standpoint I unite my voice of lamentation with yours; for it seems
truly a mournful sight to behold, spread out to the gaze of the world,
the history of a nation's folly, written in letters of blood. But I
look at the brighter side of this distorted photograph. With the eye of
_faith_ at least I can discern the hand of _Providence_ shifting the
scenes. This may seem strange, that a partition wall should be erected
in the Temple of Liberty, once an asylum for an oppressed world. That
the "Stars and Stripes"--the (once) badge of freedom, gracing the bosom
of every sea--should be riddled from its staff and another substituted
in its stead. Not less strange, however, did thousands of good
Englishmen deem it, to behold the proud "British Lion" quail before his
foe of "the wilderness," and the "Magna Charta" rent in twain. We must
look upon it then as an exercise of God's retributive justice for our
Sins as a people, or, that He designs that He shall ultimately be the
more glorified by the separation. In the former case of course I take
it that the _North_ will receive the awful visitation, for although
offences must needs come, yet, woe be unto him through whom they come!
In the latter condition the South is destined to become what (& indeed
far more than) the whole America _once_ was to the world. This
Government was far too large to prosper well for many years; or at
least comp^d to England (prosper), France and Spain, & Russia itself;
but especially should we be divided into 2 great gov's since we have
_virtually been so_, as to our domestic institutions, and many of our
social customs, for many, many years. It is true we did exist many
years also in commercial and social prosperity, & might have continued
to maintain such a happy condition had not the "green-eyed monster,
jealousy, reared his horrid front." Yes, it was in great part
_jealousy_. You yourself have admitted (& rightly) that our great
Ancestors were wiser than we. Well when they formed the _Original
Confed^y_ they were the Rep's[3] of _Slave States_, with _one
exception_. They did not deem it _wrong_ in itself, or they would have
abolished it--at least would not have made the "Fugitive S. Law" _for
its protection_. After a while, however, it _did not pay_ to keep
Slavery in Northern climates, & it was abolished _instanter_. Why then
was it that it became such a monstrous crime in their eyes? Wherein was
the consistency? Partisans became jealous of the wealth