The origin and
conditions out of which it arose, are full of lessons, full of
warnings yet to the Republic--and always will be. The underlying and
principal of those origins are yet singularly ignored. The Northern
States were really just as responsible for that war, (in its
precedents, foundations, instigations,) as the South. Let me try to
give my view. From the age of 21 to 40, (1840-'60,) I was interested
in the political movements of the land, not so much as a participant,
but as an observer, and a regular voter at the elections. I think I
was conversant with the springs of action, and their workings, not
only in New York city and Brooklyn, but understood them in the whole
country, as I had made leisurely tours through all the middle States,
and partially through the western and southern, and down to New
Orleans, in which city I resided for some time. (I was there at the
close of the Mexican war--saw and talk'd with General Taylor, and the
other generals and officers, who were feted and detain'd several days
on their return victorious from that expedition.)
Of course many and very contradictory things, specialties,
developments, constitutional views, &c., went to make up the origin of
the war--but the most significant general fact can be best indicated
and stated as follows: For twenty-five years previous to the
outbreak, the controling "Democratic" nominating conventions of our
Republic--starting from their primaries in wards or districts, and
so expanding to counties, powerful cities, States, and to the great
Presidential nominating conventions--were getting to represent and be
composed of more and more putrid and dangerous materials.
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