Year: 1863

more popular or more calculated to cement the
new bonds of union among all our people. The
ranks Of the army would be promptly filed by
volunteers to any extent required, Canada
would be wrested from the grasp Of England,
and the people Of the South would be rejoiced,
in the congenial business Of driving the French
out Of Mexico, to bury in forgetfulness the sad
events of the past two years. Whatever of
truth, therefore, there may be in the statements
idea is pregnant with elements of the deepest
significance to both countries


Prosperity OF New York and OF the Loyal


States.


In no other particular, perhaps, has the fallacy
Of secession doctrines been SO thoroughly exem-
plifled as in the present prosperous condition
Of the loyal States of the Union. The rebel
leaders in and out of Congress used to glory in
the idea that the withdrawal Of the Southern
States and the stoppage Of their trade would
be inevitable ruin to the North, and particular
ly to the great Empire City, whose busy streets
they used to picture to themselves as soon to
be overgrown with grass and weeds. That
blatant South Carolinian, Keitt was fond Of
boasting that If the chivalry once laid their
hands upon the pillars Of the national edifce
they would destroy it "from turret to foun-
dation stone;" and, in fact. the complete de-
pendence of Northern industry upon Southern
wealth was the key note on which these dema-
gogues played their secession tunes for years.


And what has the experience of two and
half years Of virtual separation and Of the with
drawal OF Southern trade proved? Has it
verified the predictions of the blatherskites of
South Carolina? Quite the reverse. The
States that went or were driven into this unholy
war against the Union are to-day ruined in all
their material wealth, and will hardly recover
for generation the prosperous position that
they occupied three years ago. Commerce has
been annihilated by the blockade Of their ports,
and agriculture almost destroyed by the opera
tions Of hostile armies and the withdrawal Of
men from the field OF labor to the field of war
Desolation and poverty stalk through the land,
until the prayer uttered in secret throughout
the whole South is for restoration of the
federal government, with the peace, plenty and
prosperity that are sure to follow.


Contrast this with the condition of the North.
ern Stites Never did manufactures, COM
merce, the mechanic arts and agriculture
flourish as they now do. Never were the peo-
pie so well off insall the material interests Of
life. A large portion Of Charleston was de-
stroyed by fire about eighteen months ago. The
burned district still lies in its ashes. About
the same time q similar misfortune befell the
city Of Troy, in this State. The burned district
was long since covered with buildings superior
to those destroyed Two and half years ago
track for city railroad was laid in the busi-
ness street of Richmond. The other day the
rails were taken up, because the company had
never succeeded in getting cars on the line,
their trade with the industrious North having
been shut off by the war At the same
time the city Of New York had five
lines of street railroads, which were at that
time deemed sufficient for the accommodation
of traffic. To-day we can hardly name the
number of lines operated and being laid down
all over the city. We know that among the
new works Of this character there are the Tenth
avenue line running from the Park to the South





end of Greenwich street, with branch to the
corner Of Broadway and Barclay street; the
Seventh avenue line, running down Broadway
as far as Fourteenth street, and hating for the
present at the corner Of Broadway and Broome
street. A month hence we will have
the Belt line and the Gridron line
in full operation, and the Broadway
and Madison avenue lines will not be slow in
following suit. And even then 1t is questiona-
BILE whether the facilities for travel will be
great enough for the swarming population of
New York and her suburbs. The ferryboats
to Brooklyn, large and excellent as they ad-
mittedly are, have not capacity enough to ac-
commodate the vast crowds who cross the river,
particularly at the hours Of going to and re-
turning from business, and 1t is time for the
directors Of the Union Ferry Company to have
their boats fitted with upper passenger decks.
There Is great activity in the erection Of build
ings for business purposes in the principal
streets, as was shown by an article which we
published last week; and even Brooklyn Is
busy enough, rich enough and profaue enough
to 20 into the speculation Of erecting new
theatre.


Thus defeated in their twofold object Of en-
riching themselves and Of impoverishing Us,
beaten at all points, worn out and disheartensd,
thereis nothing left for the people Of the South
but to repent their past folly and madness, and
return, as the prodigal son, to their fathers
house. We have plenty for ourselves and for
them, and are willing to share our goods with
them. We will welcome them back with sin
cere pleasure and rejoicing, and help them to


start again in business, hoping that this time