Another Blast from the "Independent"
The New York
Independent (Abolition) has an other article against the
Government, of which the following extracts are mild specimens:
The duty of Today.
In the beginning of this great struggle, the question among loyal men was. How shall we save it is nation ? One year of fighting and the question is, Whether we can save it?
That is the question of to day.
We do not write to blame, but to judge.
Unless we are wiser than we have been.
We have outlived our nation.
Look at facts.
The South has had more than wisdom, civil and military; she has had sagacity.
After
Mr. Lincoln's election, not one single State, except
South Carolina, cast a popular majority for secession.
Yet every State seceded except
Delaware,
Maryland, and
Kentucky.
There was a divided public mind, a large undertone Union feeling in the
South even after the war began.
It is absurd to talk of any such thing now — There never was such a revolution of popular feeling on record.
Dislike has become hatred.
With insignificant exceptions, the
South is a unit in intense and unchangeable hatred of the
North.
By volunteers, by drafting, and by conscription, she has placed in the field an extraordinary force.
With all her seaports scaled, with no important foundries, straitened for every single element in the manufacture of munitions and equipments, the
South has armed her men so formidably that our
Generals would rather lie behind breastworks than meet them in the field.
Accustomed to import from the
North almost every article of living, the
South has become in a day a manufacturer of Iron, of cloth, of wood, of leather, of chemicals, enough, at least, for all military purposes.
Cumbered with a dangerous population of four million slaves, whose instincts, interests, and secret wishes are wholly, or largely, adverse, the
South has extracted from this element a double power, moral and physical.
Playing upon the political superstition of the
North.
she has hindered its movements at every step, by interposing the slavery question — knowing that for two generations men had been educated to yield everything — principle, interest, patriotism — rather than meddle with ‘ "Southern rights"’ of slavery.
******
What has been the fruit of this year's conduct?
We are not so near a settlement as we were at the beginning.
The South, with all her losses, and under difficulties that would have appalled and disheartened any common people, is more united, has a larger army in the field (more comfortably provided for, and better managed) than she had a year ago.
The South is more formidable to-day than she was when she beleaguered
Washington, held
Tennessee,
Missouri, and half of
Kentucky.
She is united; while every day the leaven of old malignant political parties is working disaffection, at the bottom, in the
North.
The South has simplicity and unity of purpose.
The
North is uncertain which she wishes most — to subdue the rebellion, to leave slavery unharmed, or to have the right
President at the next election!
The South adjourns every question and post pones every interest in favor of arms.
The
North is busy with conflicting schemes and interests; and is also mildly carrying on war.
Does anybody doubt the result of such a course?
It is so certain, that it is not worth our while to waste another man or another dollar!
Either the Administration policy should instantly change, or the war cease!
It is not more vigor, so much as different internal idea.
If the Administration cannot be disenchanted of the traditional policy that has grown up during the heartless, timid, compromising era of the last half century, and adopt the simple and straightforward policy that becomes a people striving for liberty and free institutions upon the
American continent — then we are doomed!
It is war that we are making — war first, war second, war wholly!
It is not politics.
It is not constitution making.
It is not the decision of legal niceties.
These are not the business of Government as toward the
South.
It is war, absolute, terrible, and immeasurable war.
The South has organized on the fact of slavery, and fights on that issue, pure and simple.
The
North must organize on the doctrine of liberty, and fight right through on that issue, pure and simple.
The South sacrifices everything that conflicts with her central idea.
The
North must do the same — The South is not ashamed of slavery.
The
North must not be ashamed of liberty!
Under such circumstances, we hold:
1. That it was unwise to call for 300,000 volunteers.
The day has gone by for that.
The Administration should have drafted half a million of men for instant service, and half a million more as reserves.
It will waste months of time and spend millions of money, and encourage growing discontent, and expend precious popular enthusiasm — and then be obliged to draft.
It was not prudent?
The people might be discontented?
To this is replied: It was, and is necessary.
The people must consent to that or dismemberment!
This call for volunteers is one more step in that just behind-the time policy which has marked the war. Volunteering would have sufficed early in the war, had the Administration been wise according to the exigency.
They did not want the men that wanted to go. Now the men do not want to go. Drafting now will succeed.
Wait four months and that will have become four-fold more difficult than now. Always behind!
