Year: 1861




s9We commend this well timed article
from the New York journal of Com
merce, an eminently conservative paper,
to the attentive perusal of the so-called
Union men. Are they prepared to sup
port men and measures to carry on this
war, clearly sectional war, war of sub
jugation on the part of the North? and
are they ready to increase our already
ovesbzFthened soldiers by direct taxes, as
well as the odious taxes on tea, coffee, su-
gar, property, wages, &c2 The so-called
Union leaders are leading tbs people into
that deep pit The reaction spoken of in
the East may culminate in furious storm:
Reaction in Public Sentiment.


Few of our readers, we suspect, are
fully aware of the reaction which has ta-
ken place in the public sentiment of the
Northern States, on the subject of our
present national difficulties. In nearly
every city, town and neighborhood from
which we have intelligence, there are ac-
counts of revolution in'the public mind,
which must soon produce powerful reac-
ton, and lead to more careful examina-
ton into the causes and the probable con-
sequences of the war. On the breaking
out of hostilities the patriotic impulses of
the people led to q general outburst in
support Of the Government and the main
tenance of the Constitution, and the exi-
gences of the case scarcely admitted of
that cool examination and reflection, which
were necessary to full understanding of
the issues involved in the controversy
The general declaration that the war was
to be waged to uphold and support the
Constitution, was sufficient to enlist the
sympatbies of the people in fighting it's
battles; but when the fact was disclosed,
that instead of supporting the Constitu-
ton, the war has been made the excuse
and justification for violating and tramp
ling under foot its provisions, the public
mind became in some measure, aroused to
the questions presented for consideration,
and more careful inquiry has in conse-
quence been instituted into the causes,
objects and probable effect of the war.


This inquiry has been stimulated in no
small degree by the developments which
have appeared from time to time, touching
the enormous burdens which the war is to
cast upon the country-the fearful sacri j.
fee of life which will be demanded to give
it success, or to sustain its defeats. These
burdens and sacrifices, yet scarcely begun
to be felt in the force and volume which
they must ultimately acquire, have afforded
some slight indications of what the coun-
try is to called upon to suffer and endure,
before the end shall be reached, and the
object of the war-if indeed it has def
mite object-accomplished. Postponing
for the moment the awful destruction OF
human life which the war must cost-the
burdens upon the material interests of the
country are likely to be such as to over.
whelm its business in common ruin, and
leave legacy Of debt for posterity, fear.
full to contemplate. But in order TO main
tain the credit of the Government sufi
ciently to obtain the enormous loans to
carry on the war, system of taxation,
direct and indirect, must be resorted to
most oppressive in its character. The i'm
position of tax of fifteen cents per
pound on tea, five cents on coffee, and two
to five cents on sugar, to say nothing oi
the burdens proposed to be cast upon 9th
er necessaries of life, will be felt in every
household, rich or poor, throughout the
country. So, too, the direct tax which il
is proposed to levy, to pay the interest OF
the public debt, and without which it i
not probable the money required can b,
borrowed, will strike at the root of al
prosperity, and inhict severe burdens upoI
nearly all classes Of people. In addition
TO the tax on lands, the owner Of watch
, carriage, or almost any other article 0
luxury, Is TO be compelled TO pay a spe