Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

The New Nation.--We have all witnessed the sudden transformation of the scene-painter's art — a whistle, a creak of a wheel, and in place of a cottage, a palace!--a sighing maiden is followed by an exultant conqueror; and seeing these delusions of the canvas, we have accustomed ourselves to look upon it as a trick of the drama, and never in our experience to be paralleled by the actual. We are to see all strange things in the 19th century, and of the very strangest is the sudden change of a Northern people from a race of quiet, patient, much-enduring, calm, “consistent members of the Peace Society,” willing to compromise to the last possible interpolation of the Constitution, to a gathering of armed men, backing up courage by cash, and coming together with a union of the purse and the sword, which is to be one of the most remarkable chapters that history ever wrote.

The Macaulay of American annals will record that in one brief, earnest, intense ten of days, the chain of party melted; the organization of party shivered; the leaders of opposing opinions were as brethren; Seward, Douglas, Dix, even Caleb Cushing, wrote a full acquittance of past political strife, and declared that the life of their political doctrine was the preservation of the country's honor. Who shall ever despair of a nation after this? If from our quarrels, our pale compromises, our bondage to the Exchange and to the warehouse, from all the indolence of prosperity, such a transformation to the camp of a brave and united soldiery, a close and compact counsel — the purse inverted over the soldier's needs — the struggle who shall quickest forget his party watchword, and learn that of the line of battle — if this new life has thus sprung, the philosopher of History must learn of us new ideas of the power of a free people.

The Revolution of 1776 witnessed no such union. More families left New York and her sister colonies, because they would not show steel to King George, (and that when New York had population only of thousands where it now has hundreds of thousands,) than have now suggested doubts of our right from all the vast numbers of the Northern States. We cannot even yet realize the change these ten days have wrought. We are like those who bring all their valuables to the fire of the furnace, and recast the compound. That process is now in our midst. Does any man suppose we are to be fused in just such party shape again? Differ we shall — but the gold has been tried, and the great fact established, that those dwelling in the Northern States have that devotion to the country at whose call the mother gives her son to the battle, the capitalist his treasure to the cause, and men blend as a Nation. Were we ever a Nation before?

All lineages — the Mayflower man is in the front rank only to be met in line by those who look back to Delft Haven. I have found the warmest thought and act in those who but a month since were doubtful of the patriotism of those of us who could not see the merit of “compromise.” The voice of Edward Everett rings out its call to arms — the men who have risked to offend the North by their ultra Southern views, have thrown all aside as the call for Union for the country's honor reached them.--N. Y. Courier & Enquirer, May 2.