Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-10-19
George D. Prentice's Interview with Jefer-
n son Davis--Danger Of Secession at the
N0rtl-A Most Timely Warming

,zi From the Louisville journal, October 5.
In the. course of an interview that we had
with jeff. Davis in January 1865, the sub
.iect of the terms of peace was introduced.
Mr.. Davis asked us what was the chief OBJ
lection Of the North to the recognition Of
southern independence. We answered that
the North knew perfectly well, as unques-
tionably he did, that if she should lay down
her arms and consent to a division of the
Union into two confederacies, she herself
would very soon be dissolved; that State at
ter State-States singly and States COM
binedly-would secede, and the whole North
be split up into petty Powers, or no-powers,
all of them contemplate in the eyes OF man
kind and not one of them willing or able to
contribute to the payment of the national
debt. Mr. Davis replied, with bis cbarac-
teristic calmness, that this was certainly true,
but that the same thing would happen, and
probably happen all the sooner, if the North
should continue to prosecute the war. we
thought at the time that Mr.. Davis was
greatly mistaken, and told him so. We still
trust that we were correct in our estimate OF
the character of his opinion, but justnow we
49,
can indulge no over confidence that we were.
The North continued to prosecute the war,
and the South, after the bravest and most
desperate resistance known in wars annals,
was conquered. But now comes the North's
trials Now we are to see the test OF her
internal strength If out Of the dreadful
war between the North and the South
northern civil war arises if northern armies
march against each other, vengeance before
them. and blood and death and desert behind,
many northern States will very soon weary
and sicken Of the horrid work, and will prob
ably adopt secession as the surest and quick
est remedy, fully relying upon the mighty
troubles and perils Of the Federal Govern
meat as a perfect security against coercion
Most likely the northwestern States will go
off first. repudiating, Of course, their proper
ton of the public debt, and thus piling higher
the monstrous financial burden upon the
shoulders of the remaining States. These
will have neither the will nor the ability to
bear up under the crushing weight, and 50
others will secede, and then others, till the
whole North shall be divided up into such
poor, little -debt-paying, feeble, mock
nationalities, as citizen Of one of the Mexl-
can States, or of the South American repub-
lies, or of one of the petty, miserable Ger
man principalities might look upon with con-
tempt and scorn Jeff. Davis's declaration
to us as to the consequences OF war IN the
North, if prosecuted, will be amply vindlca-
ted and whatever resentments, if any, he
cherishes against the North will be album
dainty satisfied We tell the northern .tanot-
i;cs-as lorer Of oar arho7e country are sol-
! emnzy tell Mem-that un5ess madness has
seized upon their hearts and brains they aelN
not insist on pushing the dissenttons betaoeen
the President and Congress to the fighting
point They may rest assured that if the
fight comes, it will be to them such one as
they have no account Of in either history or
tradition They will End it an infinitely diff
ferent thing from the war Of the rebellion,
dreadful as that was throughout all its an
nails. They will find themselves divided
people, divided almost equally, divided and
mutually hostile, whilst the whole population
of the South will be unit, able to strike for
their friends or stand afar from the flash,
the crack and the roar of war, as may seem
best to them. The thick cloud now envel-
oping the South may be partially lifted but
night and storm, surcharged with bloody
rain, will close over the North.