Year: 1861

There 10 nothing about the unhappy circum-
stances that surround US, as people, more
striking or more affecting than the universal
sadness which hangs like funeral veil over
the face of society. 1t is disceruible in the
midst of the widest excitement, aud where
there 10 no disposition manifested TO shrink
from the worst consequences Of resistance
No such fesling would be prevalent ifthe war
fare we're of different character. If two or
three Of the most powerful nations of Europe
combined TO menace our land, and we were a
united people, resolved on resistance TO the
death, we ceuld be cheerful in the midst OF the
most appalling psrtents. The death of those
who might fall in cohdict with a foreign foe
would be robbed of half ita 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 peo.
pie, aud no sequence of rsverses could destroy
or weaken this conviction.


But We fad every thinking man. everywhere.
North and South, manifssting the same heart
felt sorrow at the prospect Of civil war. Il is
not SO much on account Of its proverbial hor.
rsrs and ealamities as because it is sure to be
as profitless as it will be vindictive and bloody
II matters net which side 10 triumphant-the
triumph brings no gain to either. The victory
when achieved will be barren victory, Eur.
chased at an enormous cost. Each drop of
blood shed in the warfaree will embitter the
contest, and drive farther away the hope of re-
turning peecs. The boundaries separating
hostile sections will be marked by scenes OF
butchery hitherto unknown among Christian
nations. And when the remnants of exhausted
bombatants pause in the Capital, and patch up
peace, each will find that lis inheritance 10
nation of orphans, who receive nothing from
thsir progenitors but large capacity for hat
red.


There are not many men on either side who
are misled by the promise of conquering a
peace" No peace can ever be conquered in
America. The armies of both sides, where
bayonets are to clash in mortal sttife, ore COM
posed OF men who can never be subdued. We
do not mean TO assert that battles will not be
wen and lost; but we do assert that no battle
can decide the question. The fugnives from
one disasterous field will be the eager volun-
teers for the next 6ght, and will fight more
obstinatsly from the memory of the preceding
defeat. Many thousands Ofleyal citizens, who
have heretofore plead for peace and reconclia-
ton, will become as truculent aud bloodthirsty
ss the most brutal and depraved. if they are
ence drawn into the fatal vortex, and the one
all-abserbing desire of those who now shrink
from the sight or thought of bloodshed will be
to die scattering death around them. 1t has
been said Of the American nation I" that they
"are a people averse to war, whose genius
"was beat displayed in all the acts and occu.
pations of peace; but at the same time peo.
"pls who might easily be transformed into
demons of cruelty. if their passions were once
aroused"


May we not CLEAN some hope from this very
fast? The hopslessness of the contest, the
utter and ma nifest unprofitableness of the vie-
tory either wsy, and above ell, the insufficieBcy
| of the ground upon which the wsr is inauRuf.
atsd, all plead for ths return Of reason and
moderation. Can il be that such a race as
ours 10 destined to half determination! Surely,
if there 10 God in the heavens who, instead
Of being an idle Epicurean Divinity, careless
Of the fate OF His creatures, does indeed watch
over the works OF bis hands, surely this gloTi.
QUE Being has some gloriss yet in store for the
race 10 which we belong. He has not en-.
kindled this great light merely that it might
be queuehed in blood. We have not yet ae-
complishsd our dsHtiny.-BaIG American.