The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-02-23

the States of South Carolina, Florida
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas
Louisiana. North Carolina. Arkansas
Virginia, Tennessee, succeeded in gain.
ing place and power sufficient to place
those States in armed antagonism to the
remaining States Of the old Union. The
subject used used to inflame the public
mind, and to "fre the Southern heart
was Slavery Of the African. The issue
made was. whether the Slave States sho' d
establish eeparate and Independent ma
tionality, and as consequence of ma
tionallty, control for themselves the
Question Of slavery. This was the issue
and the contest still goes on. 1t matters
not what may have been, or now is, the
opinion OF some as to the right of the
States thus to dissole, sure it is that there
was majority Of the States of the old
Union that thought differently. and still
think so, and large body of the people
in the South who thought it wholly un-
necessary TO make the issue, and still
think that it was unwise TO have done so
But the reply is. that the issue was made
and we must fight it out. Well, the is.
sue has nearly ruined us notwithstand. :.
ing our gallant fighting; and the con.
test proves that our safety is to seek pro.
lection for what remains from the old
government.
Can we stand alone? 1--we are TO have
an ally or allies. ii an alliance offensive
and defensive is to be formed, is it not
better that it should be done with States
contiguous to US, than to expend our
treasure in efforts TO win some crowned
head to our cause? 1--we are forced to
court the favor Of some more formidable
power, have we not much more to gain
by restoring our former alliances than to
go in quest of some European friends?
The question recurs, what can be done?
The answer is plain The government
Of the United States may be restored.-
The State OF Alabama acted alone when
the Ordinance of Secession was adopted; 4;
the repeal OF the Ordinance Of Secession
would place Alabama, politically, where
she was before the Ordinance was adopt.
ed. A convention passed the Ordinance:
convention could rescind the Ordi-
dinance. The Legislature provided for
the calling the convention the Legisla.
ture can provide for the calling con-
vention. The Governor can call the
Legislature together. But il the Cover.
nor will not act voluntarily, the people
may assemble in primary meetings in
their different counties and request the
Governor to call the Legislature togeth
er-and instruct their representatives TO
provide for convention aud certainly
no Governor will undertake to set at de
6ance an expression of the voice Of the
people. But should the Governor re-
fuse to yield TO an expression of the wish
OF the people TO have a convention, then
the people may by their primary meet
ings resolve upon the election OF dele
gates 10 a convention with view 10 de
liberate upon the condition Of the coun
try, and to act with the lights before the
world for the safety Of the country. Let
the great body of the people of each State
assemble once more to ACT for themse yes
and the world will be better satisfied.
For near three years have the Confed
crate States been anxiously awaiting the
interposition of some foreign power to
put an end TO the shedding of blood, and
TO the wild ruin and devastation, all over
the broad land. The power to appeal to
is at hand. Let the people be heard
The inhabitants of the land are the suf-
ferers. They want government, civil
authority. 1t is their right to be heard
For three years their voice has been s,i.
fed.
Upon what terms may the Union be
restored? Just as it was. save the fea-
tuIe Of African Slavery. Ii is eviden,
that the South must make a material
change upon the question before she can
again live in peace with the world Ma.
tions more formidable In all the elements
of power than the Southern States, have
often been forced to yield to the pressure
against them. and to change their poll.
ey. This great moral. religious and po-
litical question, we should meet like
men. as becomes christian people,
We should meet it openly and boldly,
and if the voice of Chrstend ON is against
us. yield TO that voice as the voice oil
God. We have undertaken to fight out
OF 1t, but il sticks the closer to US. We
cannot shut ourselves up within the cot
ton States and dedantly proclaim TO the
world that our system is peculiar TO our.
selves and il must not be investigated -
1t was thought by many that We could
be independent, Of the world, and that
the world was depencent upon US.
What now is the social condition oil
the South? Not family 10 be found
but mourns the loss of some innate
Fiction never pictured what reality has
disclosed. Fathers have been slain in
battle. Sons have been sacrificed -
Thousands OF brave men have perished
on the ground where some memorable
battle has been fought, as il to try the
skill Of commanders inductins the in
strumen,s OF destruction.
Ii is time 10 put an end to the desola
ton OF home. TO the slaughter OF kindre,
and the ruin of friends. Tho restoration
Of government saves our honor as polit