During the war of the revolution no persons did us more injury, or proved to me more malicious and dangerous foes, than those found in our midst – the tories. They annoyed us on every side, by weakening our army at home and giving aid and comfort abroad. We need not go far to find their antitypes among us. We have been compelled into a war by those who wielded the political interests of the country for more than half a century. It is now understood, and generally believed, that the present civil war originated with those who were jealous of political power which the[y] saw was on the wane, and would finally be taken from them, owing to the progress of free principles among the people.
He must be blind to the working of the leaders of that great political party in the United States, not to be apprised of the fact, that so long as all the wheels of the Government were well oiled by the Democracy, and kept in motion exclusively by their hands, they were satisfied with the Union and the Constitution. But the first evidences they practically had of a change in the administration, determined them in their course for the future. They valued the party more than they did the Union; and if one was to be sacrificed they did not long hesitate which should go down. We do not speak of individuals, but simply of the party. It was an overgrown, tyrannical and oppressive power in our midst. It was the chief element that sustained the dying fortunes of the slave-ocracy – in fact, its last and only hope. When this was broken, secession followed. It was like the letting out of pent-up waters, threatening to destroy everything in their course. They were held back by this power only to increase their violence. The day would come, and every shrewd statesman of the land knew that it was inevitable. But it could have been met and adjusted by the pen and the tongue – the Democracy unsheathed the sword.
It is evident that there were two parties in the South, who looked at the question of slavery from different stand-points. The one simply as property, the other as political capital. The latter prevailed, and hence this insurrection. Those who still adhere to the old party in the North, look at the question from a political stand-point. What care they for the property view of the matter? The fewest of them have any personal interest in it. But the power of party has prevailed over the better feelings of their nature, and freedom, country, the defence of ancient laws and honorable institutions, and all the sacred safeguards of a nation, have been jeopardized by them.
Let it be remembered that those who still cling to the rotten principles which gave vitality to the party, are now with the rebels, and are aiding them as far as they can in their desperate and suicidal work. They will share in their down fall and disgrace. The very attempts on their part of identifying the President with their ruined fortunes, show that they are not insensible to the danger which threatens then. The demagogue-ism of the party is dead, with here and there a galvanic editorial spasm, without the hope of a revival. The leaders North which to find a plank to save them amid the wreck of all their hopes, but this is denied them. They will sink so deep that no sounding line will ever reach them.
The evils of failure in a civil war are greater than in a foreign one, also the probabilities of success. The great North in this struggle will be successful, and its strength will be increased a thousand fold; while the South will become enfeebled and finally so poor that non will do it reverence. These results are certain. Let then every man be faithful to his country, stand by it to the last, and leave a clean record for his children.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 2
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