The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-05-31
From the Buudtord Argus
Reconstruction.


rapidly waning, and the question OF the
policy to be pursued in the restoration o
the seeded states TO their former status II
the Union is absorbing the public mind
and while vast majority of the mea com
posing the party in power are clamoring
under the plea of justice, for a viudictive and
bloody policy towards The leading seces-
sionisls, there is ore consideration that we
are bound by ;be most sacred obligation 10
keep in view and yet, one that as yet we
have scarcely seen noticed. In all coniro-
versies there are two sides; and Justice
considers both. with strict and equal i'm
partiality. When the victor in such a
struggle, as this through which we have
just passed, assumes 10 administer justice
upon his defeated antagonist, he needs 10
be very sure of his capacity TO consider
well and fairly, not merely the offence, but
the provocaiion and circumstances which
led 10 it. Of course We shall be told that
II is ''disloyal'' TO assume that there was
is an old dodge. Our reply is ihatit is never
disloyal 10 be Just. o. course no man, at
least, no northern man claims that there
was such provocaiion as justified secession,
know to that impartial history will find
much TO mitigate and palIiate :he enormily
OF the great wrong TO :he country that was
attempted BY the people OF the so called
seeded states. In dealing with this ques-
lion we are bound TO consider. ] The OF
fence; 2. The proyocation aud circum-
stances that led to its perpetrsliou.
The of1ense 10y whatsoever name we
may choose 10 characterize iD was nothing
more nor less than an attempted division o
The Union into two separate and indepen-
dent governments. Interested parties may
ailempI 10 gloss l. over upon the one hand,
or dislort i, upon the other, bu' it comes TO
This al last and in this light is justice bound
TO view it,
All Northern ren, except certain OF the
radical leaders in The North agree that for
such an attempt there is no warrant in
the constitution and that il was therefore
very great political offence. The Southern
people sooght TO accomplish this offence
peacefully, but with consciousness that
war and all its attendant horrors might en-
sue Such was their offence.
? We come now to the question tchy The
people of The South desired and attempted
this division Of the Union.
A tew plain historical facts will answer
Ihis question.
Is,. a feeling of strong and bitter sec.
Ional hostility had been growing up be
tween the two sections OF the Union ever
since The anti-sIavery agitation al the North
first drew This question into the Federal pol
iIics. The direct issue thus raised between
the Two peoples was whether, under our
system OF government, this was legiiimateiy
of stale, or of national politics. The South
claimed that il was purely a question OF
local, or state politics; aud ia this they
were unqueslionably right But the agita-
ton still continued al the National capital
and throughout the North, where the insti
tnlion that formed iis subject had no exs
lence. Now, what Northern man can feel
sure that the aggressive altitude OF the
North, with reference TO this subject would
not have been exceedingly offensive 10
himself had bis lct been cast in the South
That il was so 10 ttfe Southern people is
TACT that should rot now be foTgouen--of
fensive not only TO those who had a special
interest in the institution assaied, bui es-
feciaIIy so TO those who, having no such
interest, recognized in this Northern ali-
tude denial OF their righ; to conuo their
own domestic institutions. No reasonable
man will hesitate 10 reflect as TO what would
be his own feelings under just these cir
cumstances. The Fathers Of the Republic
did so reflect, and spo inted oHI with strong
emphasis the consequences that would ;nev-
iiabIy follow wsntnn disregard of them.
End. Wren the leading secessionists were
preparing 10 take their fatal leap they knew
that the leading organ OF The party then in
power, The New York Tribune, seconded
by some less influential papers in The
North, was then advocating with earnest
zeal and dangerous sophislry the right OF
secession. They knew that the then re-
Gently elected President had himself years
before, upon the floor OF Congress, given
EN- phaiic expression TO a substantially sim
lar doctrine. They knew ina; Senators
Hale, Seward and Cbase-leading and con-
trolling spirits in the same pary-haG pre-
sented and seconded petition TO Congress
praying for a dissolution OF the Union
They knew that The leading Northern ag
IaIors, of the Wendell Philips, Theodore
Parker, Gerriu Smith. Horace Greeley aud
n. w. Beecher school were strongly in
favor OF a peaceful division of the Union
between the two sections. They knew
that the party OF which these organs and
these men were the leaders was then about