We
are considering the case still in which the preponderance of advantage
should have remained with the North. It would have been, in that event,
of the first importance that we should retain within the limits of the
North all that portion of the South--by no means inconsiderable in
extent--which has never been thoroughly debauched by Southern
slaveholding opinion and theories of government; where the true American
feeling is still extant; and where a good degree of loyalty to the
Government of the United States has been hitherto exhibited. Such are
especially Delaware, Maryland, Western Virginia, Kentucky, Western North
Carolina, Eastern, and to some extent, Middle Tennessee, Northern
Georgia, Northern Alabama, and Missouri. An important object would have
been, had the power of the North proved inadequate to do more, to secure
this territory within the boundary of the new North, and upon such terms
as to give strength and new impetus to the freedom-loving sentiment
there extant. A second object would have been the retention of
Washington City, to be used, at least for the time being, as the capital
of the country; avoiding the disgrace of being driven from that centre
of national authority; and to secure it on terms in respect to
territorial arrangement which should prevent it from being continually
threatened from the South. To this end, it would have been necessary
that the boundary be carried far enough south to include a portion of
Northern and Northeastern Virginia, as thoroughly imbued at that day
with slaveholding faith and practice, and as little loyal, perhaps, as
any portion of the South--a region, however, which at this time has been
so completely devastated by the operations of the war, that it would be
readily liable to be resettled from the North, and made into an
efficient military border.
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