north america-2-第72章
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the sleeve； at the nature of this national joy； I am not prepared to say that it is altogether ridiculous。 If the country be found able and willing to pay the bill； this triumph in the amount of the cost will hereafter be regarded as having been anything but ridiculous。 In private life an individual will occasionally be known to lavish his whole fortune on the accomplishment of an object which he conceives to be necessary to his honor。 If the object be in itself good； and if the money be really paid； we do not laugh at such a man for the sacrifices which he makes。 For myself； I think that the object of the Northern States in this war has been good。 I think that they could not have avoided the war without dishonor； and that it was incumbent on them to make themselves the arbiters of the future position of the South； whether that future position shall or shall not be one of secession。 This they could only do by fighting。 Had they acceded to secession without a civil war； they would have been regarded throughout Europe as having shown themselves inferior to the South； and would for many years to come have lost that prestige which their spirit and energy had undoubtedly won for them； and in their own country such submission on their part would have practically given to the South the power of drawing the line of division between the two new countries。 That line； so drawn； would have given Virginia； Maryland； Kentucky； and Missouri to the Southern Republic。 The great effect of the war to the North will be； that the Northern men will draw the line of secession； if any such line be drawn。 I still think that such line will ultimately be drawn； and that the Southern States will be allowed to secede。 But if it be so； Virginia； Maryland； Kentucky； and Missouri will not be found among these seceding States； and the line may not improbably be driven south of North Carolina and Tennessee。 If this can be so； the object of the war will； I think； hereafter be admitted to have been good。 Whatever may be the cost in money of joining the States which I have named to a free…soil Northern people； instead of allowing them to be buried in that dismal swamp which a confederacy of Southern slave States will produce； that cost can hardly be too much。 At the present moment there exists in England a strong sympathy with the South； produced partly by the unreasonable vituperation with which the North treated our government at the beginning of the war； and by the capture of Mason and Slidell； partly also by that feeling of good…will which a looker on at a combat always has for the weaker side。 But； although this sympathy does undoubtedly exist； I do not imagine that many Englishmen are of opinion that a confederacy of Southern slave States will ever offer to the general civilization of the world very many attractions。 It cannot be thought that the South will equal the North in riches； in energy； in education； or general well…being。 Such has not been our experience of any slave country； such has not been our experience of any tropical country； and such especially has not been our experience of the Southern States of the North American Union。 I am no abolitionist； but to me it seems impossible that any Englishman should really advocate the cause of slavery against the cause of free soil。 There are the slaves； and I know that they cannot be abolishedneither they nor their chains； but； for myself； I will not willingly join my lot with theirs。 I do not wish to have dealings with the African negro； either as a free man or as a slave； if I can avoid them； believing that his employment by me in either capacity would lead to my own degradation。* Such； I think； are the feelings of Englishmen generally on this matter。 And if such be the case； will it not be acknowledged that the Northern men have done well to fight for a line which shall add five or six States to that Union which will in truth be a union of free men； rather than to that confederacy which； even if successful； must owe its success to slavery？
* In saying this I fear that I shall be misunderstood； let me use what foot note or other mode of protestation I may to guard myself。 In thus speaking of the African negro； I do not venture to despise the work of God's hands。 That He has made the negro； for His own good purposes； as He has the Esquimaux； I am aware。 And I am aware that it is my duty； as it is the duty of us all； to see that no injury be done to him； and； if possible； to assist him in his condition。 When I declare that I desire no dealings with the negro； I speak of him in the position in which I now find him； either as a free servant or a slave。 In either position he impedes the civilization and the progress of the white man。
In considering this matter it must be remembered that the five or six States of which we are speaking are at present slave States； but that； with the exception of Virginiaof part only of Virginiathey are not wedded to slavery。 But even in Virginiagreat as has been the gain which has accrued to that unhappy State from the breeding of slaves for the Southern marketeven in Virginia slavery would soon die out if she were divided from the South and joined to the North。 In those other States； in Maryland； in Kentucky； and in Missouri； there is no desire to perpetuate the institution。 They have been slave States； and as such have resented the rabid abolition of certain Northern orators。 Had it not been for those orators； and their oratory； the soil of Kentucky would now have been free。 Those five or six States are now slave States； but a line of secession drawn south of them will be the line which cuts off slavery from the North。 If those States belong to the North when secession shall be accomplished； they will belong to it as free States； but if they belong to the South； they will belong to the South as slave States。 If they belong to the North； they will become rich as the North is； and will share in the education of the North。 If they belong to the South； they will become poor as the South is； and will share in the ignorance of the South。 If we presume that secession will be accomplishedand I for one am of that opinionhas it not been well that a war should be waged with such an object as this？ If those five or six States can be gained； stretching east and west from the Atlantic to the center of the continent； hundreds of miles beyond the Mississippi； and north and south over four degrees of latitudeif that extent of continent can be added to the free soil of the Northern territory； will not the contest that has done this have been worth any money that can have been spent on it？ So much as to the object to be gained by the money spent on the war！ And I think that in estimating the nature of the financial position which the war has produced it was necessary that we should consider the value of the object which has been in dispute。 The object； I maintain； has been good。 Then comes the question whether or no the bill will be fairly paidwhether they who have spent the money will set about that disagreeable task of settling the account with a true purpose and an honest energy。 And this question splits itself into two parts。 Will the Americans honestly wish to pay the bill； and if they do so wish； will they have the power to pay it？ Again that last question must be once more divided。 Will they have the power to pay； as regards the actual possession of the means； and if possessing them； will they have the power of access to those means？ The nation has obtained for itself an evil name for repudiation。 We all know that Pennsylvania behaved badly about her money affairs； although she did at last pay her debts。 We all know that Mississippi has behaved very badly about her money affairs； and has never paid her debts； nor does she intend to pay them。 And； which is worse than this； for it applies to the nation generally and not to individual States； we all know that it was made a matter of boast in the States that in the event of a war with England the enormous amount of property held by Englishmen in the States should be confiscated。 That boast was especially made in the mercantile City of New York； and when the matter was discussed it seemed as though
