The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-22
coUDERsPoRT POTTER COUNTY TUESDAY MAY 22 1866

have come back TO the UnioD, we snoule
remember, only by coercion. To them y
is forced bridal. They submit to thu
they do not, because they cannot, embrace
it in their hearts. The soldiers manned
wives widowed, aud children orphaned IL
their bad cause, appeal to their leader;
for the promised support, but the Union
has no pensions for them. The fortunes
invested in confederate faith see no hop
of realization in the Union. Hatred oi
the North aud its anti slavery majori-
ties, the original motive for secession,
is ten times stronger now than In 1861.
ard is backed up by 81 4,00O,O 100000 oi
debt, damages, and pensions, which, as
they insist, could, in a separate govern
ment, he levied by an export duty u '"'
the cotton consuming world. The life
habits of these people, their love of ease
and domination, their pride, aristoeracy,
wealth, and power were all the out, growth
of an Institution which might possibly be
revived in a separate republic, but which
is forever gone in the Union. "Confed-
eracy" is word that must long be en-
shrined in their hearts by the tender
memories Of their fallen kindred, but 1t
must live, as they we'll know, iu the his
tory, traditions, and ballads of the Union,
associated with perjury, dishonorabie
crime, and cruel war. If they should
profess to love the Union we could not
believe them. 1t is so unnatural that it
would be easier to believe they were hyp-
ocrites than that they were monsters.
But they are neither hypocrites or
monsters They do not love the Union,
and do not pretend to. 1t is untruthtul
men of our own section that prevaricate
for them The sane class of men that
mlsrepreseuted the feelings Of the North
before the war, ADD thus deceived the
South and goaded them into rebellion,
now misrepresentthe feelings Of the South
to deceive the North aud lure it iuto ir
retrievable surrender. Before the war
they deceived the South and betrayed
the North; but now it is reversed, they
deceive the North aud betray the loyal
South. The same per6dious breath that
carried South the untruthful story Of
northern hate, and thus prompted the war,
comes back now with another story,
equally untruthful, of southern love.
TEey tell us that the disloyal South is a
gentle bride, impatient for the nuptiais,
when they know that she submits to them
with loathing. Have they not laid down
their arms Z is the argumentative inquiry.
No, sir their arms were taken from them
Have they not submitted No, sir they
were defeated in battle. There is nothing
10 their past conduct nor present attitude
that justifes the use of the word snbmis.
sion. Prisoners of war have been taken,
but they were released on parole rebel
armies have been dispersed, but they
have been recognized as Stat. militia !;
rebel State governments have been over.
thrown, but again revived and restored to
the old possessors; and forfeitures of life
and estates have been reuitted, but that
is all. Call this ciemency, privilege, vic
tory, triumph, what you please, but do
not call il submission, with which it has
not one shade of meaning in common.
We do not need to call witnesses TO prove
that these people are hostile to the Union
and its interests. The history Of the hu-
man race proves it. Whoever attempts
to prove the contrary must first show that
they are unlikc any other people whose
passions, struggles, and defeats are re.
corded 10 the annals of the world.
But witnesses have been called-Union
generals and rebel generals, Union and
rebel citizens, without distinction ofparty,
condition, race, or color-aud all support
under oath tue great historic truth, that
purpose imbibed in irfaucy, cherished
aud stimulated by the rostrum, press and
pulpit for lifetime; upheld by large for
tunes, wrung from the toll of slaves, and
sancti6ed by the blood of sons and kin
dred, has not been and caunot be surren,
dered to military orders. Such purpose
surrenders only to time. | do not present
this great truth now by way of reproof or
condemnation of these misguided people,
but only by way of caution and warning
to ourselves. come to the conclusion
therefore, that they do not desire the per-
petua,ion of the Union. If We would re-
move all restraints and give them freedom
of choice they would revive the coufed-
eracy at once They would take adVan'
tage of a war with Great Britain oil
France to secure their independence
and they would take advantage of their
double representation here to promote
such a war. If no opportunity of escape
should soon offer, would they not stll
live in hopes of it and in persistent hos
tility to the country's obligations to the
soldiers, widows, orphans, aud creditors
of our war, and friendly to the assumP
ton of similar obligations created by them
selves 10 the interest of the rebellion
Even in advance of their own coming ;