Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-03
The CONQUERED South.


to the feelings of the Southern heart in
this hour of its severest trial.
Throwing aside, however, the question
of responsibility, when the decision against
us was the sword, we will do the Southern
people justice to say, there was no longer
any hesitation. The day of debate was
ended. The talent, the worth, the intel
lect, all that was noble and distinguished
in the States, from Virginia to Texas, the
descendants OF the men who fought with
Washington at Yorktown, of the heroes
who figured in all the great fights where
the national eagle fioated, or who vindica-
ted the fame of the nation on the ocean, on
the floors of Congress, in the chair OF the
presidency or the cabinet, or in positions
of honor abroad, buckled on their armor,
marshaled their cohorts, and III hot haste
rushed to the front The exceptions were
so few as not 10 affect the rule, and we are
not now, nor ever have been, willing to
impugn the motives or 10 deuounce the
men, scattered here and there in most of
the States, who constitute the exceptions.
Let them defend their records as we do our
own.
Was this a rebellion wero these trai-
tors or did the struggle rise to Il greater
and nobler attitude The question can
remain for history. Name it ifyou please,
however harshly, and where do you find,
IN all UQ0 histories GiliI nave Itd'i, iloIH
those of Thucydides and Livy, down to
Bancroft and Hildreth, SO unequal q strug
gle maintained with much fire and oner
gy such deeds of valor and prOwess per-
formed such privations and suffcringS en-
dured; such heroism displayed How many
great armies were driven back what cap
tains fortunes were ruined what SaragOs-
sd defenses, as at Charleston and Nicks
burg Six millions Of men were in death
struggle against four times that numb er
six millions without a ship, with scarcely a
gunboat shut outfrOm allthe -orld byrgor
Gus blockades, without wor' shops, machi-
merry, or mechanical APP. tude, without
clothing, without arms, and often without
food. Yet the fight went on four long
years, until some Of your leading writer's
and thinkers began to express the opinion
that Southern independence was virtually
achieved These deeds Of daring and he
roism, this record of energy and endur-
ance, startled the European world and ex
torted its admiration, if no. its friendship.
Are the men of the North less impressible
by the morally sublime, when exhibited by
those once their enemies? ? Can they not
recognize heroism, and claim it as their
common heritage in the future Even he
roism. if you please to say so, IN wrong
eau, e?
This people have not been degraded or
numbled. 1t is not in your COwer and II
you are true statesmen it cannot be your
desire to do either. They are your coun
trymen, and for good or i'll, your descen
dautS and theirs, in ali the ages that are to
come are likely to mingle together Their
crest is erect Let their losses be ever so
severe, they do not embrace honor. That
survives, and fortunately for America 1t
| does for what picture would its republ-
canism present were the people of One-third
| of the States, self-acknOw wledged, to be de-
| graded and debased Neither revenge nor
| policy could dictate this. Revenge could
not be gratifed by sowing the storm to reap
| the whirlwind. Policy, ancient and mo-
| dern, teaches differently. The Greeks and
Romans conquered the world by concila-
ton, laws, liberties, institutions, as we'll as
| by arms. English liberties and the En-
| glish Constitution have been maintained
by the descendants of York and Lancaster,
of Cromwell and the Cavaliers. On the
field of Bosworth, after the star of Richard
had set in blood, the princely Richmond
could exclaim,
''Proclam pardon to the soldies fed,
That in submission will return to us
And then, as we have taken the Sacrament,
We will unite the White Rose and the Red
Smile Heaven upon this fair con- junction
That long hath frOWned upon their enmlty.
A people with such antecedents as those
| Ol Uu6 OOuU1 tdllIOb SuDuIlU t'S1uItiltIit1y
| to be lorded over and acknowledge the au-
| thority of master race. They may en-
| dure for time, but the wound will rankle
and bleed afresh, and they will strike back
and bite the heel Of the OppTessor. IneX
tinguishable hatred will grow up, and their
children and children's children, like the
infant Hannibal will be sworn upon the al
tars of vengeance. Nor ought the power
of such race to be despised. Weak it
may be to-day, disOrganized and over
whelmed by defeat, and colossal, disciplin-
ed and organized may be the power which
is brought in threatening attitude against
! it, There are small accidents in history
which change the relations of peoples
The weak have but to wait upon opportu
nifty, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Hungary,
| will rise and rise again. History is full
of these examples. A vast military estab-
lishment, great standing armlls, garrisons
will be needed here ; and while their force
| is expended in crushing rebellion i'll one
quarter, in such wide domain, it will be
aroused and rampant in hundred others.
| The tyrant, the oppressOr and the despOt
will in vain seek to prevent opportunities
| which the great political relations Of the
world involve, and he will, even in the
grandeur of his pretentions, tremble be-
| fore them.
| 'sWho would be Free
Themselves will strike the blow"
But why drive a brave and earnest people
10 despair What great public purpose
can be answered In what respect will
the North be happier, Weather, most pow
erful by such course? What christian or
patriotic instinct can be gratifed by it p
You have said Freemen were better than
slaves, and is the doctrine Us applica
BILE to white men as to negroes? Do you
not hasten to get rid of the expense and
charge of Territories by converting them
into States Has not Britain realized a
thousand times over profit by the change
which made her colonies independent
States.
Do you wish to make secession odlous
and prevent the possibility of its recur-
renee If sharp, fierce, sanguinary war has
not accomplished this, do you think the
meaner remedies of the thumb screw and
the galIeys will avail ? What a compi :
ment you are paying to people whose