13 the North. The view of the South is, that a part or parts have a right to alter, when it or they choose. Before that great blazing sun of governmental structure, the mere question of slavery is a gone-out star. The North feel, that whether it were, or whether it were not, the very refinement of cruelty, to turn the slaves, like children, out into the streets of freedom, to shift for themselves, that the Christian care or the neglect—the bondage or the freedom of all the slaves in the world is as nothing to the downfall of this great country, upon the success of which hang the dearest earthly hopes, and apon which the grandest development of enlightened man depends ; that if it be for the present highest interest of the black man—of four millions of them—the South are fighting, it is against the highest present and prospective interest of the white man—and of two hundred and fifty millions of them—they are fighting. How stands the case, then? The party of the South say :—Our fathers fought for and maintained their independence. They were a minority, as we are. Governments derive their just powers only from the consent of the governed. We no longer give our consent We are in the position of our fathers. We detest the government which is over us. We have the same right to independence if we wish it When we as individual States do not like our common govern, ment we each have a right to throw it ofi‘ and organize such government as we please, or as we think will protect ourselves and our property better. Whether such will protect us better is no one's business but oum The party of the North say :—We are all indeed a free people; but we are also a one five people— an individual, which cannot recognize its own suicide. Our fathers «wa minority, but they fought for the principle of the representation at least of that minority in the councils of the nation ; as a minority they concluded the war with Feudalism, whose spirit was to allow no representation, either to majorities or minorities. Our fathers of the Revolution indeed secured to us freedom ; but if such construction is to la* placed on that “ liberty to govern ourselves,’’ as tliat a one nation already five and governing itself by the voice of a majority, may break up, or be broken up into ita
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