Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Something Up

Amid these tidings of carnage, which will cast their shadows upon every household in the land should not the nation pause? Has not the sacrifice been already enough? Is it not the duty of the wise and the good men of all sections to exert their influence to bring to a termination this unnatural and suicidal strife between those who should live together as brothers, with a common ancestry and a common fame? Or will madness rule until only exhaustion brings peace? –{State Sentinel, April 10.

Why should the nation pause in the suppression of the rebellion and the enforcement of the laws? Why should the nation pause until the rebels have time to recuperate and reorganize their disorganized and fleeing armies? The nation has already paused too much and too long. Had President Buchanan not paused so long it would doubtless have been far better. The Sentinel well knows that there is now but one method to terminate this “unnatural and suicidal strife,” and that is by vigorous and overwhelming war. This unholy rebellion can not be put down by “pauses and compromises,” but only by “coercion” at the point of the bayonet or by the sword. There is no other cure for the disease. Does the Sentinel thinl that the sacrifice has been enough to give up and let the rebels have their own way, unless they will kindly propose a compromise that will acknowledge the Union dissolved or humiliated? If not, what would it have the nation do after the “pause?” –{Hancock Democrat.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2

No comments: