The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-26
The Alternative Of War.
By HORACE GREELEY.

pONtIUUT lOuT yOuIo upOy iihN bSVh aSs'bF
Governor nearly ever since, vice Governor
Henry 5. Lane. chosen U. s. Senator. Messrs
Morton and Mcdonald, according to the ex'
cellcnt Western custom, are now canvassing
their State together. addressing the same a,i
di nces in alternate speeches, criticizing each
others positions. associations, and past po-
litic,L action, in perfect courtesy yet with
entire freedom, thus illustrating one of the
best phases of our republican institutions
and contributing to the enlightenment OF
the people. Each of them is able and forci.
BILE; yet the perusal of their speeches ut La
porte-as fully reported in the Cincinnati
journals-impcls me to hope that such dis
cussions will soon cease to be u Western pc
culiarity by becoming an American custom
usual and necessary incident OF our politi-
cal agit,tions.
Both candidates are of course devoted to
the Union--each is professcdly and intensely
favorable To its preservation. Mr.. McDon
aid will allow no man TO Guido him in this
regard. But when Gov. Morton says in sub
stance :--''Ilerc are two great military pow
ers struggling desperately, the one to main
tain, the other to disrupt and destroy tho
Union deem it my duty to do my utmost
to support the former and oppose the latter, f"
no speaks in accordance with the dictates OF
every true and loyal heart. And when he
turns upon his competitor and asks, "Now,
Sir, will you tell us how yon propose to up
hold the Union, or to prevent Its dcstruc'
tion?" hcclicits no answer. What response
couHbe given by one cholding Mr.. McDonalds
position?
The rebel platform is simple and intclligi-
bic EACH State is sovereign the Union
is u league the Constitution is treaty be-
tween sovereign powers, whereof each is its
conclusive Interpreter: hence, each State
may withdraw Mt pleasure, and in such man.
ner as to it shall seem good, from the Union,
and form such new alliance as to it shall
seem advisable" The intelligent have this
formula by heart, and know how thoroughly
crushed were its fundamental assumptions by
Webster in his discussion with lIayne. and
by jackson in his manilestocs against Nulli-
lication. Whoever is decently read IN our
country's recent history needs no calculation
of the Union or the Disunion side of this
controversy.
But is there still another tcnablc position
Are we, in truth, or are we not, Nation?
Is there, or is there not, such a thing as al
lesiancc duo to, and treason possible against,
the Union? Suppose the Lesislatureor Con.
vcntiOn of any State to pass an ordinance of
notification or secession, are the citizens Of
that State absolvod thereby from their obli-
cations and oaths Of fidelity to the Union
Ii is very latc now to ask these and kindred
questions; hut, after spending half million
lives and untold millions Of property on the
problem, there should be an AggRIcAN answer
to these que.tions--specitic, unambiguous,
decisive. We cannot afford to have layished
all this blood and treasure in vain.
If TO sccedc FROM the Union ut pleasure is
the constitutional or reserved right of every
State. then the war for tho Union isagressiyc,
iniquitous, unjustifablc. If, on the other
hand, there he no such right, then the war
against the Union is the most atrocious re-.
bcllion and treason. ".
If the Union has constitutional right to
defend its own existence, then tn charge the
President and his supporters with the cost of
the war--,o hold them responsible for the
mountains Of slain it has piled. the abysses
of d,ht it has opened. is most unjust. IL is
like s,ying to the sheriff of New York City,
"Sir, you have, during the last year, spent n
million of dollars in ierreting ont, arresting.
arraigning, trying, and Furnishing felOns ;
what have you to say for yourself?" "On.
ly this" tho sheriff would doubtless reply,
..that committed none of the fclonics. and
did not elect myself sheriff; and, if IL was
wrong to prosecute felOns to conviction and
punishment. the law is in fault, not I. lf
you would civ, impunity to fclons, you should
neither enact laws nor choose shcrills."
Gen. Mcclellan. in his recent West Point
grafton, forcibly says:
"To secure ourselves from the fate OF the
divided republics OF Italy and South Ameri.
Gu, to preserve our Government from dcstruc-
tion, to enforce its just power and laws, to
maintain our very existence as u nation
these were the causes which impellcd us to
draw the sword Rebellion against n govern.
ment like ours. which contains the means of
establishment and pacific remedy for evils,
should never be confounded with revolution
against drspotic power, which refuses redress
of wrongs. Such rebellion cannot he JUS
tilted upon ethical grounds; and the only
alternatives Tor our choice arc its Suppression
or the destruction Of our nationality. AT
such a time rs this, and in such struggle,
political partisanship should be merged in
true and brave patriotism, which thinks only
Of the good OF the whole country. 1t was
in this cause, and with these motives, that
so many OF our comrades have given their
lives; dndt this zoe are oil personally piedged
in nhoaor and fidelity. Shall such devotion
as that of our dead comrades be of no avail?
Shall it be said in after ages that we lacked
the vigor tD complete the ;rork thus begun
that. after all these noble lives, freely given.
we hesitated and failed to keep straight on.
until our land was saved?"
To buy of the rebels by profer OF ia
vors, concessions, privilegcs-this is not to
.'suppress" their rebellion. 1t is to offer n
premium for future revolts-to render seces-
Sion the ready resort of every defeated aspir-
ant. every restless agitator. To maintain
that the Union cannot "coerce n State is to
proclaim it the sport and wI,if of every local
'ealousy, every sectional ambition. Ii is to
issimilatc our national existence to Fourth
Of July gathering, u mass meeting, collected
by some orators fame, some raree-show's at
fractions.
That--should II ever arrive--will be sad
day for America and for Freedom which wit
nesses the confessed defeat Of the Union in
its struggle for existence. Dcspots and oil.
garcl,s will exult over the spectacle. exhibit
Ing il to their victims Us n conclusive proof
that republics have no inherent vitality and
afford no adequate security for property or
life. But darkcr-far darker-than even
this. would be n reunion purchased by con.
cessions To rebels in arms Of privileges and
s,vors which were denied them while still