Year: 1861

congratulation that this Democratic ma.


tion has so long escaped the quick sands
and rocks on which SO many people have
split and gone down. We have been
through many sharp contests of opinion
sharper contests of party, but we have
had none which really strained the life
cord ofthe system, The struggle now upon
us brings us into close view of the trial
tests of Repubi lean nationality. No human
being can clearly scan the end from the
beginning. We hope that the sky may
clear away and a bright sun arise upon
us; and none are so desponding as to
really fear that the free institutions of
our country can, by any possibility, set
in blood. But, has it ever occurred 20
the student of the checxered life Of man
kind that the most prosperous, accomplish
ed and apparently vigorous governments
have been the very ones which have ut
terly pershed from the face OF the earth?
and that in most instances that fall has
come through military success followed
by military reign? The war spirit breeds
the lowest, as the best qualities of nation
al character. 1t gives an impetus to
bravery and TO patriotism, but it also de-
velopes brutality and lawlessness. More
dangerous than these, it calls into full vi
gor that military ambition which has ever
been the foe of liberty. Who knows but
that this war, prolonged to interminable
duration, may cut off all the useful per-
suits of life and turn our entire populs-
ton into soldiers, and then bring on the
chaotic riegn of anarchy? Who can sure
ly, say, that then, out of its seething mass
may not arise one bold, bad man, more
executive than the rest, who shall seize
the helm and inaugurate dynasty on
this Continent? These cannot yet be said
to be PROBABILITIES; but who shall truely
assert that they are not already possibiii-
ties?' The true course of wisdom is to
suppose the worst result possibility, and
in truely philosophical spirit prepare to
guard against il. How shall we avoid
this hazard? Certainly not by turning
our backs on the foe, or by losing spirit
because of the possible danger OF success.
II is by meeting the danger bravely; but
at the same time by remembering that
war must be the last resort. OF course
we all agree that a given thing is to be
accomplished, viz:.---the supremacy OF the
Government over the whole Republic.
Its property is to be retaken, its forts pro-
tected and its power demonstrated. But
shall this be done by brute force or by
moral force? BY the blood OF war, or the
reason Of war? If we thall, at any period OF
the strife, have fair chance, which is it
most for the pu5ic honor and the public
! Liberties to select? This is question
about which there is a divided opinion,
but upon which we can only have one
opinion, fixed and certain. We confess
to but little sympathy with him who can
assert, even at this late period, that the
day of compromise has. passed, and the
day of battle has come. We say this
though the blood of Ellsworth calls aloud
for rough vengeance. The door for fair
adjustment should always be open. For
Justice and right all time is opportune,
and all place is fitting. We will never
own that the day for the acts ofpeaceful
intercesson has passed. When our en-
battled hosts are drawn up in full array,
and each eager for the bloody charge
which shall drench our fields in blood, aud
clothe our families in sackoloth, even then
we will not say i. is too late to settle this
thing. Even then we will not give up
tho hope that some power, human or
Divine, will interpose and stay the flow OF
blood. Much as we love liberty, and
highly as we estimate the interests hang.
ing on the security permanence OF thlsgov'
ernment, we own that we abhor blood,
aud look with distrast upon any blessings
which are it's purchase. Man has better
mission, and we; as people, higher vo-
cation than cutting one another's throats.
And still further, the little real good to
be obtained by successful war, is a pro-
blem which much puzzles us. We want
no subugated States; we should not
highly prize a conquered citizen.


Peace being still a desirable thing, how
shall it be promoted? We confess that
we have little hope of the adjusting Of the
embroglio by the interposition of foreign
powers. 1t would affront the free spirit
Of our people that any monarchical power
should attempt negotiation in domestic
question, and there is no Republican Pow
or of sufficient influence to justify a
thought Of their friendly office. This is
unfortunate. They can do us most good
by observing impartial neutrality and
strict non n-interferenco. But nevertheless.
we cannot forget that we are nation
among nations. We are not isolated and
alone. Without direct Interference some
thing may yet be done by foreign indivi-
duals or nations toward devising plan
Of peaceful compromise. There is i'll the
moral and intellectual world, though not
in the political, congress of nations, and
before that tribunal this question may
come, yea, has already come. If this ques-
ton is not settled by diplomacy rather
than by the sword this assembled wisdom
of nations viii hold their breath in he.r~r'
at the degeneracy of -sho Anglo'Saxon
race, aud the moral judgement of man
kind viii pour its terrible maledictions
upon those who openly trample upon its
fixed principles of action. A war prompt
ed by any motive but that Of unavoidable
necessity is an outrage to the spirit OF this
age. go


Is it likely that there will be much
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