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CHARLES WELLING, “ FEAll NO MAN, AND DO JUSTICE TO ALL MEN.” P U B L I S H E R A N D P R O P R I E T O R . OLD SERIES, VOI, XLI. J A MICA, QUEENS COUNTY, N. Y., JULY 15, 1862. SEW SEMES, YOL XXX-NO. 18. AN 0 DELlVKiKD UT R I C H A R D B U S T E E D , Esq., ON lE^ricla/y, J u l y 1 S 6 Q- W e are to-day acto r s i n tho grandest dram a of r e a l life ; wc stand upon th e threshold of m o m e n tous ev e n ts, and touch th e garm e n t of occurrences which a r e to shape t h e f u tu r e condition of a C o n tinent. R e p u b lican Institutions, and their c h ief f e a ture, the capacity o f m an for self governm ent, arc upon trial b e f o r e thc assem b led world. T o this stran g e po litical and social entanglem e n t th e A m e rican people sustain t h e relation of both the contending parties. A large minority on tlie o n e sido, h a v e inaugurated, a n d are carrying on a w a r against the Constitution and th c t e d e r n l Union, and a tt e m p t to cover their conduct b e n e a th the shield o f a justifiable, rev o lu tio n : for this purpose, a n d with a view to dis-' ru p t tlie old governm e n t, th e y havo organized rebel lion in to an a p p e a r a n c e of sovereignty, and have sent forth t o thc w o rld an ap p e a l to “ >st a rgum e n t of K ings” and a declaration o f hatred for, and indepen d e n c e o f the institutio n s of th e United S tates o f Amc- rica. . . . On t h e o th e r h a n d t h c m a jority 01 the p e o p le, a m a jo r ity com p osed of tho b e t t e r i n tellect,g r e a ter w e a lth, and m o r e lib e r a l instincts, stand up for the govern m e n t, under which the nation lias grown to be a chief pow e r in the earth , and hy expressions o f individual opinion and legislative en a c tm e n t, have solem n ly de clared their u n a l t e r a b l e purpose th a t th e r e sh a ll be no severance of t h e p a r ts which constitute u s one country. T h a t, in tho -language o f instruction t o one o f t h e i r representatives a t a foreign Court— th e r e shall b e on a l l the soil consecrated to freedom and baptised a t th c font of A m e rican independence, or by thc A m e rican peoplesincc acq u ir e d ,o r hereafter, in the order o f tilings and th e P ro v iden c e of God, hy them to lie acquired, “ o n ly one nation an d one G o v e rnm e n t, and “ th a t th e r e is not naw , or h a s th e r e been, n o r will “ th e r e b e any, the least idea o f suffering a dissolution •‘o f this Union t o t a k e placo in any ivny w h a tev e r .” Ju s t so distinct a r e th e views o f thc com b a tants, and ju s t so irrecon c ilab le the differences which exist b e tw e e n them . N o thing is s im p ler th a n tho proposition that t h e r e can be no adjustm ent of t h e quarrel, and that the a b s o lu t e submission o f o n e to tlio dem a n d s of t h e o th e r is tlie only m e thod by w h ich tlie m a tter in d ispute can b e disposed of. I t is o f the u t m o s t consequence to those im m edi ately concerned that in so grave an atliiir th e ir cau s e shall be ju s t, a n d th e i r m o tiv e s and aims such a s lo sanctify t h e m eans a d o p ted hy them to effectuate th e ends th e y propose.. T h is consequence is a g g randized by th c fa c t that t h e A m e r ican people have in charge th c f u tu r e o f rational l i b e r ty , m a n s equality, and t r u e representative g o v e r n m e n t. P o r the preservation of each o f th e s e we are r e s p o n s ible to posterity. A ll m ankind, an d especially tlie enslaved and o p pressed of m ankind, a r e concerned in t h e civil s truggle into w h ich this nation lias been plunged hy t h e m a d ness o f m a n y and the w ickedness of a few. As this struggle term inates, w e m a intain national unity nnd pow er, or becom e sep a r a ted into petty iaclions, c o n tem p tib le aud puerile, tlie w e a k e s t to be preyed upon by tlie strongest, an d th e st r o n g e s t in turn t o he t h e spoil o f an y considerable foreign rival. As i t te r m i nates, we. a r c a nation o f b a n k r u p ts o r unrivalled in th e sources o f m a terial and political affluence ; as it term in a tes t h e m e m o ry anil act o f our lathers will b e rev e r e d or derided. G o d sav e the R e p u b lic! ‘In this connexion I p r o p o s e to consider, n o w Tiir. STRUGGLE OUGHT TO TEKMIN’-Vl'E, IIOW IT WILL. TER MINATE, AND WHEN ? To p r e s e n t a suflicieut answ e r to th e first o f these enquiries it w ill he necessary to e x a m ine' tho grounds upon which th e contestants claim s success should o f rig h t c row n thcir p a r ticu lar designs. T o this i t is not m a terial to go into a form a l e x a m ination of thc o r ig in o f our governm e n t. T l i e origin o f the governm e n t belongs w h o lly to t h o past. I t concerns us now to know w h e th e r the g o v e r n m e n t is to he maintained, and by w h a t m eans i t is most lik e ly this result can be read ied . T h e q u e s tion before us to-day is n o t as t o the c a u s e s which im p e lled the s e p a ration o f t l i e N o rth Am erican Colonies from E n g land, o r w h e ther these were suffi cient to ju s tify our revolutionary ancestors. “ The logic o f accom p lished results,” i s the com p letcst v indi cation th e m e n of ’7G could d e s ire. Judged b y the standard of increased prosperity' and good to (lie race, our fathers h a v e eulogists in ev e r y im proved hum an condition, in ev e r y success of c ivilized life, anil in ev ery trium p h o f constitutional liberty. They need neither poetry nor o ratory t o sound th e i r fam e. E v e ry gathered harv e s t,—every successful a d v e n tu r e —every cncreasing s o u r c e of n a tio n a l re v c u u e ,—ev e r y e x h ibi tion of chnrity o r R e ligion—each, in its turn, sings a pocan in th e ir praise. T h e question of concern, as 1 have suggested, is w h e ther th c ir w o rk shall ho allowed to rem a in, o r w h e ther a new slate of tilings shall take its place, a n d cru d e ex p e r im e n t he substi tuted for ripe experience. N o thing is m o r e certain than that the founders of the R e p u b lic intended that it should exist forever in con c r e te; tlm t i t should be a s incapable of incohcsioa as a ray o f lig h t o r a g lan c e of t h c eye. Before t h e convention of th e m e m o rable 7th of O c foher, 17G5, w h e n com m ittees from nin e Colonies m e t in New Y o rk to discuss t h e policy o f forcible resistance to tlite Stam p A c t, tlio idea o f an indissoluble Union as the f u ture d e s tiny o f t li e s tr u g g lin g Colonics had filled tlie minds of th e people. T h e com ing event w a s clearly discernible. I t s lengthening shadows p r o claim ed t h e doom of t y r a n n y and K ing-craft, and e r e yet purpose bad taken tangible outline and shape, P a trick H e n r y — gifted w ith prop h e tic power, e x claim ed, “ A ll A m e rica is th r o w n into ono mass— “ w h ere a r e your land-m a rks,—yo h r boundaries o f “ Colonies? T h e y are all th r o w n down. T h c d is tin c t i o n s b e tw e e n V irginians, Pennsylvanians, New “ Yorkers and N e w E n g landers, a r c no m o re. I a m “ not a V irginian, b u t an A m e rican ;” an d before th e adoption o f th e federal constitution, an d w h ile th c states w e re only linked to g e th e r a s friendly confede rates for com m o n defense nnd m u tual w elfare, they adopted the title o f the U n ited S tates o f A m e rica, and th e 13th article o f their league d e c lared th a t thcir union should be p e r p e tu a l. T h is in 1778. Nine years afterw arilsj t h e people o f the U n ited S tates— not the’ Pfiliiifiians, n o r th e w ire-pulling lenders, n o t th e direc to r s o f p a rty c a u c u s e s , nor the selfish placc-seekcrs,— th e people o f th e states, wlio b e f o r e w e r e united hy tlie a rticles o f c o n federation, “ in o r d e r to form a more perfect union” am o n g them selves, “ establish justice, “ e n sure th e ir dom e stic tran q u ility, provide for thcir “ common defence, prom o te th e ir g e n e r a l welfare, “ and secure th e blessings of lib e r t y to them selves “ ahd their p o s t e r i t y o r d a i n e d and established the constitution tp defend tho prin c ip les o f wh ich six hun dred thousand m e n in arm s n r e to-day on the fields o f sanguinary strife. This com p act w a s m ade by an d b e t w e e n t h c pco- p i e ; it was intended to he a n d is a p e r p e t u a l c o n tract of alliance; it is indissoluble in its nature, as it is in thc term s used t o express its inscpnrabloncss. It is “ a covenant running w ith th e land,” and the heirs, if they tak e tlie inheritance, cannot avoid thc conditions which their ancestors im p o sed upon its enjoym ent.— The agreem e n t c a n n o t b e avoided or altered except in t h e express m a n n e r provided, o r by th e concur rence o f all the parties in interest. It is too l a t e for South C a rolina to say t o M a ssachusetts ‘ I don’t like you an d I won’t liv e w ith you.5 If th e P a lm e tto statc did not desire tho a s sociation she should not have en tered into the Union. B e ing in, hy God's h e lp, she shall stay. She shall neither b l u s t e r out, nor tight out, nor sceedc out, nor skedaddle out. New York, too, is a joint ten a n t with M ississippi an d Georgia, and it looks very m u ch as if thc K n ickerbockers would enjoy the whole estate o f the Tadpoles and B u z z a rds, by m ere right o f survivorship. is it asked, Is tliere th e n no pow e r in h e r e n t in a people to change th c ir governm e n t ? A ro th e y for ever to rem a in stationery in th e ir ideas, and so arrest tlie progress of the mind, a n d its capacity for im p rove m e n t? C e rtainly not. No sucli e x igence has o c c u rred here. T h e difficulty ivith rebellion is, th a t t h c m ajo rity o f this people do not d e s ire c h a n g e , and when they do, the constitution itself provides how it shall he al tered, or am ended, o r su b s tituted for another. Con gress, on application of t w o thirds of th c m e m b e rs of both its houses, or of tiro thirds o f (he legislatures of th e several states, is obliged to call a convention for proposing am endm ents t o the constitution, and if tlieso propositions aro subsequently ratified by the leg islatures o f th r e e fourths o f thc s e v e ral states, or by conventions ia three-fourths of them , th o am endm ents becom e p a r t of the o r g a n ic law . Now it is a well known leg a l maxim,— “ express io u n i u s est c.vclnsio a l i c r i u s — the nam ing of a n express inode by which a thing m a y bo done, e x c lu d e s its perform a n c e in any o t h e r than the given m a n n e r. And, iu tlie lan guage o f M r. Madison, th e constitution “ being a '•co m p a c t am o n g the s tales in th e i r highest sovereign '‘‘capacity, and constituting the people th e r e o f one •‘people for certain purposes, it is not revocable, or \a l t e r a b l e a t thc will o f th e s e states individually as “ t h c constitution of a s ta le i s revocable a t its individ u a l will,” a n d no slate can a t pleasure release itself “ therefrom , and se tu p for itself. T h e com p a c t can “ o n ly he dissolved by t h e co n s e n t o f t l i e oilier par it i e s , or by usurpations or a b u s e s o f pow er justly hav- \ i n g that effect.” , AVhen th e great N o rth, and the wise E a s t, and the b r a v e T e s t, g e t ready f o r inglorious national oblivion, the vain supercilious a n d barbaric. South, m ay play tho hand o f em p ir e alone, b u t until then, her boasted chivalry will be mado to m a rch and keep step to the m u sic of a n undivided Union. W h e n th r e e fourths of our en tire people shall have approved tlio am e n d m e n ts lo th e constitution, which shall have been pro posed hy tw o -thirds of th c ir n u m b e r ,— th e “ so-called confederate s tates” will have a new constitution, but not until (lien. God hasten tlie iio u r ! So let every lover of lib e r ty pray. S o only s h a ll ivc escape the w ithering sarcasm which tau n ts ns with o u r boasted freedom w h ite it points its scornful fingers at four millions of hum an beings in bondage and in c h a i n s ! W h e n that day ‘\comes th e G enius o f L iberty, h e r s e lf em a n c ipated from th e fetters of a w ritten code, will shed a tru e r light on the A m e rican m ind. T h e n sh a ll o u r anthem s to L ib e r ty not- b e drowned in tlie dissonant cry of the m a n a c led slave. Our ineenso w ill not bo driv en before th c hot breath of a n oppressed and ser vile r a c e , hut rise to tlio throne o f God, an honest as well as grateful sacrifice. T h e r e will ho in the now constitution no saving clause, no am b iguous provision in favor of m a n s right to hold liis fellow m an iu p e r petual b o n d a g e ; —th e w aters o f freedom w ill cover the. l a c e of the whole em p ir e ,an d slavery find no rest upon i t for th c sole o f her foot. T h e source of a ll our national misfortunes, —the disturbing elem e n t in our life,—th e cancer in our body politic w ill he destroyed forever. Our cause o f sham e n n d sin a n d sorrow vviik cease f u r th e r to afflict ourselves and ex a s p e r a te hu m anity. We w ill then have a c o n s titution as well as a country, to w h ich an American c a n refer w ith pride. Wo will have a consistent theory o f governm e n t, and a D e c laration o f Independence co n c u r r e n t in senti m e n t a n d expression w ith t lie law o f t li e land. F o r o n e , 1 d e s ire tlie c h a n g e . W h il e I will o b e y and faithfully observe all th a t the constitution of m y c o u n try requires, I y e t wish tlio s u p r e m o law to h e found ed on t h e principles of God’s etern a l justice, and to square w ith l i i s golden rule. I d e s ir e t h a t th e law of m ight s h a ll he th e law of right. As t h e case now stands, m y m oral nature, shrinks w h ile I yield to th e com m and that if th c enslaved escap e into a society w h e re freedom is n o t dependent upon com p lexion, lie shall be delivered lip on tho d e m a n d of h is ow n er, and so a stronger m a n a c le put upon h im for obeying an irresistib le and universal instinct! M e n a n d breth ren , ought sueli things b e ? « C a n such things b o , ’Anri ovcrcomo ns liko a summer's ctoucl Without our special wonder?” I frankly confess I w a n t an a m e n d m e n t o f th o con stitution o n this subject. 1 believe that i f (his civil w a r , which thc s lav e oligareliists h a v e fom ented, shall o f itself sow the d c a th-sceds of A frican bondage a m o n g us. the harvest o f scR-rcspect t h e n a tio n w ill th e r e b y reap , and th e consideration it w ill th e r e b y gain, will b e worth m o re th a n tho cost o f the w a r . A most distinguished A m e rican, w h o filled thc high e s t office in tho people's gift, a n d w h o brought t o the discharge o f its duties tlie aid o f a b lam e less life, a cultivated mind, a com p rehensive in tellect, and a long exp e r ien c e , writing on this subject says, “ T h e im p res sion produced on my mind by t l i e progress o f this dis cussion is, t h a t th e bargain between f reed o m and sla v e r y contaiued in th c constitution of t h c U n ited S tates is m o rally and politically vicious; inconsistent with th c principles upon which alone our revolution can b e justified; cruel and oppressive, b y riveting the chains o f slavery, in pledging the faith of freedom to m a intain and perp e tu a te th e tyranny of th e m aster, and grossly unequal and im politic, by adm itting th a t slaves arc a t once enemies, to be kept in subjugation, property, to b e secured and restored t o th e ir owners, and persons, not to b e represented them s e lves, but for whom t h e i r m a s ters are privileged with n e a r ly a double share o f representation. T h e c o n s e q u e n c e lias been th a t th is slave representation bus governed tho Union. Benjam in, portioned above h is brethren, has ravened as a wolf.” F o r tlieso, an d m y own, a n d kindred sentim e n ts on this question, I invite from flippancy, ig n o r a n c e or sin, som e b e tter objection than calling ih e person w h o holds them , ag itator, aholiliouist and t l i e j i k e . I in vite these and a ll d isa p p r o v e s to talk less an d think m o re, and to study th e history of M ieir country, and the s e n tim e n t? ami o p inions o f her s tatesm e n , p a tr io t and guides, T h a t cause is indeed had for which nothing th a t is necessary, expedient or gppd can b e urged ns a re a son w h y i t should succeed, T h is is tho e x a c t plight o f rebellion. N o r traitor, nor sym p a thizer w ith treason can tp-day assign any fair, just or r e a s o n a b le p r e t e x t for t h e precipitation on o u r belo ved land o f a c iitastro phc so appalling in its proportions that a l l Christen dom is disturbed and anxious. W h y did th e s e southerners m a k e w a r upon the cou n tr y , converting t h c ir own domain i n to a r e c e p ta cle o f stolen goods, and th e hiding p lace o f m e rcena ries, m u rderers and madmen, a n d ours into one vast recruiting tent ? T e l l me, you, cow ardly and t r a ito r ous nort liman, who talk about peace before t h e last a r m e d foe has e x p ir e d on the soil his attain ted blood defiles, or o f compromise, while y e t t h e walls o f our hospitals r e s o u n d w ith the groans of t h e m a n g led, and aro dam p w ith the death-dew o f tho e x p ir in g . T e ll m e , you, sneaking, hypocritical, m ean, envious E n g land, with professions of good-will to us on your false lip, a n d hatred and a l l uiicharitableness to us on your falser h e a r t. T e ll m e , you, ivcak im itator o f t l i e vir tu e s am i base serv itor of the vices o f the Buona p a r te, with your proffered mediation in a neighbor’s q u a r r e l . T e l l me, you, traitors, Davis, Pickens, S te vens a n d Floyd, wlmt do yotc say provoked you to the point w h e re forbearance ceased to ho a v ir tu e ? % h a t had w c o f thc north usurped th a t belonged to y o u ] I inquire not n o w of what some a m o n g us may have said. I challenge any act o f usurpation by thc non-slavcholding states against your righ ts as m em bers o f tho c o n federacy. Facts n r e incontrovertible. W h a t h a d ive done! W h at provision o f th c federal constitution had we violated ? F o r once lay aside your declam a tion and a b u s e , and soberly an d truthful- sta te y o u r grievances. You know, and ivc know, and th e world knows that ivo m a d e no e n c roachm e n t upon your reserved rights as a p a r t y to the com p a c t betw e e n your f a thers and ours. Y o u know, also, th a t we have been so terrified at y o u r reiterated threats against the fam ily peace and g e n e r a l w e lfare, t h a t in our anxiety to preserve national concord w e h a v e sacrificed personal honor and s t a te pride. Y o u c a lled us “ nmd sills” and “ g r e a sy m e c h a n ics,” until labor almost b egan to h e asham ed of its G o d -given dignity. You heat onr r e p r e s e n ta tives in th o national council cham b e rs because they expressed the views of those whom they served. You denied us freedom o f speech in all your borders. T h is and m u c h else, b e f o re tlie last burden which broke our uncom plaining patience into active, and, a s you a r e destined t o learn, terrib le resistance and deserved r e tribution. B u t w h a t had we dona ? How sinned against you ? In LSdO y o u wanted a geographical lim it a ssigned to your pecu liar institution, a n d we passed the law known as th e M issouri compromise. You got sick of this when it ap p e a r e d th a t slavery would not b e a gainer thereby, a s it w a s supposed, and begged a repeal of tho act. I t was repealed. In 1850 you clam o red for further- legislation in favog o f your p r o p e rty in human beings, an d th e fugitive slave law w a s placed on the n a tion’s s ta tu te book. You w e re tlie daughter of the h o r s e leech. Yea continually cried “ Give, give!” and wo gave. V o kept giving until ive had not an out left in thc bin, ami on your demand gave yon th e b in too. B u t nothing would satisfy your rap a c ity ; y o u had resolved to q u a rrel w ith us. Bo you rem ind me that '.ve aid not retu r n your es caped s laves. T h is is only half t h e tru th . AVhoncv- e r you c a m e after your chattel w ith legal proofs of ownership, w e caught and caged liinr and se n t him back to you, often at our own expense. If you did not think it w o rth your.wi ! ,e to hunt u p your run-a- wny it w as none o f .o\v s., Som etim es a man among us, m o r e o f a h u m anitarian than a juris-con- sult, and b e t t e r versed in t h e law o f nature th a n the law of tlio land, illegally, b u t conscientiously, aided your bondm a n to e s c a p e . John Brow n did so, a n d you hanged him f o r il! B u t no s tatc as such, and no authority w ithin a statc, ev e r hesitated or r e fused to perform its constitutional obligations t o yon on tliis head. T h e c o n tra r y of this c a n n o t b e truthfully m a in tained. Do you rem ind m e also that some of o u r f ree s tates (would t o G o d yours were a ll free) passed w h at a r c known as the personal liberty bills, anil t h a t these en actm ents w e re in violation o f thc constitution. I t is tru e that th e y did, a n d that th e y w e re wholly w ithout w arrant for it. lin t, tm d i alteram purlcm l H e a r the other side. Not one of th e s e s tates attem p ted to enforce th e s e laws, nor did t h c judicial tribunals in any instance pronounce in lhvor of their validity, a n d several o f th e m very soon repealed t h c obnoxious e n actm ents. Y o u n g H'isconsin has done so even since you plunged us into a u internecine war. W h a t else h a v e w e done? W h a t other cause of grievance h a v e you growing o u t o f any committed breach, of o u r duty tow ards you ? 1 h ear you go about complaining t h a t in 15(50 a sec tion a l parly of t h e north elected a President. In your declaration of causes which induced th e secession o f South Carolina, yon state, am ong other tilings, th a t a “ g e o g r a p h ical line has b e e n drawn across tjie Union, and all t h e states north o f (hat line have b e e n united in t h e election of a man to t h e high office o f President, w h o s e opinions and purposes a re hostile to slavery.” T h is is false, and yon know it to be. Mr. L in coln was e l e c t e d hy less than one-third o f the en tire vote east. You know th is is true. Figures won't lie to h e lp your cause. You set up Jo h n C. Breckinridge a s a candidate, a n d tried to bully a n d w h e e d le the dem o c ratic party o f thc north into th e support of y o u r sectional, tim e s e rving aspirant. In its death threes, this once g r e a t political power r e deem e d (lie folly an d e x p iaied th c wickedness of a life spent in altern a te fear and worship o f you. It r e fused to honor y o u r idol. T h e vov> of this party o r ganization w as giv e n to Mr. Douglas, only a few i r r e versible “ d o u g h -laccs” throwing aw a y thcir patron age on B reckinridge. Tlio northern states did not u n ite in the e l e c tio n of Mr. Lincoln. I f M r. Lincoln be sectional,— if h is purposes a r c hos tile to slavery, you have brought the calam ity upon yourselves a n d us. The man who omits to do an a c t ho m a y perform , b y which th e life of his fellow can be saved, is m o r a lly guilty of m u rder, i f d e a th be t h e result of his o m ission, us much as h e who lies i u wait and wilfully kills. You pretend to b e lieve that Mr. L incoln entertained hostile purposes to A frican slavery a s it exists am o n g you, and om itted to cast your vote for M r. Dougins, which you knew w a s the only m eans to p r e v e n t tlie election of th e m a n you charged w ith entertaining sectional views and unconstitutional prejudices! B u t your w a n t of candor is again transparent. You knew th a t Mr. L in c o ln was on record against t lie sub version o f tlie constitutional provisions respecting slavery. You know that i n his Senatorial contest in Illinois lie had publicly and deliberately declared him self as disfavoring an unconditional r e p e a l o f the fugi tiv e slave law ; as unpledged against the admission of any m o re slave s tates i us unpledged to th e abolition o f slavery in the D istrict o f Columbia, and to the pro hibition of the slave trade b e i “e e n th e different states. You knew a ll this w h e n you .->uglit justifica tion for folly in falsehood, and a r c now thc condi tion o f a man o b liged to u t t e r a dozen untruth.: to save his first false s tatem e n t from M i n g into hopeless disgrace. I r e c u r to the question w h a t have w e of th e N o rth done by w a y o f a g g ression, usurpation, or abuse of power, which can be urged i n palliation of th e treason of the South, or th e attem p t t o destroy t h e m o st u tterly benign governm e n t t h a t ever blessed a people. Concede now, ca u s a arguments,W \nt the last P r e s ide n tal election r e s u lted in t h e choice o f a m a n whose declared opinions on th o subject of slavery w e re in opposition to the w e ll ascertained provisions of tho constitution. jVUat t h e u l T h e upshot of t h e m a tter ! is, t h a t a new political party had succeeded in e lecting its candidate, not b y reason of its own s tr e n g th but because o f dissensions which distracted its adversary. T h e opponents of M r. L incoln and o f h is political sen tim ents had a clear w o rking m ajority in botli houses of Congress, a n d the P r e s id e n t elect, for two y e a r s at least, could w ield but a nom inal sceptre. lie could not e v e n distribute t h e spoils of success. Tlie South kneiv and understood th i s : knew th a t the suprem e legislature and judicial pow e r w e re in its own grasp and i n terest, and yet, w ith a duplicity even m o re re m arkable for w eakness, than m eanness abandons its post a n d flaunts in th c fan of nn astonished ago its ap prehensions th a t the g u a r a n tees of th e Constitution are in danger o f being destroyed and its rights tinder it tram p led upon and d e n ied ; then, w ith an audacity of profanencss unequalled in th e annals o f blasphemy, appeals to the S u p rem e Ju d g e o f th e Universe for th e purity and rectitude of its intentions. Upon th e election o f M r. Lincoln, produced as I have show n by th e S o u th itself, treason which had been hatching ia sccresy and sin, exhibited a hostile front t o the country a n d the. c o n s titution. Soutli C a rolina, the hot-bed of d isloyalty; ever vain, self g lori ous aud troublesom e, led the way. T h e national for tress e r e c ted in her h a r b o r n t the N a tional expense and defended by a m e re handful of our soldiers, was exposed to t h e m u rderous fire of six thousand p e r jured scions o f chivalry, and the national ensign,—our 'hitherto untarnished Hag,— shot away from its staff, and a b a s tard rag run up in its dishonored place. Tlie first o v e r t a c t o f treason was c o m m itted ! T h e bad exam p le set by South Carolina was im itated by other states, until step by step, arm ed resistance to the constituted tribunals o f the country was substitu ted for obedience to th e law s o f the land, and civil w a r w ith all its atten d a n t horro r s was forced upon us. E n o u g h has been shown to prove rebellion disenti tled to success. I t is n o t a n appeal to j u s tice; it is a resort to force and fraud, a n d unless m ankind are pre pared to confound distinctions betw e e n fair and foul, between right and wrong, b e tw e e n good and bud; un less our l i b e r ti e s a r e indeed the sport and a t the mer cy of unscrupulous and selfish d em agogues, and unless this world was m ado for th e Cataliaes, tlie Borgia3, mid the M a e h iavellis of tlie race, surely this unholy crusade a g a inst an enlightened and paternal govern m ent, should n o t he favored with success. B u t how w ill th e struggle term in a te? 'W ill the treason s u c c e e d ? W ill it “ Oh, country marvel of tho earth ! Oh, r«*alm to siuUUm grcutnese grown 1 Thengo thutglorfol In thy birth, Shall i t behold thw overthrown ? Slmlt traitors lay that grcutno.53 low ? No ! Laud of Hope and Btessiog, N o ! “ Our humming marts, our Iron ways, Our tviiul tossed woods o u mountain crest, The hoarse Atlantic, with his bays, Tho calm, broad ocaan o f thc West, And Mississippi's torrent flow, Anil loud Niagara, auswur, No I ' “ Aud wc, who wear thy glorious »amc, Shall wc, like cravens, stand apivvt, When those whom'thou hast trusted, aim Tho death blow at thy generous heart f- * Forth the Imtt’.o-i’.rv, ;mU In} Hosts riss in liNruwss, ihouUug, No [” It must term in a te in sham e and disaster to those wlio so wantonly p a l t e r e d with a llegiance and im b rued their traitorous hands in bro thers blood. I t m ust so term inate because of controlling m o ral and m a terial considerations a p p licable to it. T h e tim e has not gone by when the success of a cause m a y reasonably be esti m ated by its claim s o n tru th , honor and justice.— T h e s e are s till an d ev e r will b e cardinal to success; th c ir absence from any enterprise m a y b e taken as evidence that it w ill c o tnc to nought. u F o r right ii right, since Rod ia God, Aud right iho day must wiu ; To doubt would bo disloyalty, To falter, would be sio.” How ever delayed the final victory m a y b e : howev e r impeded b y repulse o r in term e d iate defeat, th e end is as assured as though the l a s t g u n had been fired or the last sabre draw n in th e flush o f ultim a te t r i umph. And th is not alone or so m u c h because we arc num erically stro n g e r th a n th e foe— b u t because “ right th e day m u st win.” T h e m a them a tics of m o r als have as m u ch to do w ith arm ies as the tactics of S c o tt o r liardie. “ Courage m u s t b e born o f con science,” and “ T h rice is h e arm e d who hath his qu a r rel ju s t.” A sense o f r ig h t in m e n enables them to achieve a c ts o f v a lor, which no m e r e physical capacity could ever accom plish. T h e purpose t h a t is begotten o f patriotism an d duty carries w ith it an energy, r e sistless as the lightning and certain as f a te. Coward ice is tlie natural a lly of c r im e — w rong doing and f e a r a r e to each other a s the cloud an d th e rain. “ T h e , wicked flee when no m an pu r s u e th.” . I t is “ tlie th ief doth fear each bush an officer,” an d it is because of this m o ral pow er in h e r e n t in a good cause th a t thc Union arm s m ust succeed. If t h e U n ited States w e re prosecuting, this war to gratify t h e lust o f em p ire, or to satiate revenge, o r to deprive a people of any ef tlie blessings of civilization, or Christianity, or to fasten upon them chains of servitude, w e m ight w ell have misgivings a s to thc isssne. We a r e not fighting for these, or any of these. W e are fighting t o conquer a peace, to subdue a rebellion, to extinguish a treason, to save a country and preserve its liberties. W e are fighting on holy ground, for th e ark o f constitu tional freedom. YVe a r c fighting f o r thc lands which contain tho duit o f o u r l a r t h c r s — th r o u g h which our broad rivers run, a n d over which o u r tow ering m o u n tains cast their protecting shadow. W o a r c fighting to relieve liberty— bcleagured i q t h e house of its pro fessed friends, and firm, stud free, and one forever, have sw o rn “ By our children's golden future, By o a r fathers’ stiiinlcse shield : That wliicli God ami horocs left ue, Yfe will tiorcr, nov«r yield t” .W h e n to this m o ral a s p e c t of tho stru g g le we. add circum stances of m a terial o r physical advantage, it does n o t require t h e gift of pro p h e c y to f o r e tell the end. And first, there n e v e r h a s b e e n in h istory a n instance o f a northern race perm a n e n tly d e f e a ted b y a south e r n one. T h e influences o f clim a te, th e traits of ch a r a c t e r transm itted hy race, or w h a tever otljcr sub tle cause m ay be assigned by students of- nature or philosophy, nave b e e n suflicieut alw a y s to produce th e result. F rom the tim e of A tilla, or even e a r l i e r ; from the days w h e n the monarch o f Assyria over-run A sia/and th e Flm rnohs o f E g y p t c o n q u e red N u b ia and Abyssin ia, t h e r e has beCn n o grand exception t o this general law . W h e n e v e r t h e north w as fairly pitted against th e south, the south succum b ed. W itnei* even th e lai. of t h e Roman E m p ir e , w h e n th e incursions of G o ths a n d Vandals o v e rturned t h e work o f the Cam ara; w itness th e expulsion of t h e Moors f rom S p a in ; w it ness th e superiority o f the northern racea as m a n ifest ed in t h e crusades; w itness Poland sw a llow e d up, de sp i t e of heroic resistance, by R u s sia; w itness th e de fe a t and decline, both long continued, o f the M oslem rule-; w itness Spain and Italy, co n q u e r e d again and ag a in by F ran c e , sod F rance h e r s e lf alw a y s beatea, w h e n r e a lly matched a g a inst E n g land. And will the stars in th e ir c o u rses n o w light fo r S isera ? W ill t h e srd e r o f n a tu r e b e disturbed for th e southern race o n ih is continent ? H a v e n o t south e r n races heretofore established in A m e r ica a l r e a d f I m e lted away before t h e superior prowess, d r l’nettl® j o r skiff, or endurance o f northerners? H a s n o t M ex ico confessed herself subject to this law ? D o n o t { L o u isiana, and F lorida, arid Texas, and C a lifornia at- te s t th a t, no m a tter by wlmm settled, and b y whom claim e d , they m u st belong to the d escendants o f n o r th e r n races ? Who im a g ines that llieir f u tu re history w ill in this r e s p e c t belie thcir past? T h e south has c h o sen t o throw down the g a u n tlet, a n d long as we delayed, bitterly as wo r e g r e tt e d the necessity, the guage is a c c e n ted. T h e fight is o n e t o w h ich, unless nature contradicts herielf, th e r e c a n on ly be one result. T h e cold steady determ ination of t h e tem p e r a te zone, will, now as ever, b e m o re than a m a tch for the im p e tuous but tran s ient enthusiasm o f those who com e from t h e regions of t h e equator.— S n o w cools fire, b u t fire nefer i n f lames sat.. T h e re are, how ever, o t h e r , and y e t m o re m a terial reasons, t o predict a victory for t h c U n ion; reasons th a t need no philosophy o f race nor .historical knowl edge to aid in their discovery or application. Tlio sim p le reason that is told in Rol# Roy’s song, th a t • “ They will Jake wh© have the power. And they will keep tohq can.** Nations have som etim es e r e now had r ig h t on th e ir side and seem ed 4o fail. E x c e p tions m ay have b e e n ap p a r e n t though not real, ev e n to t h o rule j u s t r e f e r red to ; b u t it has been w h e n the preponderance of pow e r lias been so terrib le t h a t there was no resisting i t ; it was because a g r o a ter rule cam e into play — T h is r u le w ill help us now. W e think w e h a v e P r o v iden c e on our side: so perhaps tha» soTOi think of them selves, but we know w e have t h e heaviest a r t i l lery, and “ H e rcules him s e lf m u st y ie ld to odds.” T o back our confidence in our cause w e have th o m ightiest arm ies, the largest hosts, tlie best e q u ipped soldiers, tlie most terrib le e n g ines of w ar. I t is a c o n test b e tw e e n twenty m illions and e ight m illions, and of t h e eight a t Jeait tw o are wishing us to succeed. __ It is a co n test betw een those who are strong in w e a lth of e v e r y sort,—in capital and t h e products o f labor, __ iu tlie r e s u lts of skill a n d tlie achievem ents of philoa- opliy,— in th e hardihood th a t comes from ex e r c ise o f every faculty, physical or m e n tal,—in the confidence that r e s u lts from a knowledge o f this superiority, in reso u r c e s th a t, by a c o m p a rison with those o f o u r e n emy, or o f an y people th a t e v e r went to w a r,-are in i exhaustible. Supplies o f m e n and m eans pour in t i l l governm e n t is em b arrassed to know w h a t to do w ith them . AYc have G e n e rals instructed in th e b e s t schools o f m o d ern warfare, an d troops, at last pro nounced by c o m p e te n t and im p a rtial judges, w o rthy o f com p arison with the best disciplined a rm ies o f con tinen tal E u rope. /- W h a t docs our enem y oppose ? N o t what d id h e oppose a year ago—hut what d o e s lie oppose now ?— L a rg e arm ies, doubtless, com p osed in p a r t o f d e s e c r a t e and hrave m en, who fight knowing t h a t defeat is ruini: b u t arm ies that c a n not b e replenished. T h e ir all as s tak e d on the hazard of a single thro w ; we e u double o u r a rm ies in ninety d a y s . T b e ir stock o f o f fensive w e a p o n s was a t th e ,o u tse t equal to dura, f a r they sto le the best we h a d ; b u t we have taken back th e stolen property, nnd they h a v e no m o re a rsenals to ro b ;— n o foundries w h e re t h e y can c a s t c a n n o n on which th e y dare rely;— n o o u t l e t or in let now by which foreigu sym p athies can supply th c resources th e y have not in themselves. T lieir cities a r e deso late. T h e i r country is in part la i d w a ste; for no ar my,. friendly or hostile, passes o v e r a country w ithout devastating its fields, and spreading ruin am o n g its in habitants. Its people is im p o v e rished. I t s currency is w o rthless. We are constantly producing new inven tions, increasing our power, infusing into our g u i - nery new principles and into ou r guns new force.— They, if by clmnco they h i t upon a principle, have no m e a n s to apply it, and blow u p their Merrimac* while we co v e r t h e rivers and se a s with M o n itors.— T h e y m ass th e ir a rm ies o n ly to withdraw them before yet g r e a ter m asses, nnd throw up m ighty fortifications only to d e s e r t them before still g r e a t e r threatening*: If in the field th e y attack u s and fight well, it fa y e t ever with one r e s u l t : an unexp e c ted movement m ay catch us u n a w a r e s and do us h a r m ; but o u r steadier and more- r e s o lu te m en nev e r fail to find their r e c u perative e n e r g y , and dem o n strate th c ir r e a l courage Ly w ringing a final victory from w h a t a t first seem ed defeat a n d overthrow . T h e s e considerations are controlling on my own judgm ent as t o how thc struggle in which t h c nation is engaged should and will e n d . W h e n th e struggle will t e r m in a te , we cannot d ivine. I f is not iu hum an foresight t o adjust the hour. AYe m ay how ever do much to prolong o r shorten i t . If those o f o u r people who rcm a jn a t home w ithhold their a c tive sym p a thies from the c o n stituted authori ties—if, because th e y happen not to have voted for Mr. Lincoln, th e y a r e indifferent to h is adm inistration o f th e governm e n t,—if political d e f e a t has toured their tem p e r s and engendered h a t e — if, in a word, they give u p t o p a r ty w h at w a s m e a n t for maukihd,— the struggle w ill b e prolonged in th e proportion in which such sentim e n ts are held a n d such conduct m a intained; b u t if, a s one m an, irrespective o f e v e ry lesser consideration, the people fling out th e starry banner to t h e b r e e z e ; if they pray f o r it, talk for i t , work for it, f igh t for i t ; i f they smile o n those who do,, and frown on those who do n o t, the tound aud shock of war w ilt soon cease in the land. Certainly t h e r e is no guilt s o g r e a t a s his, who, re< m aining at hom e , g ives aid and com fort to the enem y , by prating o f p e a c e o r treaty. T h is is n o t tbe ti m e for either, and wlio now talks of eith e r , 1 care n o t who, or what his po litical antecedents, is a n adversary o f the c o u n try’s cause. T h c proper place f a r every m an is am ong those w ith whom he fraternise*, sad a u r forte w ere never s o w e ll employed a s garrisoning, in ghilty com panionship, northern sym p a thisers w ith S o u thern traitors. L e t such a s these ta l k o f com p rom ise, while y e t th e smoke o f the m u r d e r th a t is being done upon our sons stttles heavily upon th e fields w h e r e t h e y fall! Finally, w h a tever else is uncertain,— w h atever is obscure,— w h a tever is involved in doubt,—this one tiling is c lear a n d t settled bey o n d p e r a d v enture,— the pen o f h istory w i ll never w rite the destruction o f th is government i Away down in the age* to com e, millions o f people will shout and sing fo r the Union and its indissolubility. AVhen R o m e a n d ' Gteeee, end tbe glories of R o m e and G reece, shall b e musty toy- tbology, th e con s titu tion of our cou*try*wlU fie tfce' te x t book o f r a tio n a l liberty throughout t b e globe, and our childrens’ c h ildrens’ c h ild r e n s p o s terity make the blue arch o f l l c a v e u resound p ith the a n tbem s e f tbe free. T h e n , ae now, “ Tho SUw-Ki'Siistsd tenner pi triumph (dull w a r s , U’sr UM lsud s f IM n-M ssS Uri I hm m •( ttM hrsvs.11 And as its ibltit, em b lem a tie o f IM lib e r ty i f the race, and i h e unity a n d pow e r o f t b e A m erican people, gracefully kiw t b e w o o ing winds, t b e inheritors e f It* glory, hop th e defenders o f its Wooer, w ith hymn, aad chant, *ndsong, e n d Shout w H l«t*U lng!*,ory « F o r m r flout tlmt >um)iir<l tthatlw” U f Your ch a r e c t c r iieanet fie r e s i s tfaU y 4 g |e f a i ' except by your o w n e c u .
