Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-09-21
The Southern Press.
Reconstructiom--T New Union.
From the Richmond Enquirer.

From the Richmond Enquirer.
Mr.. Calhoun proposed, as the means OF
preserving the Union from the war which
now desolates it, that the Executive De-
partmcnt of the Federal Government
should be reposed in two agents instead of
one His dual Executive was derided :;
but the wisdom of his proposition, no less
than his patriotic love for the Union of
which he was charged with being the de-
termined enemy, is now apparent to all.
! Two Presidents-the one for the North.
and the other for the South, with the con-
currence Of both to every law-would
have prevented the election of Mr. Lin
coin, and made the Southern States secure
of all the rights within the Union But
that remedy can now do nothing more
! than point out an analogy. The war has
created the necessity for two Presidents,
two Congresses, two Judiciaries, in fact,
for two nations. Each independent, but
not necessarily Indifferent to the welfare of
the other. The domestic affairs of the
two sections should be managed separate
ly and exclusively by the authorities Sc
lected by the people.
If our enemy would but consider the
abolition of slavery among the people of
these States in its practical bearing, the
utter lmpossibility Of accomplishing it
would be apparent to them. If no prin-
cIPIe was involved, if no interest was at
stake, how could four millions of free
negroes exist among eight millions of
whites! The institutions Of the States of
the Confederacy and those Of the Union
are based upon different and opposite |
principles; the former upon negro slavery, |
and the latter upon white freedom. The |
necessities of each require a separate Co |
vernment, the good Of both would be pro-
NOTED by two governmental organisms.
and the power and influence of all, undi-
nlnshed by the separation, would always
exist IN anity as against an assaiIant
OF either. The American continent, for
American civilization, IS as much Con-
tederate as Federal sentiment, and, not
the passions excited and
aroused by this war, the peoples of the
two sections must ever lean more on each
other than on any other nation. Our
conquest only could make US the allv Of
orelgn power against the United States.
oubIugatcd, the people Of the Confederate
states would become the Ireland, the Po-
and, the Hungary Of the American con-
lnenf, welcoming any and every enemy
Il the United States as their friend and
Ieiivercr, and ready at all times to reopen
he contest. But as an independent ma
ION the closest alliance that can unite the
peoples should exist between them. and
III Insult TO one would be an offense to
he other.
The national unity" of an empire or {
,ingdom may be preserved by conquest. {
'ut force belongs not to constitutional 60 $
ernments. Compromise is the only prin !
IPle by which popular governments can q
erpetuate their existence. When the an +
cal TO arms was made the peaceful RENE
y OF compromise was made impossible v
nd now four years of war has so wi y
ened and deepened the gulf that separ
ties the two sections, that they can never Fl
e again united in peace. intoxicated bv o
ldden and partial success, Mr.. Lincoln
lay imagine that our conquest is within II
is power and means. No words of ours
IN be more convincing than four years
war, but in the interest Of humanity
I'll the sober thought ever dispel the de-
sion that by conquest, by arms, by war,
lasting peace can be made between
e parties in this disgraceful conflict bt
'e regard this q explanation by the NJ
litor Of the Washington organ, referring W
it does to the example of Mr. Ray S.
ond for its justification before the party, ed
step toward ''lasting peace" 1t L
'andons the negro entirely, and points to be
r. Greeley as ready to forego phiIan-
ropy and q freedom for & national w
ity." When partisan frenzy and fa- sil
tlcism thus reduce their extraordi- da
ry demands, the more reasonable DIR
d sensible mass of the people, who are lee
airing all the burdens, enduring all the th
lferings and making all the sacrifices, an
IL not long continue the war for the Su
adow of " national unity" That peo- GU
), as well as our own, will soon pa
the folly of attempting to live to- We
her after such a war. They will soon I'll
IN that in an offensive and defensive An
ance OF the two nationalities against ow
world, with separate governments for La
nestle affairs, lies their true and real =. s
erests, as well as the 'sroad to lasting
ce" An