The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-05-04
WHO IS TO BLAMEP

History furnishes no parallel to the late
American conflict, either in the loss Of hui
man life, the magnitudes Of the armies en-
gagged and the stretch Of their operations, or
in the expenditures required for their main
tainance.
One million and hnlfmen persisted in bat
ties, hospitals, and prisons. Countless thou
sands were horribly MANNED, and will find
relief only from t%orturing existence in well
coined graves. Orphans, widows and bereav-
ed parents Of apparently countless numbers
doomed to apparently life long poverty and
wretchedness. The inconceiyable debt Of
three billion Of dollars sncumbering the ma
ton, paralizing its energies and chilling the
Ardor Of its enterprise. The South prostrA-
ted by the es~sthquakes shocks Of war, present.
ing n scene Of bsrrenness and desolation al
most as wild and appalling as the plains Of
Sodom aud Gomorrah.
THESE are the terrible disasters which
phrenzied folly and uncaleulatiug ambition
brough, upon the people, in attempting to
override their will, aud direct their destiny.
Now, after reason and judgment have sue
cesded the Whirlwind Of passion and fac
tons enthusiasm, and we nre not so like
" to be blinded by p~artizan prejudice, it
is eminently fitting that the culPability should
be determined upon the real authors Of the
war.
A brief glance at the events Of the last FIVE
years shows that the South without warrant
or justification either in fact or upon any by
pothesis whatever, renounced its allegiance
to the government, defed its authority and
resumed u ct armii the powers and rights
which she irrevocably delegated to the Fed.
eral Head. To this reasonable violation Of
the sacred compact embodied in the Consti-
sutton, President Lincoln rs the Representa-
tive Of the nation, replied with earnest and
eloquent appeals to the honor, dispsssionate
judgment and patriotism Of the South. Size
treason, vainly mistaking the desire Of the
nation 10 avert the horrors and miseries Of
interneeine bloodshed for a restraining fear
Of her ability to maintain her cause, Ap-
peal followed appeal, remonstrance succeed
ed remous:rance, until all honQrably peace
full means to paeify the rsbellious spirit Of
the South were exhausted. The Flag Of the
nation, around which clustered the ballow-
ed memories oftwo gigantic struggles for
American liberties, was op emily in'ulted, and
there WAS no alternative but appeal to the
bloody ar~bilrament OF the sword. War en-
sued, which involved In It's inevitable career
every conceivable calamity and combination
Of woe.
But ia Tthe heat Of the terrible strife and
the most intense excitement OF deadly pas
sions, President Li-eoln, the faithful cuIto-
dian Of the Government prorered magnani-
nous terms Of peace. The South with a
naughty meiA ofselEeonhdsncs and contempt
for all things Yankee aTowed there would
be no cessation Of the conflict, save upon
hr ovn frns. Did Jefferson Davis and bis
CO. m, . in riliany sad treason make a sin
gle overture for = peaeeable adjustment Of
the troubles which they prseipitated upon
the eountry1 Did they make a HSgk ehort
to stop the sRuSion Of blood, or mitigate the
the calamities Of the suife7 Not one, II we
except the Grs,d uneondhional abdieation
Of their uiurpsd authority, aue surrender Of
their armies The South Is Ioisly response
Die for tie inauEuIausn Of the war, itS pro-
longation four long bloody years, and for
ever act Of crime and barbariiy that owes
IT, Inspiration 10 the disunion passion and
issoniIdsrstsnssS which the war sngsndsrsd.
IN The faesef these Caring facts Il Is ask
Cd hat ne Union party extend She right
hsnd o. klievphip 10 r'-eon',rueting the
GovsFnnsui, 70 The : arssldsl ipgrAtss who
labofsd ard foaEht foris Distraction. Ills
asked that me unIon party bury The murder
srusssd eaJmoD oftss 4sd psst, sad auIls
= assTerv