Year: 1861

We on this side are disposed to take very
grave and dispassionate view of the American
quarrel. If We were somewhat indignant at the
fell ceerity with which the seeded States rushed
into violence, perhaps we have also begun to sus-
pect that in the cause they were ready TO maintain
unto death there might be more than we had
thought of. So we wish it were possible that
England VT some other great power might arbi-
trate in this unnatural conflict, and We all feel
sure that tile matter might be arranged. People
are apt to think so in quarrel which is not their
own In this there are suggestions so obvious,
as they seem to us, that they have only to be
offered and they are sure TO be adopted. A refer
ence, u territorial division at once, mixed COM
mission-anything seems better than the barbar
oLs ordeal of mutual construction, in order to
find out, not which is the most in the right, but
which is the strongest. But vain our compassion
and our wishes. America has declared, and no one
could doubt it, that she will not abide the arb-
tration of any power, much less one OF the Old
World. But what if some happy suggestion might
be waited across the ocean, or some scheme of
settlement which might seem an inspiration from
above? Even this is impossible Any comment
or advice that can be made on the existing state
of affairs whatever that is, can not arrive in the
States earlier than twenty days after the state of
affairs which has prompted it. What may not
have happened in the course of twenty daysT The
fortress NAV have surrendered, the city NAV have





ed, or some one of the chief in the sanguin-
airy piece may hare been suddenly eliminated
from the scene. Who, then, can guess the state
of things now, though it be only thirteen days
since the last bulletin from the seat of war? What
flag waves over the Capitol? How many ships
survive to the Federal Government What is the
number of the seeding States2 How have the
Northern Generals kept up their communications
between Washington and their basis of opera
tions2 Yet, if we are wholly in the dark upon
any all of these points, our wishes for peace
must be the haziest of all idle sentiments, open
even to the suspicion of absolute unreality.


What have we, then, to do but to watch and
see the issue of these "fell incensed points of
mighty oppostesW


and beyond all calculation. At this moment it'll
impossible to say what is its object and how it is
to be conducted. The reduction of the seeded
States is an almost inconceivable idea The ter
ritory is immense, the country difficult, the eli
mate unhealthy, and the population twelve mil
lions. Even if we could suppose Republican
army of 1000 men making good its passage
from Baltimore to the Gulf of Mexico, in the
face of every difficulty, several such armies
might accomplish the feat, and vet leave the
question as they found it. The effect, and even
the possibility Of blockade, stoppage of sup
plies, or an embargo upon duties, has yet to be
seen AS for the slave population, there is not
the smallest symptom of their disaifection, or of
their wish to leave their masters en- masse. Here
and there it is likely enough that sullen slave
who has quarreled with his master, or one who
really is in the hands of tyrant, or one con-
scious of figure and qualities worthy of free
dom, may be ready to serve an opportunity of
escape. But the present is an affair, not of
individuals, but of millions. So what
chance is there of any result to be obtained
from the war, unless the possession of the Capi-
tai be result worth considering? That. i'll
fact, is the contest at this moment Ii is a
contest for the dead body Of Patrocus; for the
Holy Places; for name. for prestige, not for a
reality. If we suppose the Northern States vic
torous in several battles they are left with 300
600 men in possession of worthless site in an
enemy's country. While these 300,00 are locked
up there, and sustained by immense efforts and
at All ntoerable expense, the Southern States
may be steadily pursuing their own course of sc
cessi0n, self government and consolidation.
With the single exception of the capital, not a
fort, not arsenal, not yard, not ship, not a
bit of wood or stone will be left the Federal Gov
ernment in the seeding States. If. too, their
commerce should be at the mercy of the Northern
privateers, that is game in which the Northerns
have most to lose, and the balance must be ever
against the richer. The Government now at
Washington, if still there and. if it be there, sup
posing it still free to act, must have these con-
sideratons before it. We know not how it can
escape the conclusion that such war is contrary
to the very rules of war, seeing that it has no OBJ
ject. A day may throw light on the struggle,
and show that the vast efforts of the Northern
States are not to be layished in vain, and all that
noble blood spent like water. We only reason
upon what we see and know, and we are driven
to the conclusion that thus far these thirty mil
lions of our own flesh and blood are fighting for
shadow