has been universal and habtual and
never interrupted by a single act of resistance TO
the most hgrdnt infractons Of personal freedom. The
miscbiais OF mob supremacy have been constantly felt
forthe calamity of rational aud err eabe men keep
ing nloof from thu management of Etirs has resulted
ia she Tyranny Of the multitude. To this yrant the
nominal rulers have never withheld their submission
and tie press catering for the spPe tics of the popu
lace and lndering to their passions has persisted in
every misrepresentation which might most diguise the
truth to passing events exaygerang each success
exenuaiing each defeat, often observation-disclosures VIC
to " while the mptituce If the truth BY Glance reach
ed them Whole one day sunk in dctpar another elated
ectlcy, almost at the pleasure Of their rulers aud
their guides Nor the alseboods thus psopagated
con6ned 10 the of the war they extended 10 all
thingsto the of the Government and the acts
of foreign nations. Tho public feeling mast not be
thwEted the people desired to hear Whateyer gratfed
their vanity raised their spirits and in this deusi0n
must they live as oag the lasts and the rule is
10 the hands Of the mob. The truth they will never
hear because they desire to hear what is passing aad
not wba ia true. But it would be great mstake TO
charge their false guides the foes and the crimes
which they chime in with and do their best perpetu
ate. The people ara determined in their course Far
fTom.feelrg shame at the cruel fcenss Whichmodern
ages-nay, which Christian times-haye seen nothing
to equsl-b spectacle at which the whole world stands
asst almost 10 ncredulty actually glory in 1t
proof OF their higher nat1re, bslovs themselves 10
be the envy the flower Of mankind, and aIoy that
their .prowess would triumph the most powerful
States of Europe In such illusions their chiefs may
not practically join, but the people are beyond doubt
prey to them, and will continue SO 70 the end
''Hear the just law, the Judgment of thsakes,
They that bate tfuLh shall be the dup:s Of les,
And il they will be cheated TO the las,
Delusons strong az hell shall hind them fastp