Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-24
Vkce-Presndenf Wilson'S "Htse and
Fall OF the slave Powex."

After the establishment of national indepen- "
dence the suppression Of the rebellion ID the Il
next really great event in American history. o
Compared with 1t, all other WARE in which we f
have been engaged are but child's-play, and all v
other political events sink into insignihcance.
In the most distant future, it is impossible that
tho American War Of 186l-65 can be overlooked, !
as the civilized reader turns back the page Of !
history indeed there are good reasons to ex |
pect that 30 long our history is preserved aud
read az all, no matter at what distance of time,
this contest will remain to be of the deepest in
terest. After observing the fact of the estab-
nshment Of the Republic, historian and reader
will each pass to the next event Of equal con-
Germ and significance, and they will dwell with
care on the origin, course and results of that
tremendous internal contest which for four
years bathed the Republic in blood.
For the Rebellion and the War against it were
no mere outbreaks of the violent and lawless
The contest was not an appeal to brute force by
rude and uncvilized men. Those who took up
arms on both sides were peculiarly aw-abiding
people, sndthe chronicle of their encounter is
full of evidence that they neither loved War for
It's own sake, nor sought In its triumphs mere
iy sordid advantage. 1t was contest of moral |
dluerenceb, Whr OF luehb, theories huectlub |
government convictions and principles |
and not the spoils Of battle, animated the ar |
mics on both sides. There would have been no
such terrible struggle had there been no ''doc- |
trines" eloquently taught by Calhoun and no
leadership OF earnest commanders like Lee. sgd
ney Johnston or stonewall Jackson.
In brief, one may explain the American Civil
War. It's cause tous the difference bred amongst
le american people by The institution of Slavery.
The dividing line between the contending ar
mics was the line Of their opinions and con-
victions concerning slavery. Those who were
attached to slave institutions, but yet for the
union's sake, fought the Rebellion were com
paratiyely few though il but handful none de-
serve higher honor and coIrespondingly there
was probably not single man in the Republic
vino, having opposed and hated Slavery, marched
under the rebelious flag The great solvent which
defined the positions of all classes TO the Rebel
Hon was found in their opinions concerning
slavery, and wherever, throughout the North
there were earnest sympathizers with that inst-
tuition, there, also, were persons whose sympa-
thies followed the Southern flag from Sumter
to Appomattox- Pro-slavery and anti-slayery,
more than all else, were the opposing spirits,
seen or unseen, admitted or denied, that anima-
ted the contestants and directed the deadly con-
hict Of arms.
p Back of the War, therefore, the historian
traces its origin in the institution Of Slavery
Examining the growth OF the differences which
that institution caused, he discovers the pro
gressive sources of the great conflict, and as he
finds them swelling and rising, stronger ant
more impetuous, until they burst at last into th
food of Civil War; no topic that ever engage
his pen could be more full of painful and terri
BILE interest, while on the other hand, as he rec
ords the result, describing the just issue Of tn
struggle, nothing could more truly inspire hi
words or warmly animate his sympathetic read
or. Freedom 80 subtly ensnared, and so pair
fully bound burst her fetters and slew her o.
pressor. Yoked in his service, beaten despise
and insulted, she rose, at the last, and tramplt
him beneath her feet Sic senper tyrannis
AS the origin of the War WAS so distant, al
the rise of Slavery so protracted when compare
with the suddennesH ef its destruction, SO NJ
Wilson, in devoting hid labors to 1.-The Rise Al
Fall of the Slave Power in America" has Civ
two volumes to bring his subject down to 1sC
and will be able to close with but one moi
The second volume, which was issued from t
press of Messrs osgood Co., some mont
Florida, in ls45, to the close OF the President
campaign OF 1860. 1t describes a political
riod Of the utmost interest-that, indeed,
which the Slave Power became intoxicated W
political folly, and at last mady preci pitated
own ruin. Its nature was to progressively
croach. 1t could not stop. The success
compromises" simply served to mark its +
oessive aggressions. In this cruel and barb
klat .,
it existence and strength such
respected no law, brooked restra
and respected no opposition but that of a c
queror. As change is the order OF God, 80
nature antagonistic to Justice could never E
in its assaults upon Human Freedom, whatt
might be the pretence of its followers and
porters. While they might have paused to
by moderation and discreetness, the imm'
aggrsndizements already made, it would not
hurried them from the Texas contest to til,
Florida, and then to the Mexican War.
Compromises of 1885," with the Fugitive
law their basis, put Slavery in the compl'
control, and the election of Pierce was
that there it should quietly remain. The r.
Of 1862 was decision for mo more Slavery
tAhon." But then emerged the Kansas
braska struggle, and with it began the last ]
cut perlod bnat preceueu tne NhI. 1ue ~
struggle in Kansas, begun in the folly Of
Slave Power. and continued by its insel
spirit of folly was prelude to the greater
more terrible contest, and the sight of the
there shed in the fight of Slavery and Free
made the Nation only too familiar with the
Of 80 determining the quarrel.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise
the beginning of the end. Slavery took til
tai step because the spirit of Evil rushes on
will not be checked short Of its final oyertl
From the day that Douglas reported to the
ate his Kansas-Nebraska bill, on the 23d OF
sry, 1864, there has never been a pause il
destruction Of the Slave Power which he
TO serve. Then, the Upas overshadowe
land; now the tree is fallen the stump uprc
and but few fbres of bitterness here
there in the ground remind us where it ste
The dedication Of Mr.. Wilson's great
was partially, at least, to the young men Of 1
ica- We wish they could all read it. The
is great, and the narrative direct, simple
perspicuous. But it is neither style, mt