DEDICATION".
IV
Therefore, there are two apparent rudiments to this war. One is Slavery and the other is State Rights. But the latter is only a cover for the former. If Slavery were out of the way there would be no trouble from State Rights. It is an insane attempt is for Slaver}', and nothing else. by arms the lordship which had been already asserted in With mad-cap audacity it seeks to install this Barbarism as the
The war,
then,
to vindicate
debate.
Slavery
truest Civilization.
new
edifice.
This
is
is
declared to be the "corner-stone" of the
enough.
The question is thus presented between Barbarism and Civilization ; not merely between two different forms of Civilization, but between Barbarism on the one side and Civilization on the other side. If you are for Barbarism, If join the Rebellion, or, if you can not join it, give it your sympathies. you are for Civilization, stand by the Government of your country with mind, soul, heart, and might
!
On the one side are women and children on the auction-block families rudely separated ; human flesh lacerated and seamed by the bloody scourge labor extorted without wages and all this Such
the issue simply stated.
is
frightful,
many-sided wrong
is
the declared foundation of a
mock common-
On the other side is the Union of our Fathers, with the image of "Liberty" on its coin and the sentiment of Liberty in its Constitution, now arrayed under a patriotic Government, which insists that no such mock Commonwealth, having such a declared foundation, shall be permitted on our territory, purchased with money and blood, to impair the unity of our jurisdiction and to insult the moral sense of mankind. Therefore, the battle which is now waged by the Union is for Civilization itself, and it must have aid and God-speed from all who are not openly for There is no word of peace, no tone of gentleness, no whisper Barbarism. of humanity, which does not become trumpet-tongued against the Rebellion. War itself seems to " smooth its wrinkled front" as it undertakes the chamThe armed soldier becomes a minister of pionship of such a cause.
wealth.
mercy. " The Cid was in the midst, his shout was heard afar I am Rui Diez, the champion of Bivar Strike amongst them, gentlemen, for sweet mercy's sake.".
In the name of mercy, strike, young men, so that the revolting Barbawhich began the war, shall disappear forever. Anything less than this
rism,
will be
an abandonment of duty.
CHARLES SUMNER. Washington, 4th July, 1863.