Year: 1861




We shave repeatedly said that y. did not desire
secession, but that it would be blessing c our
country. The Union was formed when most 0!
the states were alike involved in the guilt und
misfortune Of slavery, and having been formed
under such circumstances though eminently dis
advantageous as things now are, we are not will
ing to dissolve it at the expense Of the South
We are anxious to keep to an old contract, long
ee it can be Of any zeal advantage to the party
least able to bear the OWLS of dissolution But
the South madly roshes from the confederacy.
and will not be persuaded to remain except upon
terms Of dishonoraSle compromise. We shall solace
ourselves by hasty glance at the benGccn, con-
seqoences Of secession to tho North.


L. The first benefit resulting from separation
Of slavedum, would be an unem barrassed onward
movement for all time TO come Thus far, slavery
has been q constant hindranee to good govern
ment aud to national growth. With the most ge-
nia climate and With every facility for rapid pro-
Sress, the slave states have always Jagged 10 the
march Of improvement. What little growth there
has been in those unfortunate states, ia merely the
result of their association with non-save-holding
states-anT advantage Of which, though costly to
us, we would not deprive them until after some





further trial. This especially that por-
ton Of it embraced within the United States and
Territories-is destined to have population Of
several hundreds Of millions, and if the govern
ment remains as il is, partly slave-holding, and
partly njn-save holding, these hundreds of mil
lions will oil be cursed as we now are, with the
corruptions Of slavery. By remaining together,
We shall send down TO future eges the polluting
stream that would otherwise be dried up. Our
whole great country would absorb the virus that
polsons the South, and by thus enabling slavedom
to live little longer we should peril the existence
of nation many times greater than the present.
In this view Of the subject, it becomes serious
moral question whether We are justified in contin-
uing political relations with the South for another
hour. H.


g. The second benefit arising from separation,
would be return to the moral basis of national
prosperity. Our statesmen insanely hug the Un-
ion, juet as if the Union rather than God, had
fought their battles, and given them victory. We
mus; return to first prinoirles-right must again
be our watcb-word, and union must take its place
among. the chance events of the struggle. Intrin-
soally, union is Of little or value il derives
its value, like numeral character, from the rela-



war for independence, and IN the then impover-
isbed spersey populated condition of the colonies,
Union was Fundamental but as between the
North and South--between freedom aud slavery,
in their present fierce encounter-uniOn lie an al
most unmitgated curse. Yet We have men stoli1
enough to dolige the Union, and anxious TO crawl
eat dirt, or commit ary imaginable meanuess to
propitiate the incensed lords Of the lash. o'.
n3. The third advantage would be found in
general elevation Of manners and morals. We
should get rid of therevolver and bowie knife dis
pensaton. 1t is undeniable that the manners Of
the confederacy toned down to most wretch.
ed state. By long connection with bar barous
slave holding communities, which deem force and
violence, as we'll as the prohibitions Of educa-
ton, essential to their existancc, we have acouir
cd degree of ferocity unnatural to civilized
people. Our morals have also declined to fear
fdlextent. Every species of gigantic corruption
fourishes in the several departments of govern
meut, as in @ congeuial soil. How can il be 9th
erwise2 Oughtwe no. to expect that our nation
all robbery of millions of helpless, unofending
people would be followed by such comparatively
uhimpo speculations as We have lately wit
messed the stealing of forts and arsenAls, and
the embeszlement of treasury funds Z If it is
right to rob people Of their liberty, it is right to
rob them of their money, and so long as we ooun-
tenance or connive at one species of robbery, we
have to acquiesce in the other But II we can put
sway slavery, there il no reason why We may not
IN time become an honest nation. ta