Year: 1861

and settled gloom, almost akin to utter
hopelessness, rests upon the public heart
and mind. 1t is gloom as solemn as
the shadow of tombstone. 1t is visible
everywhere around us-in all places and
at all times; il shows itself in the coun-
tenances of men in their solitary walks
and musings, and is manifest in the words
and tones of even the most excited as
semblages. This deep pdespondency arises
from reflections upon the peculiar eharac-
ter Of the warefare now waged in por-
tion of the country and threatening to
pervade the whole The Baltimore Ameri-
can says with truth that if two or three
Of the most powerful nations of Europe
combined to menace our land, aud we
were united people, resolved on resist,
ance to the death, we could be cheerful
in the midst of the most appalling por-
tents. The death of those who might
fall in conflict with foreign foo woul
be robbed of half its sting, and instead
of disheartening the survivors would only
add to their energy and determination,
because there lies deep down in every
American heart the conviction that we
are an invincible people, and no succcs
sion of reverses could destroy or weaken
this conviction.


But we find every thinking man every
where, North and South, manifesting the
same heartfelt sorrow at the prospect OF
civil war; 1t is not so much on account
of its proverbial horrors and caamities
as because it is sure to be as prolitless as
it will be vindictive and bloody. 1t mat
ters not which side is triumphant-.the
triumph brings no gain to either. The
victory when achieved will be barren
victory, purchased at an enormous cost.
Each drop of blood shed in the miserable
quarrel will embitter the contest, and
drive further away the hope of returning
peace. The boundaries separating hos
tile sections will be marked by scenes of
butchery hitherto unknown among Chris
tian nations. And when the remnants
of exhausted combatants pause in the
Capital and patch up peace, each will
find that his inheritance is nation of
orphans, who receive nothing from their
progenitors but large capacity for ha'
tred


There are not many men on either side
who are misled by the promise of "con-
querng peace No peace can ever be
conquered in America. The armies on
both sides, where bayonets are to clash
in mortal STRIFE, are composed of men who
can never be subdued. We do not mean
to assert that battles will not be won and
lost but we do assert that no battle can
decide the question. The fugitives from
one disastrous field will be the eagor
volunteers for the next fight, and will
fight more obstnately from the memory
of the preceding defeat. Many thousands
of loyal citizens, who have heretofore
pleaded for peace and reconciliation, will
become as truculent aud blood-thirsty as
the most brutal and depraved, if they are
once drawn into the fatal vortex, and the
one allabsorbing desire of those who now
shrink from the sight or thought of blood
shead will be to die scattering death
around them. 1t has been said of the
American nation "that they are people
averse to war, whose genius is best dis
played in all the acts and occupations OF
peace; but at the same time people who
might easily be transformed into demons
of cruelty if their passions were once
aroused"


May we not CLEAN some hope from this
very fact? The hopelessness Of the CON
test, the utter and manifest improbable
ness of the victory either way, and above
all tho insuliciency of the ground upon
which the war is inaugurated, all plead
for the return of reason and moderation
Can it be that such race as ours is des-
tined to half determination? Surely ii
there is God in the heavens who, in
stead Of being an idle Epicurean Divini'
ty, careless OF the fate of His creatures
does indeed watch over the works of His
hands, this glorious Being has some
glorcs yet in store for the race to which
we belong. He has not kindlcd this great
light merely that it might be quenchec
in blood. We have not yet accomplish
cd our Destiny. -.Loa:sri2e Journal.