The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-08-15
Pence.

cessation of hostilities and The adjustment OF
our National difficulties Il is a refreshing
proof of the patriotism of the people, that
Notwithstanding the stringency of the times,
all such propositions are disregarded as be-
ing inconsistent with the preservation of
National honor. What do these Democratic
gentlemen want? In the immortal words
of Henry-''is life so dear and peace so
sweet, that it is to be purchased at the price
of chains and slavery ?" Is the momentary
prosperity of the Commonwealth dearer to
these sucking peace-mahers, than the perpe-
tuity of Free Government ? Is war so ter
rible to these chicken-hearted politicians,
that they prefer the establishment of slave
oligarchy over fifteen States of this Repub-
lie 2 War is indeed dreadful, but peace
upon any terms, sacrificing the integrity of
the government would be far more terrible.
But these cries for peace assume no prac-
teal shape. Who shall be the Commits
sioners between the belligerents What
terms could be offered by the Government
that would be accepted by the rebels p
Upon what conditions and upon what con-
tingencies viii the rebels disperse? There
is only one proposition the misguided
Southerners would accept, and that is the
acknowledgment of the Southern Confed-
eracy. To this proposition the North will
never assent, until its means and men are
exhausted. We say, then, that there are
absolutely no conditions upon which an
honorable peace could be established. 1.-THE
war is inevitable and referring again to
the eloquent and historical words of Henry,
we say, "Let Il come" We believe, more
over, that the day for discussion has passed,
and forever. Let us hear no more of COM
promise, except the compromises of the Con-
stitution. The Insurgents have taken the
sword, and either let them perish by the
sword or dictate to rs their own terms.
when the NORTH shall have been subdued by
Southern bayonets. -
We have been led to these reflections by
reading the resolutions passed by the
Democratic Convention of Ohio. Sifted of
| their verbiage and nonsense-about the
"great mission of the Democratic party
they mean that the Government should at
once haul down the Old Flag, from Fortress
Monroe to Texas, and acknowledge the
thieves of Cottondom as successful revolu-
tionists. And yet these men know that
such a peace would not last long enough 10
disband our armies.
Peace, under existing circumstances, IS a
proposition to change the whole character
and nature Of The people of the United
States, and to iarl free government impos-
sihle, as free, selt-government cannot exist
amid standing armies. Peace, just now, is
| to inaugurate in these United States pass
| port system, the Gordon lines of armies, the
custom houses, the sentry boxes, the mount
ed cavalry, the inspection and ransacking o
/ every trunk or package in every border
| town by gems d armes. In short, " Peace, -
just now, would turn this Republic of
America into some shattered and war brist-
ling Germany--every railroad in an hour
or two turning US up under some new
sovereignty with some new show of
passport, and some new inspection of Gus
tom houses. We tell these people that such
q peace is not only impracticable, but it is
impossible. Even if the East would endure
such peace, we of the Great West would
not, for we claim, as a birth-right from God,
free rivers, free seas from Lake Superior to
the Gulf of Mexico. To talk of such peace,
therefore, is to talk of severing the valleys
of the West from the East and North, and
splitting the Free States into two or three
Confederacies-eVen these afterwards to be
broken as will, caprice, or passion dictates.
Let US rather have war for years to come.
Let us preserve and maintain the UNION,
for Liberty aud Union, now and forever,
are one and inseparable'' The cause of
Union and Liberty is the cause of humanity
and the people. g 'Tis Liberty that gives the
flower Of fleeing life its fragrance and per-
fume, and we are weeds without it,