On such perilous ground we cannot walk too warily.
"For our own part, we are free to confess that the march of events has induced us to regard the dispute as a more commonplace kind of quarrel than it at first appeared to be.
The real motives of the belligerents, as the truth transpires; appear to be exactly such motives as have caused wars in all times and countries.

They are essentially selfish motives--that is to say, they are based upon speculations of national power, territorial aggrandizement, political advantage, and commercial gain.

Neither side can claim any superiority of principle, or any peculiar purity of patriotism....
"We certainly cannot discover in these arguments anything to remove the case from the common category of national or monarchical quarrels.

The representations of the North might be made word for word by any autocrat or conqueror desirous of 'rectifying' his frontier, consolidating his empire, or retaining a disaffected province in subjection.

The manifestos of the South might be put forth by any State desirous of terminating an unpleasant connexion or exchanging union for independence....
"It is just such a question as has been left times out of mind in this Old World to the decision of the sword.