Year: 1861

[ From the Metropolitan Record, the organ Of


Archbishop Hughs.


The October number Of Brownson's s
QaorterIy Review, has just made its ap-
pearance. In literary point Of view it
is not inferior to preceding numbers Of
the same work. The fourth article is on.
titled


IABoILTGoS DE L'EscLAyAGE, PAR AUGUST


IN COCHIN, AYcrEH MARE EFT coNsIEfLER


DE la WILLIE DE PARIS JACQUES LECoF.


FIRE, 1861. PHONES, Svo.


Under this caption the Reviewer writes
treatise on slavery and the war. We
cannot help thinking that this paper, so
far as it was intended to influence the
Catholic readers Of the Review, is at once
untimely and mischevious. The Catho-
lies of this country have obtained great
credit for having entirely kept out of dis.
cussions on the question Of slavery
Neither do they wish to have that ques-
ton thrust upon them in periodical
which is supposed to be published in the
interest of their religion


DIR. Brownson maintains that the end
and purpose of the war should not be,
merely to sustain the Constitution, Gov
eminent and laws of the country, but to
abolish slavery in the Southern States
Now, we, Catholics, and vast majority
of our brave troops in the field have not
the slightest idea of carrying on war
that costs so much blood and treasure
just to CRAFTY clique of Abolitionists
in the North. If it were generally known
that this is one of the purposes of the
war; the drafting Of troops would be.
come Immediately necessary-volunteers
would be few indeed-and the busines:
Of recruiting would become even Stacker
than it is now said to be.


The war is, as we have said, for the
maintenance and defence of our govern.
ment. In the progress Of war it is diff
cult to see what turn events may take in
the South, under the pressure Of military
necessity ; but to announce beforehand
that one of its purposes is to set the
slaves in the south free, and, as a consc.
quence, even arm them against the white
population, is to vitiate in popular esti-
nation the high motives by which the
Government and the gallant officers in
command of the prmy are actuated.


Nap olean III, announced that France
made war in Italy for an "ldea," but the
idea was his own and not furnished by
Abolitionism. Here, on the contrary
that clique who shun the battle field, ant
become self-complaceut in their fanati
cism, under the Imagination that oul
brave soldiers are fighting their battles
without being aware of it, are teemine
with 'Ideas," which they expect thu
country to make up and realize, even b,
the sword


True patriots will be shocked at tne re
viewers Interpretation of what the wa
means or should mean. They will ask
was it for this, that our dauntless soldier.
fell in battle? Was it for this that many
of them, together with their brave off
GERS, are now pining away in the captivi
ty of Southern dungeon? Take, fol
instance, Col. Corcoran and his gallant
fellow prisoners of the Sixty Ninth -
Was it for this that Cameron fell on the
battle. field, without any friendly eye tc
gaze on his countenane, while he lay


Like warrior taking his rest,


With his martial cloak around him


Was it for this that the noble hearted and
gallant Ward, we might say, assassin
ated on the deck of his own vessel WAS
it for this that the unyielding patriot and
heroic commander of Fort Sumpter, as
well as the equally heroic Mullgan at
Lexington, no less than the brave Lyon
who fell on the field, were SO crually neg
lected, and left to their fate until rein,
forcements came too late? Was it to
carry out the idea of Abolitionism that
these noble warriors, and thousands oi
less distinguished names, have already
given their lives, as they imagined, fol
the support of the Constitution and the
preservation of the Union ?


No, no. The crime charged against
what is called the Southern Coniederacy
is their wish and attempt to overthrow
the Constitution and Government o.
these United States. Now, this crime
has been attempted by the Abolitionists
but not in the candid bravery of the
Southern Secessionists.


One of the Aboitionists, perhaps thei
ablest man, described the Constitution
as a covenant with hell" The Aboli
tionists would take advantage of double
tides, and in order to be consistent wills
they would have our army to destroy
slavery in the South, they themselves
sympaihize with the seeded States, who
are endeavoring to destroy the same ''cov
enant with hell" We do not say tha
all the Abolitionists regard the Constitu
tion in the same light as the author o
the atrocious expression just quoted
But we have never seen that expression
or its author repudiated in their speeches
writings or resolutions.


Between the secessionsts of the South
and the AbolitioniSts OF the North, the
Constitution is now in most perilous
condition. The former attack it in front,
the latter assail it in the rear or on the
flank The former wish to get clear OF
its requirements because they think it has
not been fairly carried ont in their re,
gard, the latter because it is, as they say
a covenant with hell" Still these Alb
olitionists profess to be loyal citizens
wishing to preserve the Union and sus
tain the Government, provided the latte
shall abolish slavery totally throughout
the land


Every man has the right to form hi
own opinion on the existence of slavery
/ 4