The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-23
CHARLESTON.
SATURDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 2s. 1865.

We ARE constrained to look, with fcclings of no
little solicitude to political developments Mt tho
North. 1t was to have bcon expected that, having
met the sacrifices Of dcfcat-that having aoan-
donod hopes of self government, accepted tile dis-
ruption of our society, tho ruin OF our istltutons,
tho loss OF property it Involved, tho desolation in
the track of invading armies, anu the ruptures OF
our constitutions, necessary to the restoration of
relations with other States-our trials would have
ondcd. Tint it would have been allowed us to
be- return with tho strength and resources yet re-
manning, to the pursuits OF peaceful life; and that,
in tho laborious restoration of our ruined for
tunes, VIC might anticipate some compensation
for the past in participation i'll the futures OF the
Republic. ..
But the developments, to which VIC have referred,
render it doubtful whether even those antcipa-
tions are to be realized. 1t has long been reason
ably certain that tho people of the North have
been under the influence of two very distinct pur7
Doses in the prosecution OF tho war. A very large
number Of that people werc unwilling to permit O
dissolution Of tho Union. They feared the loss of
interest that dissolution would involve They wero
ayerse to tho rivalry and contact of another and
perhaps adversary power. They feared that dis
integration once commenced, might be continued,
and that the Republic would be broken into still
dissolution, but resisted dissolution merely, and
truly fought for tho restoration of the Union.
But another portion of that people had no such
purpose By force Of numbers they had seized
the government. They found it convenient in
strument. They could not see, or were unwilling
to perceive, limit to its power. Beyond the pale
: of party, all was plumber. Tho South, isolated by
her institution, was the most obvious and attrac-
tive object. They also we're unwilling to permit q
dissolution of the Union. 1t would be too much to
Say, perhaps, that they diBked the action of the
South. That put in peril, it is true, the power
and plumber they saw within their grasp; but it
left them in more full possession of the North 1t
gave them occasion to invoke an enormous mill
tarY force. It gave them an excuse to oVerstep
all constitutional restrictions on their power
And while, therefore, they were willing to expend
every energy and resource of the Government,
we're willing even to risk their own money in the
purchase of troops to fight the battle, it was from
no purpose to restore the Union. That, of all sup
posable events, was the one which they the least
desired. They had won their stake. Every play
had been successful. They were undisputod mas
ters of the North; in that way they were undisput
ed masters of the Government; through that Go
vernment they were as undisputed masters of the
South. That section lay q helpless, bleeding,
prostrate victim. It was source of imperial pa
tronage and spoil with no hand to grasp its
treasure but their own. Their leaders, with such
realms of plupder to distribute, were potentates
and powers. The patrons Of home were scarcely
greater. The crowd of clients evcn could expect
share and to surrender this domain of plunder-
to spare the PROSTATE victim-to let it reach the
sanctuary of the Constitution-to let it join the
adversary party at the Norths and put even their
own power in peril-was not to. be admitted. 1t
transcended every conception OF political pfa-
dence. It might be honest, just, and magnanmous
to do So but while they praise those virtues, they
cannot practice them ut such price as thnt The
imperial stake already won was not to be aban-.
doned to the claims of merely moral obligation;
and periing the Union to achieve their power,
they would peril or break the Republic to re-
tain it.
Such was the state of facts few months since.
Everywhere tho surface indications we're OF peace.
All classes at the North were equally active in
winding up the war, and no question was raised
but Of the punishment and humiliation necessary
to the South and the state of feeling TO fit her for
the Union. But to those who looked below the
surface it was very certain this state of peace
could not continue. The men who looked to peace
for the restoration of the Union, and all the hopes
and glories of the Republic, could hardly hold as
brothers those who dared to say the Union and
such glories should never be restored. The men
who held the Government as an instrument of ag-
gression, and the South plunder, could scarcely
feel brothers. kindness for those who would tear
1t from them, and charge them with the crimes
they medtated Between such variant parties it
was utterly impossible collision should not come.
and 1T has come at last. 4
The first distinct announcement of hostiities
was in the speech of Mr. -TuADDEUs STEVENS
which we published few days since, and made
the subject of remark. That is followed now by
the speech of Mr.. SUMNER, before the Convention
to nominate Governor for the State of Massa-
chusetts. The flag thus raised must float at
every section Of tho North. II is not to be sim
posed these mon have acted without conrort; not
to be doubted but that they speak the purpose
= OF the party, and that the die is cast whose
turn is to determine, for future time the fortunes
and even the form of this Republic. The Govern
ment sustained, and the Southern States restored
it may rerenter it's career, with hopes and pros
poets bright as ever; but not sustained-the power
remaining in the hands of party whose sense Of
liberty is the privilege to plunder and oppress-
no ,.ope of freedom remains to u.s. nor is it certain
that thu forms even OF free government can sur
yive the shocn of such collision. -
1t were impossible to look upon these occur
rences without some feeling of apprehension; and
the feeling must be creator with us, for that while
we have everything at stake, we are to be passive
spectators 81 tho contest. The issue will be made
in Congress, upon tho admission Of our represen-