THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 11 tism. They felt, in short, that it was chimerical to suppose that two Powers could live side by side in peace who had not yet made real trial of their respective strength — who were separated radically, notwithstanding their common tongue and origin, by the institution of slavery—the one wishing its development and the other its abolition—who were separated, also, by interests which no Custom House line could conciliate, and by the impossibility of regulating, without daily quarrels, the numerous questions connected with the navigation of the Western rivers. All these reasons, obvious to every mind, added to the pain of wounded self-love, and to the novelty of a warlike movement in that land of peace, resulted in setting- on foot the immense armament with which the Northern States have up to this day sustained the war against the powerful efforts of Secession. Let us pause here before passing on to the numerous criticisms that we shall have to make, to admire the energy, the devotion, the spirit of courageous self-denial with which the population of those States—rather leading the Government than led by it—has of itself, and under the single impulse of its patriot?? good sense, given uncounted men and money, sacrificed its comforts, renounced voluntarily and for the public good, its tastes, its habits, even to the freedom of the press, and that, too, not under the influence of a momentary passion, not in a transport of transient enthusiasm, but coolly and for a distant object—that of national greatness. The North went seriously to work to create an army—a grand army. Seconded by public opinion, Congress resolved upon the raising of five hundred thousand men, with the funds necessary for the purpose. Unfortunately it could not command the traditions, the training and the experience requisite to form and manage such a military force. It was able to collect masses of men and immense material, as if by enchantment; but it had not the power to create by a vote
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