to know what to do. Prevention is
excellent; but cure is next to impossible. So long as there is a general
acquiescence in the exercise of executive power against
insurrectionists, one or more, we have a general government; but when
States depart, we are a house divided against itself. We find that we
have been living, as it were, not so much under paternal authority, as
under fraternal rule. If broken irretrievably, the alternative is to be
divided, or for one part of the country to coerce its neighbors and
brethren. This we find to be extremely inconvenient and really
impracticable without civil war; and after the war,--whose horrors, in
our case, can never be pictured,--we would either find ourselves in the
same divided state as before, or if politically united, it will have
been effected at a cost which it is fearful to contemplate.

"So that we are illustrating the question, whether such a government as
ours is really practicable,--whether a people can govern themselves.
Already we hear it said, 'We have no government.' The explanation is, We
are not disposed to destroy each other's lives to preserve the
confederation. We can have a monarchy, with its 'divine right,' and with
its standing army, if we choose; or, if we remain as a republic, we must
be liable to just our present exigency. Our only defence, then,
consists in mutual conciliation and agreement.

"What a land this is," said I, "with its diversified interests and its
unparalleled variety of products,--its agriculture, mechanic arts,
science, and literature. Separation will embarrass every form of
intercourse, and make us hostile."

"Jews and Samaritans," said Mrs. North. "And all for an idea!"

"Yes," said I, "and for an idea which to one whole section, and to a
very large part of the people in the other section, is false.--Four
millions of negroes are destroying us. As a foreign writer said, 'In
trying to give liberty to the negro, we are losing our own.'"

Said Mrs. North, "Can nothing be done to save us?"

"Bishop Butler tells us, Mrs. North," said I, "that a nation may be
insane as well as an individual. But reason seems to be returning in
some quarters. Secession and its consequences are having a wonderful
effect to open the eyes of people. John Brown's foray and its end were a
providential demonstration of certain errors, which we may conclude will
not soon be revived. Secession is now leading the world to look more
narrowly into the subject o