Year: 1861

War, Of itself, must be regarded as an evil.
The better feelings of the heart are panied
when for moment we contemplate its fear
fu ravages. There must be strong reason
and alarming evils to be suppressed to justify
resort to arms. 1t would seem. in our pres
cnt National conflict, that both parties claim
to be urged by worthy motives, and each ap-
peals to Heaven for Divine sanction and aid.
The war involves vast National expense mot
merely to furnish its materials, but in the
prostration Of the business interests Of the
country. 1t is natural for US to inquire what
we may expect will be accomplished to remu-
nerate US for the blood and treasure that mus
obviously be expended 2 In regard to the
issue of the conflict, it seems 10 US, that it
hardly admits Of question which party, in
the end, will wear the aurc's of victory. The
rebellion must be crushed, unless something
unforeseen turns up to wrest the victory from
the vigorous arm Of our Government. Let
the campaign be long or short, the Government
must and will be maintained. On this suppo-
sition, what will be gained to the country by
this conflict


1t will solve the great question of our Ma
tional existence. The present war has been
forced upon the country under the plea that
the Government was voluntary compact that
might be dissolved at any moment at the
pleasure Of a disafectod minority 1t is
claimed on the part of the South that, as
sovereign States, they have the right to leave
the Union at their own pleasure. This plea
has been the rod of terror that they have often
hourished in the heat of Southern excitement
when they wished to awe the Government in
to quiet submission to Southern dctation.-
They have this right, else their claim must be
false. If they possess this right, then our
Government is a rope of sand, and all our
boasted National institutions are placed above
the heavings of an earthquake. The present
conflict will be likely fully to test this ques-
ton, and if the Union survive the ordeal, the
question must be at rest, and the halls Of our
National Congress will not as heretofore echo
the threat to dissolve the Union. La this re-
snect all that is vital to the existence of the
Government appears to be involved. Ii the
South arc right in their estimate OF the pow
ers and prerogatives Of the several States COM
nosipp the Union our Government is a farce
and the sooner the gilded baublo bursts, the
better Tor all concerned.


This conflict cannot fail to promote a bet
ter understanding Of the real merits and
strength of each portion Of the County,
1t is quite obvious that multitudcs, especially
at the South, have wrong opinion Of the
real feelings and motives Of those who arc
irving to sustain the Government. They re-
gard those who seek to suppress the rebel
lion as real enemies Of the South-as design.
ing to make war upon their peculiar institu'
tions. They apparently not only have an
idea that the North are enemies to the real
prosperity Of the South, but are set Of
Northero barbarans, debasel by ignorance,
and sordid with avarice, and not merely des.
flute of courage, but OF all that dignife:
and ennobles humanity They indulge in
the idea that if man labors, he must, in
fact be slave, or, at least, vastly inferior
te the : lords of the sunny South. But they
will learn that the North never can DC en-
IsIaycd-that they can meet their foes upon
the field OF battle, aud 40 honor to the mill
tarv fame OF our fathers. The South will


earn that the North ale their real friends. az
well as the friends of the Star-spaDgled ban
ner that this portion Of the Countryis moi
merely the home of the free, but the land Of
the brave.


Slavery mus; be better known and under.
stood in the Country The idea has been
entertained that the. South were loyal to the
Country-that patriotism was cherished there
without hypocrisy, and that their threats tc
dissolve the Union were the unmeant words
of excited politicians, and that Slavery was