Year: 1861

sublime and thrilling spectacle was never pre-
sented for human contemplation than the fierce struggle
now being waged by the southern people for ndepen-
dence and separate nationality Viewed respect
under the limitations inseparable from all revolutions
where blood is to be the cement of its forthcoming gov
ermentaI structure its may well be regarded
IN some SORT experiment 1t should not be disguised
that the deyoees Of free government both in this
try and in Europe have been seized with paralysis and
dlSmay IN witnessing this great upheavng OF the founda-


tons OF government, laid down by our fathers of the
revolution of l776 1t were hard-perhaps impossible
tor spectator from standpoint in Europe under
stand III detail the coral reef of busy causes which have
III their combined and aggregate results produced the
stupendous effort OF this confederation of SateS-ths
new nursery of freedom-this ark of the coyenent of
empire in which is frightened the worlds last hopesof
republican government and republican institutions To
US, however, who dwell in the midst of this strife and
confront our enemies face to face easy of explana-
ton why the old Union has fallen to pieces-and still
more, why we may indulge the camest confidence in
the success of the Confederate government In this
article we do not pretend to undertake to write regu-
lar treaties, hampered are in newspaper column
but we will giveat the risk of being too superficial
few OF the radical causes of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the old Union.


We will premise that the election of Lincoln had as


little to do in etectng the disruption of the federal gov
ernment as the blowing of the rams horn the siege
OF Jerico Abstractly it had nothing to do whatever
with 1T but as the product of prior causes and the
final utteTance OF irrepressible conflict it was the
natural prelude to odssoutOn-the tocsin of war There
is natural and dangerous antagonisrn inherently ex-
lstlng between manufacturing and agricultural people;
but aside from this and in advance of the consideration
OF free labor and Slave labor we wish to notice and
emphasize the fact that the bulk of northern people
prostued in all the essential characteristics of freemen
as descendants of the fathers of 70 We need not give
all the causes of this prostitution II is sufficient that
we know and realise the fact that the Yankees are differ
ent from usthat difference being as wide as the gulf
that separates u.s. which no dove with the olive
OF compromise, can wing its way. They arc-saying a
few honorable exceptiOns--a grasping, money-lovng
people Their marts of trade are great maleStrOms that
swallow up conscience and religion and their thorough
fares OF traffic ree with the Vest orgetfuneSs of God
and the badest inhdelty Every consideration of hon
esty is trampled under foot by the hurry of business
and etfectuay crushed out by the great JugeFnau
Manmon The starving inmates of the cellar and garrett
and the moan Of ragged bcggary on the streets, and
hardening influences that turn their hearts to granite
and petryits soitest avenues Of sympathy this
spirit of selfish greed dominant in the last congress of


the Union which refused us justice under the sanction
Of the constitution Instead of being rash the south
exhibited an example of patience aud long suffering
rarely equaed in the annals of wrong. She had no
other alternative but to seCede and appeal to the ar
bitrament of the sword


The considerations lying the surface of this sub
jec should be constantly kept in view in order that
may not look back did Lot when lying from SodOm
We have been thrust of the Uuion and the door of
compromise IS locked and tripple-bamcn against u.s.
Let every realise this fact and straightway his
part in the magnificent drama of achieving our indie
pendence and rebuilding the buIwarks of govern
ment Alexandria Democrat