Year: 1863

bellion. and Offering 10 return to the Union. is
to be permitted Internationally 10 resume its
former status as one Of the United States! Or
whether war is to be waged against such q
State until it will consent as condition OF
admission to the Union, TO abolish slavery
Boston Post.


The above extract conveys in S few
words the main question at issue to-day
between the Administration and the
Democratic party. The opposition has
not ceased to protest against each and
every violation of the constitution and
the laws, but Notwithstanding their
protest, one after another of these mea-
sures,-measures which have weakened
the North and strengthed the South
have been forced upon the country
Their effects We can see and feel, but
the responsibility Of wasted blood and
wasted treasure belongs not to US but to
those who initiated and defended pol
icy which has transformed the seeded
States into volcano of intense and Bit
ter hatred that hundred years will not
wipe away.


But the past is gone, to be revived
again only in the calm verdict of POS
terity who will suffer for its mistakes
and its crimes; the present is yet ours,
to be wisely improved or madly thrown
away by rulers who seem to have reach
ed-if there be such thing--the sub
lime of fanaticiSm and folly.


The broad questions which have here
tofore divided the people of the North,
have turned upon the means used for
the prosecution of the war. The ques-
tian Is now upon the war itself. What
the object was originally, the resolution
Of Mr. Crittcnden will clearly show:


Rsolred By the House Of Representatives. Of
the Congress Of the United States, That present
deplo- able civil war has been forced upon the
country by the dsunIonis's of the Southern
States, now in arms against the constitutional
government, and in arms around the capitol
that IN this national emergency, Congress ban
ishing all feelings Of mere passion or resent
ment, will recollect only its duty TO the whole
country that this war is not waged On their
part in a spirit of oppression, or for any pur-
pose of conquest or subjusation. or for the
purpose Of overthrowipg or interfering with the
rights or established institutions Of those
States but to defend and maiuiain the suprem-
acy of the Constitution, and TO preserve the
Union with all the dignity. equality and rights
of the several States unimpaIred and that SD
soon as the objects are accomplished the war
ought TO cease.


Upon this national platform every
patriot rallied to the support of their
country party lines were well-nigh OBJ
liberated, and as one man the citizens o:
the Republic rushed forward in its de-
fence. Such, two years ago, was held
forth as the end to be gained by tho
terrible conflict through which We are
now passing. What that end is nop is
very clearl y set forth in these passages
from a recent letter of William Whit
ing, Solicitor to the War Office. Mr..
Whiting is not likely to misrepresent his
employers, and he says this


So far as this government is concerned, civil
war otliterates all lines of States or countries:
the only lines recognized by war are the lines
which separate US from the public enemy.
Beware OF committing yourselves 10 the fatal
doctrine of recognizing the existence, in the
Union, of States which have been declared BY
the Presidents proclamation to be 10 rebellion.
For by this new device Of the eDemy-this new
version of poisonous State rights doctrine
the SeceSsonists will be able TO get back by
fraud what they fail to get By fighting. Do
not permit them, without proper safeguards, TO
resume in your couSsels in the Senate and in
the House the power which their treason has
stripped from them.


Do not allow old States with their constitu-
tons still unaltered, TO resume State powers.
Allow the inhabitants OF conquered territory
10 form themselves into States, only by adopt
ing constitutions such as will forever remove all
cause Of collision with the United States, by
excluding slavery therefrom, or continue militia
ry government over the conquered district until
there shall appear therein sufficient number
Of loyal inhabitants to form o republican gov
ernment, which, by guanteeiDg freedom to all,
shall be in accordance with the true spirit OF
the constitution of the United States. These
safeguards of freedom are requisite to render
permanent the domestic tranquility OF the
country. which the constitution itself was form
ed TO secure, and which it is the legitimate OBJ
ject of this war to maintain.


There is no mistaklng this language.
1t is bold announcement that the
whole programme is changed from a
preservation of the Union and the Con-
stitution, to the complete and final ex-
tinguishment of slavery, cost what it
may. The peace of the country, its
prospects and its destiny are all to be
swallowed up in this crusade of emanc-
ipation. The life blood of this nation
is to be wrung out drop by drop until
the negro is free. That he may live oil
else must die.