The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-03-22
OUR CIVIL WAR.

N--
in any country, not excepting the glgan-
tic civil wars of ancient Rome. Its OBJ
icct was, on the part of the Southern
portion, to throw off the yoke OF the
Northern portion, and to establish an
independent government OF their own.
Previous to its breaking out each sec
ton had been sincerely attached to the
common governments and, on fair in
vcstigation of the matter, it will be found,
as amatter Of course, that both sides had
strong grounds which they thought full
ly justified the course by them respcc-
lively pursued.
Traced to its rcmotest causes we find
it in the fact that negro slavery existed
in the South; not that we believe it TO
have been the sufiicientproducing cause,
but the prctcxt, which occasioned the
misunderstanding which led to the war,
We have no doubt that we could have
got along in peace with the institution
Of slavery existing among us, had our
people continued TO leave its extinction
to the ordinary working of nature as
heretofore, and not permitted it to be-
come a political question, and the iom-
dation of sectional parties striving for
the supremacy. OF course, in a system
of government founded on the sutIrages
of the people, it was difficult to prevent
the political agitation Of the question;
and that it did cmbroil us in war proves
either that we are unfit, on account Of
our natural impcrGections, for self gov
crnmcnt, or that demagoeical influences
took advantage Of accidental eircum-
stances tomislcad the people aud involve
them irretrievably in false position
Perhaps in either case it implies our in
capability for scIfgoyenment but we
are not disposed 80 to regard II, aud be-
licye that our people were temporarily
the victims Of misplaced confidence and
that finally the war was forced upon
them by the iactious course Of the radl-
cal majoritics in Congress from both
/ North and South, who refused 10 com.
promise when ninc-teuths Of their con
stitucuis were willing TO settle the diff.
fculty by fair compromise.
The various noticeable steps which
led to this state Of affairs may be thus
enumerated The Missouri Compromise
Of ls20--thc acquisition Of Texas and
California aud refusal 10 extend the
terms Of the Missouri Compromise u
the new tcrritoy---thc attempt AZ the
North to adopt the Wilmot Proyiso--
the compromises Of lsjO--thc repeal Of
| the Missouri Compromise iu che Kansas
Nebraska BIZ Of taji-,hr ksusa,
war--the formation of the N.pub!io4n
party ol the North sud their auti-o1m.
promise platform az Chiragp in isjG--
the bred Scott decision boo s5I-athc
fual rpI0l Of th, Democratic party st The
( Convention Of 1860 and tho adoption
Of the anti-rompromisr platform Of the
Southern wing ofthcrafty--;he election
Of the Northern Republican candidate
/ for President 40 lro0--,hc recession Of
the Southern States leaving the North
. EN- PARTY IN supreme ron'roI--aud FINAL.
! " the foar year. bloody war toaa'c the
Union
We believe 10 III th.. that there wgrc
I scric, Of mistakes On both Fidcs, aud
/ that by the exercise ola little wisdom
at sundy points the whole catastrophe
could have bccu avoided We are not
Of the number Of those who believe that
the sudden emancipation Of the slaves is
a sufficient compensation for all We have
suffered. The mischief has been done,
and we turn now to the abused people
Of all sections in hopes that they will
yindicatc their capacity for self govern.
mcnt. The misehicyous spirit at the
North which helped to poison the public
mind Of the South against the govern
mcnt, and turned ourpo!itical Eden into
( Pandemonium, is still at work to OPP
pose the return of a rcpontaut South --
| The power of the Southern Coniedcracy
and its leaders is completely broken
down-that of the Radicals Of the North
is still rampant, save by the noble oppo-
sition made to them by the President
The war on the part Of the Government
to save the unity of the country, and to
assert its legitimate authority, was I'M
doubtedly right, and has resulted iorthc
best; but the unfortunate quarrel among
our fellow citizens which made it stern
aud crucl necessity, was undoubtedly
wrong, aud miserably SO on both sides.
Yet it was the Free States which alone
had the power and the numbers to force
their antagonists into the position of
rebels, and which should have exercised
more magnamity than to form the first
sectional party. The South should not
have rebelled but every thing shows