Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-26

slaves would have been accomplished in
any other way, certainly in our time.
In the North, slavery mad proved IN
profitable, and had been abolished; in
the South it appeared profitable, and it
is not haely that it would have been
abandoned
One other truth appears to me.
I believe it will be the verdict OF poster
ity. yet, I state it with diffdeuce. In
deed I state it with reverentia pity on
this occasion. 1t is that as vast as the
cost of the war it is better that it should
have ended it did than it should have
resulted in the permanent separation OF
the South from the rest of the country,
and its continuance as an isolated slave
holding country.
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
What would have happened had the
southern States that fought the war be
come established as an independent coun-
try based on slavery? Hemmed in by
hostile and ever-growing country. with
Mexico for its southern border. an empire
sustained by France ana Austria. hem
med in yet more closely and completely
by the ever-increasinS sentiment OF the
world against slavery, It Staggers me 10
think what we hould have been. Russia.
Brazil Cuba, would have all emancipated
their slaves. We should have stood
alone. We should have found it necessary
portion to our white population The
fugitive slave law alone would have been
sufficient to hold the black cloud of war
ever In the sky. Cut of from the outlec
that we now have. with servile popI-
lation increasing in yet more rapid ratls
than 1t has increased, we should pFooa
bly, have had by this time eleven mil
lions of blacks held in servitude. Or Ia
we set them free we should have had Il
pay their value to their owners: and
in addition, should have had 10 cope VIII
the negro Quetion in some form. and cope
with 1t alone. immigration would neFe'
have sought our region; and, shut or
from the vitalizing stream that conner
from the infusion OF fresh blood and new
ideas. we should have seen the NORTH
and West fill with the food OF a neS
and vigorous life. while we should have
been left behind. isolated. Impoverished
possibly torn By factional disorders or
rent TO pieces by the right of secession
which we had established. While we
should have seen the North and West
the West that we had won and given 10
the Uuion-growing ever stronger, ever
more prosperous ever more un'-7E' On
riched more and more by the inhowins
stream Of new biood-Ieuten. -,->o-s, tt-si
Celt-and new ideas. a free Union, aoreas-
, of the progress Of the world; while We
a slave-hoding Confederacy. should have
been locked within our borders, block
AIDED almost as really as we were during
the war.
NOT THE POPULAR VIEW.
know that this is not the view OF many
whose knowledge and judgment l highly
esteem. but I believe it will be the JuGS-
ment OF posterity. and I believe TIE Jude
ment will be correct.
In following the line Of thought don
find It necessary to assaii either slavery
or secession from any standpoint IMAM
that Of political economy. In my JudS
ment. both had full warrant of Law ana
both had served great purpose; ou!.
equally. in my Judgment, the time for Dom
has passed. A moral sin may be repented
or and forgiven. an economic sin is an Oh
fence against a lew OF nature. and It's
recompense is memorable.
And this brings me to another truth,
that believe posterity will declare; ensiE
at the bottom. under different names.
both sides fought for the same principle
the principle that has underiaIn the !is
of the English-speaking race, and espe-
cialiy the section Of that race that mas
Lycd away fro.l courts and their deoas-
Ing influences throughout It's long course.
One side fought to preserve the UNION.
the other fought to preserve the essehS!1i
principle of that Union. One called II els
Union; the other termed It States kisatS'
But under both names lay the SANS
thing-love OF liberty: deathless Devotion
to freedom.
DIED NOT IN VAIN.
Does 1t appear to you from all this sha
those men whom we are here TO homo
this afternoon died in vain? am IL
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