Perchance the nobler civilization of the South will arise in its might, and, in concert with the real North, adopt some wise and conciliatory policy for the whole country which will sacrifice no right of the people and impair no hope of the Republic; and then hold in the few revolting states from secession. If so, the hour of freedom has indeed struck, and the knell of despotism in this Union is tolled. Let us pray for the wisdom, justice, love that shall regenerate us from our sins, and overrule our transgressions in the past, to the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth, and the uplifting of His best creature—man.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.