Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-12-28
The Hypccrilical Cry Of Peace !"

As we have repeatedly stated, the
Cotton States could have peacefully
severed their connection with the In
ION had they really desired to do So
IL would have been a work of time: for
Nd department Of the Federal Govern
neutrality-suspicious., Executive or Judi.
claI--had any constitutional powe, to
recognize or respect another Confede
racy of States within the geographical
limits OF our Union; but had they sim
| ply rcfrained from violence and robhn-
ry, and appealed to the loyal States for
consent to their peaceful withdrawal.
proHering conclusive evidence that1hpir
people earnestly desired a separation.
convention would speedily have been
called and means devised to avert blood
shed by peaceful dismissal of it's incor
ngiole enemies from the Union. This
course was not taken, not because the
dlSnnlonlsts ike the smell Of "vilainouS
saItpeter" any better than other folks.
out SIMPLY because they could not bring
the pe"pl" OF the Slave States un TO the
mark OF treason without first precipita
ting them into civil war. They seized
the Federal forts, arsrnalS, minis, sub
treasures, &c, in order to involve the
Cotton States aS deeply as possible in
the guilt and peril Of treason. and then
h"mbard"d Sumter for the purpose of
tor"l2g the Border States to take ground
f"r Slavery against the Union. They
made haste to Sn"d blood, not because
they feared the North would not other
wise consent t. di>nnion, but because
they knew that the South would not.
Last summer, as has already been
stated, Henry MAY, VI. G. from Mary
land. went 10 Richmond on purpose to
obtain from JEFF. Davis & Co. q prefer
OF terms on which they would return
| to loyalty and agree to reconstruct the
Union. He did this as !. trienl and
ally Of the Contederates; he having
been chosen to Congress as a Southern
Democrat, by the votes Of every dis
unlonlst in his district, though himself
claiming To be in some sort for the I'm
ION. He hoped--So saws the Hon. john
\. Logan OF l!linolN--to obtain prof
Ter that could be made the basis of a
! Southern and Democratic opposition to
- :, ''1'',' anu tfie W az. bNt
though this was before Ball Run. he
could effect nothing. He was told that
- t'ie Co"leoerates were protfcred 4
DlanK sheet OF paper and hidden to
write Their own terms OF reconciIcment
to the Union, they would spurn it. MI
Logan, though strong y pro,Slavery. be-
c cnt S.,'.s''oo oS INC result OF TINS ct
~ 'll"' 10 oorlP[onliSe was possible !;
:" ~ GU III iot 'ne " al 1or the I'm
'0'1.
AZ ',le l"Ce contest III maryland, the
c 70 III sympathy with the Con
, o. '',' w. n '''o'S clah"Fed loudly tor
1:, l"ey ere me peace party,
ANXIOUS ABOVE all Things to put an end
' 'n's norr!Dl@ c,YII war. Yet they
sue" PeFlecIy Wen that the war was
'hA"e .! 'ie FeoeIS, and that they were
"tVe''i''"t" not 10 nave peace on any
othPr OASIS than that OF dlSHlion. And
no" honestly they are for peace, even
on that basis, IS t"FcIhy shown in a con
vrrSat'oh recently held between Mr.. F.
W: ii"Ftt, OF the Oh10 State JoM7auE,
ana the hey. Gen. LeonldaS Polk. BiSh-
op OF Lr1'Sianao and commander of
JetI' Davis army at Columbus, Ky
Mr.. HURT reports the interview as fol-
lows:
eve found Gen. Polk in mach more
comfortable quarters than Gen. Pillow,
and rather more exclusive in his com
! panv. He Is fine. LARGE, crray-hpadnG