April 2, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
CHARLES FOX observed that ‘civil wars were the most bloody of all revolutions.’ The reasons are obvious. Restoration implies infraction. A government rent in twain, the people, once living under it together, become enemies. Nothing but some great cause – some violent oppression or abuse – can produce such a state of things. Every people are opposed to change. They will long tolerate abuses, and strive long to rectify them, before they will resort to resistance and revolution. It is the last remedy of desperation, putting up life and property […..] the hazard of the die.’ And when such an issue is made up between those who have long been friends, united under the same government – when the consciousness of wrong is quickened by a cutting sense of perfidy – when, instead of justice, we find injustice – instead of forbearance, aggression – instead of protection, persecution – instead of love, hate – and hate, armed with the implements of war for subjugation or destruction – human nature rises up and demands wrong for wrong – blood for blood.
The war between the United States and the Confederate States is a war for restoration on the part of the United States. They are fighting us to force us into a restoration of the Union with them. It is true, the Constitution, under which that Union existed, is abolished. The object of that Constitution, and of our Union with them, is also abolished. Liberty, free government, no longer exist under the military despotism they have erected over themselves; and, if the Confederate States could be forced into a re-union with them it would not be even the one-sided, injurious, Union which has been dissolved. It must be a Union between a conquering and a conquered race – a Union not of sovereign States, but of military departments, under a despotic government – a Union, not secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, but to perpetuate political slavery. It is this sort of [……] the United States propose to force upon the Confederate States. It is a restoration of Union, but a restoration of nothing else. Indeed, no people who have ever dissolved their political connection, have ever been again united upon the terms of their original Union. It is impossible. A war of coercion establishes new relations – in their feelings, in their politic status, in their necessary antagonism – which no statesmanship can ignore or obviate. A new government would have to be put in operation, to meet the totally altered relations war and subjugation must produce. If the United States could conquer the Confederate States, they must take a master in making one for us; and even that material prosperity for which they consent to be debased, in order to force their Union upon us, would, in all probability, prove illusory. Despotisms are usually very costly. The love of dominion, producing wars for extension – the pomp of power – the luxury of sensuality – armies of attendant slaves, or hireling soldiery – must accumulate expenditures out of all proportion to the resources of a country; and the consummation of the grand restoration sought to be established between the United and the Confederate States, if it could be successful, would only be one dead level of slavery, poverty and misery. An avenging Nemesis pursues the murderers of a nation independence and liberty.
But the idea of restoring the Union by subduing the people of the Confederate States, is a reckless venture. It is not a deduction of sober reason drawn from facts. It is a desperate speculation, based upon a presumptuous ignorance of the Southern people and of their resources. This war rests upon the hypothesis that we are a fickle, indolent, improvident and luxurious race, heated up with jealousy and incapable of persistent, earnest and sagacious effort. It is grounded upon the opinion that the Southern States are Virginias’ and Carolinas,’ destitute of material wealth and self-sustaining energy. The People and Government of the North are driven by interest, ambition and fanaticism. They will test the truth of their opinions concerning the South, and are willing to pay the price of the experiment, cost what it may. Beginning with Protection to their industry, Bounties, a centre of Credit, Internal Improvement appropriations, they have gone on, step by step, to use the Government for the aggrandisement of their section and the reduction of the South, until despising us and foolishly electing a President pledged to anti-slavery, they have driven us to self- preservation and independence. Losing their prey by their own self-delusion, ignorance and conceit, they have lost their prudence and resorted to violent measures. They have undertaken a forced restoration of the Union by the shedding of blood, and intend to see this policy through to the bitter end….
With this spirit abroad in the North, our strength and resources, as a people, are on trial. The days of compromise have, we trust, passed The people of the South are fighting for present and future generations; for the status of the Slave-holding Republic of America; for the respectability and prospects and hopes of our people in all time. Let us so defend ourselves, that the citizens of the Confederate States shall, henceforward, have a country, a name and a position in the civilized world. The conduct of our People and their Government now must establish our future relations, and settle our affairs for liberty, peace and prosperity.