Year: 1861

The Future.


The policy of the Administration seems
now to be definitely declared il is to re.
take the Government property and to main
tain the integrity Of the laws at whatever
cost. The fate of the country is to be
staked upon war, the magnitude of which
cannot be conceived, even in view of the
great preparations that have been made for
Its commencement.


Never, perhaps. has there been period
in the worlds history when any people in
their country's danger, ever rushed with
such alacrity and determined zeal to defend
it, at all hazards, as the men Of this age are
are witnessing in this land Of ours. The
Chief Executive Of the Republic had only
to say that the National Capital was in
danger, and the dormant but tremendous
military energies of twenty millions of peo
pie were aroused into an exhibition of pa
trio;ism which not only attest their bravery
but unalterable attachment TO the country.
From Maine to Kansas the enthusiasm is
unbounded, and men Of all political parties
are rushing to protect the stars and stripes,
and 2ledging their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honors" to maintain the
Government and yindicate the national
honor.


1t is well known by our readers, that We
have earnestly advocated the adoption Of
such measures Of compromise and coLcilia-
ton as we believed would restore harmony
to the Union. The time was when the
differences could have been peaceably set
tied. But unwise counsels prevailed, and
our once happy land has been plunged into
the horrors of civil war.


Heretofore, we have, time and again,
expressed our opinion of the slave holding
States and of the conduct of the Republican
party towards them. That orinirn is un-
changed. But the evils of which the South
complain do not, in our judgment, justify
secession. The violent measures which
have been adopted by the seeded States
have united the whole North, as one man,
against them. And, with our fellow citi-
zens Of the North, we stand by our country
in the battle-prayiEg that she may be
always right, but right or wrong, our
country.


Bot notwithstanding these facts, it be-
comes our duty to enquire what is the object
of this war, and what will be its probable
results. Shall we suhjugate the S,uth p
Shall we carry on war Of determination
against them? Or, rather, shall we hold
the forts already in our possession, protect
our commerce on the Mississippi, and,
perhaps, retake Sumter and Norfolk, and
wait for reason to return to the minds of the
excited people of the South? 1t is our
opiniun that the latter proposition wou' d
be the most humane and polite, as tmight
prevent the flow of rivers of blood and the
destruction of millions of lives, and the rt-
ductiOn of the country to bankruptcy and
ruin.


We have no doubt but that the North
can overwhelm the South. The North is
richer in the means necessary to carry on
a successful war, and has twice the number
OF men, but the people of the South, like
ourselves, are of race which never yielded
to foe. Aud it may be necessary to almost
exterminate them from the face of the
earth in order to bring them into suhjuga
ton. 1t will be no easy task when we
recollect that there are eight or nine mill
ions Of them. 1t might take hundred
years to completely accomplish the under-
taking. 1t may not be so difficult to con
quer them as it would be to hold them to
obedience to our laws.


While We, in common with all men Of
all parties in the North, believe that war
has too many horrors to admit Of divided
and are willing to join in defend
ing the country with heart and hand, at
the same time it is our firm conviction that
the Administration can be most successful |
in the restoration of the Union by forbear- !
ance, peaceable negotiations, an examini-
ton of grievances, and mutual concession.
Hence, it is our earnest prayer that the
rebellious people Of the South may lay
aside their hostile weapons, aud seek again
the blessings of peace and Union by treaty
instead Of bloodshed. May the Omniscisnt
Ruler Of the Universe 80 guide the desti
pies of our nation that it shall not be said
that the patriots of the revolution have
lived, and fought, and died in vain.