m the North have in many instances of late
been treated at the South, does not encourage the hope and prospect of
amicable intercourse. This is certainly so; and therefore what have we
to look for but everlasting hatred and strife? and that whether we be
one nation or two confederacies.

A distinguished Southern gentleman came home from his visit to the
North, where he had received great attentions, and he filled his hearers
with his enthusiastic admiration of us for our wonderful ingenuity in
all the arts of life.

"It is astonishing," said he, "how they work everything into shape, and
create instruments for their purposes. But," said he, "there is one
thing in which they are deficient. They are omnipotent with matter, but
they do not know how to govern men. If they did," said he, "there would
be no chance for us in any form of contest with them."

I was much entertained, and I said to him that I supposed his remarks
would need qualification on both sides; but I was greatly impressed, as
I often am here, with the secret, strong attachment which there is in
Southern hearts to the North as a part of the country, irrespective of
its anti-slavery views and feelings. Its climate and institutions and
arts and scenery are adapted to their diversified wants. "The North and
the South, Thou hast created them." God made the North for the South,
and the South for the North, and our acts of non-intercourse are in
violation of his will. We are in a war of "conscience," inflamed by
doctrinal error on our part. It allows no "conscience" to the other
side. The state of our "consciences" at the North is jury, judge, and
executioner. There is no "conscience," we think, in Southern churches,
ministers, judges, citizens, except that which is defiled. Probably
there is not on earth this day a greater despot, or one more prepared
for inquisitorial proceedings, than "Northern Conscience."

No doubt I should be contented and happy to be a slave-holder, had I
been born and bred here, but I rejoice that I belong to a free state. I
love to think of my capable girls, my "help." at home, who make the
household go like clock-work, instead of having a swarm of servants who
do only half as much, and only half as well. I am glad, too, that my
children live in a climate favorable to labor, and are not born to be
waited upon. But I am ashamed of those who erect these things into an
invidious comparison, and with a supercilious, reproachful spirit. God