Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/130

 124 Southern Historical Society Papers.

which that cry everywhere raised the Northern miUtia responded with alacrity, the South was invaded, and a war of subjugation, destined to be the most gigantic which the world has ever seen, was begun by the Federal Government against the seceding States, in complete and amazing disregard of the foundation principle of its own existence, as aflirmed in the Declaration of Independence, that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the gov- erned," and as established by the war of the Revolution for the people of the States respectively. The South accepted the contest thus forced upon her with the eager and resolute courage characteristic of her proud-spirited people. But the Federal Government, though weak in right, was strong in power ; for it was sustained by the mighty and muldtudinous North. In effect, the war became one be- tween the States ; between the Northern States, represented by the Federal Government, upon the one side ; and the Southern States, represented by the Confederate Government, upon the other — the border Southern States being divided.

The odds in numbers and means in favor of the North were tre- mendous. Her white population of nearly twenty millions was four- fold that of the strictly Confederate territory ; and from the border Southern States and communities of Missouri, Kentucky, East Ten- nessee, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, she got more men and supplies for her armies than the Confederacy got for hers. Ken- tucky alone furnished as many men to the Northern armies as Mas- sachusetts. In available money and credit, the advantage of the North was vastly greater than in population, and it included the pos- session of all the chief centres of banking and commerce. Then she had the possession of the old government, its capital, its army and navy, and mostly, its arsenals, dockyards, and workshops, with all their supplies of arms and ordnance, and military and naval stores of every kind and the means of manufacturing the same. Again, the North, as a manufacturing and mechanical people, abounded in fac- tories and workshops of every kind, immediately available for the manufacture of every species of supplies for the army and navy ; while the South, as an agricultural people, were almost wanting in such resources. Finally, in the possession of the recognized govern- ment, the North was in full and free communication with all nations, and had full opportunity, which she improved to the utmost, to im- port and bring in from abroad not only supplies of all kinds, but men as well for her service ; while the South, without a recognized govern- ment, and with her ports speedily blockaded by the Federal navy.