22 some truant Southron, trusting in our tolerance, ventures among us for a refuge from his troublesome tribes, and sees with his amazed eyes what he would never else have believed, that we are neither perished nor perishing. We may not be able to explain it thoroughly to ourselves, for it is one of those strange phenomena in political economy which prove it to be the most perplexed of anything that was ever called a science. Yet so it is, a magnificent verity and a magnificent refutation of another great mistake of the rebellion. I name one more delusion, the most fatal and hopeless of all on which this melancholy cause leaned its weight. It was fondly believed that the system of slavery would be secured beyond all touch and meddling from the officious North henceforward. For this the rebellion was plotted. The Confederacy was organized with slavery for its corner-stone. It was the grand peculiarity which was to signalize it above all other political systems —inaugurate a new era in government, and realize the beau ideal of the social state. The Confederacy was to perpetuate the constant distinction between lord and serf—between power and submission. I know no example of the blinding effect of passion on the intellect, or of the perversion of the conscience by pride, than such a purpose de
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