north america-2-第95章
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ntirety of the work that it has done； I think that we are bound to own that it has been successful。 And now； with regard to this tedious war； of which from day to day we are still； in this month of May； 1862； hearing details which teach us to think that it can hardly as yet be near its end。 To what may we rationally look as its result？ Of one thing I myself feel tolerably certain； that its result will not be nothing； as some among us have seemed to suppose may be probable。 I cannot believe that all this energy on the part of the North will be of no avail； more than I suppose that Southern perseverance will be of no avail。 There are those among us who say that a secession will at last be accomplished； the North should have yielded to the South at once； and that nothing will be gained by their great expenditure of life and treasure。 I can by no means bring myself to agree with these。 I also look to the establishment of secession。 Seeing how essential and thorough are the points of variance between the North and the South； how unlike the one people is to the other； and how necessary it is that their policies should be different； seeing how deep are their antipathies； and how fixed is each side in the belief of its own rectitude and in the belief also of the other's political baseness； I can not believe that the really Southern States will ever again be joined in amicable union with those of the North。 They； the States of the Gulf； may be utterly subjugated； and the North may hold over them military power。 Georgia and her sisters may for awhile belong to the Union； as one conquered country belongs to another。 But I do not think that they will ever act with the Union； and； as I imagine； the Union before long will agree to a separation。 I do not mean to prophesy that the result will be thus accomplished。 It may be that the South will effect their own independence before they lay down their arms。 I think； however； that we may look forward to such independence； whether it be achieved in that way； or in this； or in some other。 But not on that account will the war have been of no avail to the North。 I think it must be already evident to all those who have looked into the matter； that had the North yielded to the first call made by the South for secession all the slave States must have gone。 Maryland would have gone； carrying Delaware in its arms； and if Maryland； all south of Maryland。 If Maryland had gone； the capital would have gone。 If the government had resolved to yield； Virginia to the east would assuredly have gone； and I think there can be no doubt that Missouri； to the west； would have gone also。 The feeling for the Union in Kentucky was very strong； but I do not think that even Kentucky could have saved itself。 To have yielded to the Southern demands would have been to have yielded everything。 But no man now presumes； let the contest go as it will； that Maryland and Delaware will go with the South。 The secessionists of Baltimore do not think so； nor the gentlemen and ladies of Washington； whose whole hearts are in the Southern cause。 No man thinks that Maryland will go； and few； I believe； imagine that either Missouri or Kentucky will be divided from the North。 I will not pretend what may be the exact line； but I myself feel confident that it will run south both of Virginia and of Kentucky。 If the North do conquer the South； and so arrange their matters that the Southern States shall again become members of the Union； it will be admitted that they have done all that they ought to do。 If they do not do thisif instead of doing this； which would be all that they desire； they were in truth to do nothing； to win finally not one foot of ground from the Southa supposition which I regard as impossibleI think that we should still admit after awhile that they had done their duty in endeavoring to maintain the integrity of the empire。 But if； as a third and more probable alternative； they succeed in rescuing from the South and from slavery four or five of the finest States of the old Unionand a vast portion of the continent to be beaten by none other in salubrity； fertility； beauty； and political importancewill it not then be admitted that the war has done some good； and that the life and treasure have not been spent in vain？ That is the termination of the contest to which I look forward。 I think that there will be secession； but that the terms of secession will be dictated by the North； not by the South； and among these terms I expect to see an escape from slavery for those border States to which I have alluded。 In that proposition which in February last （1862） was made by the President； and which has since been sanctioned by the Senate； I think we may see the first step toward this measure。 It may probably be the case that many of the slaves will be driven South； that as the owners of those slaves are driven from their holdings in Virginia they will take their slaves with them； or send them before them。 The manumission； when it reaches Virginia； will not probably enfranchise the half million of slaves who； in 1860； were counted among its population。 But as to that I confess myself to be comparatively careless； it is not the concern which I have now at heart。 For myself； I shall feel satisfied if that manumission shall reach the million of whites by whom Virginia is populated； or if not that million in its integrity； then that other million by which its rich soil would soon be tenanted。 There are now about four million of white men and women inhabiting the slave States which I have described； and I think it will be acknowledged that the Northern States will have done something with their armies if they succeed in rescuing those four millions from the stain and evil of slavery。 There is a third question which I have asked myself； and to which I have undertaken to give some answer。 When this war be over between the Northern and Southern States； will there come upon us a necessity of fighting with the Americans？ If there do come such necessity； arising out of our conduct to the States during the period of their civil war； it will indeed be hard upon us； as a nation； seeing the struggle that we as a nation have made to be just in our dealings toward the States generally； whether they be North or South。 To be just in such a period； and under such circumstances； is very difficult。 In that contest between Sardinia and Austria it was all but impossible to be just to the Italians without being unjust to the Emperor of Austria。 To have been strictly just at the moment one should have begun by confessing the injustice of so much that had gone before！ But in this American contest such justice； though difficult； was easier。 Affairs of trade rather than of treaties chiefly interfered； and these affairs； by a total disregard of our own pecuniary interests； could be so managed that justice might be done。 This I think was effected。 It may be； of course； that I am prejudiced on the side of my own nation； but striving to judge of the matter as best I may without prejudice； I cannot see that we； as a nation； have in aught offended against the strictest justice in our dealings with America during this contest。 But justice has not sufficed。 I do not know that our bitterest foes in the Northern States have accused us of acting unjustly。 It is not justice which they have looked for at our hands； and looked for in vainnot justice； but generosity！ We have not； as they say； sympathized with them in their trouble。 It seems to me that such a complaint is unworthy of them as a nation； as a people； or as individuals。 In such a matter generosity is another name for injustice； as it too often is in all matters。 A generous sympathy with the North would have been an ostensible and crushing enmity to the South。 We could not have sympathized with the North without condemning the South； and telling to the world that the South were our enemies。 In ordering his own household a man should not want generosity or sympathy from the outside； and if not a man； then certainly not a nation。 Generosity between nations must in its very nature be wrong。 One nation may be just to another； courteous to another； even considerate to another with propr
