Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14

De even OF
uas. The communications to which aIude may
require to be published such OCCASION OF the oc
currence of which we must be allowed to Judge.
From the Liverpool (Eng.,) Mercury.
USIOz OR CONQUEST.
Its not Often that We find ourselves agreeing with
Gen Butler but there is much OF force and good
IN some remarks which he lately addressed to meet
| ing of the Union State League of Massachusetts,
and which we commend to the grave consideration
| of all friends of constitutional freedom eth
er side of tie Atlantic. General Butler is sutf
centy clear headed TO perceive the hopeless imposs
bilty of the between NORTH and SOpth ending 10
restoration OF the old Federal Union, and he argues
the matter in way which must, think, carry con-
VctiOn to all minds capable Of moments serious
Fiction member of MIR. Lncoln's Cabinet Post
master Bair( having recently expressed the opinion
that the rebel commonwealth, on throwing down
their arms should be received into the Union with
Impaired rights, and with their local Institutions,
General Butler points out that this is simple absardi
ty 1t is preposterous talk of re-admittng the Con
federate States into the Union if tAey wished to
be eadmitted for the obvious reason that they would
return with views, purposes, Interests, and passions
wholly incompatible with the discharge of the duties
incident to the federal relation 1t absolutely certain
that they would be restless, dissatisfied and disOyal
members of the federation, which they would ony have
re-entered on compusion whereas il is Of the very
essence of the federal system that the several States
composing it should cooperate willingly and IN good
|
else of popular franchises is the very life and soul of
republican confederation yet how Is it possible to
trust the " rebel eommonweaths with powers which
would infaiby be employed, on the very first OCCASION
to the detriment Of their federal allies? General But
Ter gives couple of welchosen illustrations of posi-
| ton which is really too plain to need any ilustra
ton whatever If" he sensibly asks, " the Coniede
rate States were readmtted and their representatives
took their seats Congress- before radical change
we're effected, what guarantee would there be that the
Federal national debt would not be repudiated made
to stand upon the alternative that the Confederate debt
must likewise be paid?" Nothing could be more to
the purpose than this pertinent suggestion. OF course
the Southern members of a restored Congress would
vote to q man against any and every scheme of taxa
saddng them and their constituents with the costs
CT their subugation, except on the absurdly i'm
possible hypothesis that Northern members would re-
cprOcate the courtesy by sharing the expense OF
" wicked ard unnatural rebellion" Nothing could ca.
able the restored Union to live through the first session
Of freely elected Congress, unless were agreed at the
Ouset to wipe out the liabilities OF NOrth and South
alike Again. there is the insurmountab!e difficulty of
the Presidential elections. How is it conceivable that
North and South could ever agree in the choice of
President, unless the Northern majority would once
more submit, of DID, to Southern dictation? The
rebel States must be regarded destroyed it would
be almost Impossible to choose another President since
no candidate likely to be selected would eive such
a support in the North Gs to give him majority OF
| the whole Electoral College cor rstituted of all the
States, both loyal and rebel The conclusion s neV-
| IT.
| can pc no restoration of the old Union OF CO.
| equal commonwealths. If North Ind South
are ever again to co-exist in one political
system radical change must be Effected in the.r mu
ual relations, and not left In doubt as to what
that change must be. The North must be master and
the South must be servant. The seeded States must
be regarded as destroyed" leaving nothing behind
hcm but much 'terrltory to be held and governed
as conquered dependency. For the South there must
henceorth be representation in Congress- no share
in the election of Presidents, no State rights voice
n the levying aud disbursement of Its taxes,
popular franchises Of any sort. It's government must
be administered by Northern military pro consuls, it's
people held down in subecton by orthern armies
This and not any idle dream oil union, is hencefor
ward the only ineligible object of the War which s to
be fought out "to the bitter end
10 dspassionate observers of the course of events
American there is, of course nothing new in all this
be conclusion which General Butler 80 ogcaly states
aud cCu:sgeousy accepts has long b. tGGniiur tC
politicians who have refused to be blinded cy
ING phrases From the first it has been evident to in-
partial bysanders that .ne alternative not separs
ton or reunion, but separation suhiugation. Sep
aration is conceivable and possible subiugation
ceiv be though it is doubtful whether it be possible
but reunion by force of the compulsory feestab
ishment OF an essentially voluntary pact Is neither pos
sbe nor conceivable.
Now that this truth, rather truism is forcing it
self mems minds and nndng cpen utterance, it may
be hoped that the friends of constitutional law and lilo
ery in both hemispheres will very ser asly consider h
/,
hes have perhaps contributed to embitter and proong
What the Northern Federation is really W unconscious
y) fighting for s the creation OF vast Poland or We
nea, to be subdued and annexed by military Volenc
an held in subsection by military terrorism 1t ls e4
ceedingy questionable to say the least, whether th
enterprise practicable; but there can be no question
whatever that, if practicable, its successful accomplish
ment would be the most greVous calamity that cout
bealI the victos 1t not given to any people to en-
10y the luxury OF ruling alien and hostile dependen
cy especially its own frontier, by armed force, With
out suffering fatal reaction its domestic oer
ties The habitua exercise of unrestrai9ed ard arbi
trary DO yer over neghbourng-a DOve all, kindred
&C mmunty is the very worst imaginable training fo
the citizens of free and selfgoVerned commonwealth
D nation which has learned to govern by the sword
and admire government by the sword is already
thai bali prepared toeLdure at home the military des
potism which it practises abroad The generals an'
the soldiers who to repress dsatectlon IN Sout
Carolina and Alabama will be very dangerous citizen
ior Massachusetts, and it were vain to hope that tn
civil and political franchise which are systellatioa