6 phleteer declares that every Northern Democrat is in duty bound to acknowledge the right of the South to establish a government on the consent of the governed. “Americanism ” is not exclusively American. The Netherlanders pronounced it long ago, and we ask has this principle reference to the foundation of a government and the permanent enacting of laws, or to each case in which government acts? Far the greater portion of all business which a government has to perform, consists in making certain people do what they do not consent to. If a policeman collars a pickpocket, must he let off’the offender in all cases in which the criminal does not consent to be collared, which I suppose would form the majority of cases? Lastly, I would mention the argument of sentimentality. The Southerners are our brethren, we are told—let us not imbrue our hands in the blood of our brethren, even if they are erring ones. A cut-throat is our brother, too, before the Most High, who alone can distinguish which of us is essentially the greatest sinner, weighing education, temptation, and want; but this does not prevent a Judge from sentencing him if duly convicted. Blood is a sad thing, but it can not always be prevented, nor is it the worst thing. The sentimentality argument seems so futile that it would not have been referred to, were it not very frequently used by our peace men, who in truth ought to call themselves piece men, for what they drive at, or what the adoption of their measures would surely lead to, is the hewing and hacking of our country to pieces. Let us put our utmost zeal to our coming election, so that, among other things, the draft be carried out fairly, fully, and honestly. It is necessary, and becomes the more urgently so, the nearer we draw to the end ; for we must fill up our regiments gallantly thinning before the enemy, and we shall stand in need of a large army for the period when the country shall pass from the state of tumultuous rebellion to returning and supported peace and order. The flattering violence with which I have occasionally been assailed, might induce some people to believe that my authority must be of some weight. I am far from claiming it, but I ask, nevertheless, permission to state, in conclusion, that in my deliberate opinion the draft is constitutional, legal, and necessary ; that England has never given up the right of drafting, and ab
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=