Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-09-17
VOL. 10 NO. ID.

propositions, as you considered them, for
the arran cement of the whole difficulty
Before reaching tie point of settlement
there would be found a vast amount of prin-
ciple involved. Commissioners should
have some recognized authority to warrant
them in attempting TO discharge the duties
OF their Official ofice. Those of rhe South.
IN the circumstances. so far as | can see,
had no authority whatever.
The people of your region when saw
people, of course | mean the voters. ms
commonly understood in this country had
scarcely been consulted on this vital oues-
ton. Their Government, so-called. was
unrecognized by any civil princinaIitv an
the face of the earth. Commissioner, nre-
scented themselves before the public ser.
wants of Government universally recop
mixed by all nations. The terms of these
Southern Commissioners were more of die
taflen than OF Petition. The Government.
at WsshfDgton bad to choose ons or anoth-
er Of two alternatives. The President and
his Cabinet might have chosen the alterna
tive of perjury, and aceded to the dem ands
of those Commissioners, or thew MIGHT os
they surely did, decline every official inter
course with them.
They chose the latter course. And now
1t only remains to see whether the Govern.
ment is what it calls itself-tbe Govern
ment of the United States. or merely the
Government OF fraction thereof-and that
fraction measured out of them by Southern
Commissioners who could not show a Iegit-
innate ritle for the Commission which tbev
prOfessed TO execute.
Won fbipE h.rl
foreigners and Catholics should be deluded
INTO the service of the recognized National
Government 10 order to be inundated into
the front OF battle and made food for South
ern powder. If this end were deliberate
policy IN the North, | should scout aud
despise 1t. l admit and maintain that
foreigners now naturalized, whether Cath
olIcs or not, ought to bear their relative
burden 10 defence OF the only country on
these shores which they have recognized.
and which has recognized thom as citizens
of the United States.
MIR. Russell, the correspondent Of the
London Times reports conversation which
he had with "a very intelligent Southern
gentleman, formerly editor IF newspa-
pei" who stated, on behalf of the Copied
eracy-"Well, Sir, when things are settled
we Will just take the law into cur own
hands. Not nan shall vote unless he's
American born, and by degrees well get
rid of these men who disgrace u.s." Mr..
Russell in9uired: care not MANY of your
regiments composed Of Germans and Irish:
Of foreigners, III fact ?" yes, Sir"
This very Intelligent Southern gentle
man, formerly editor Of a newspaper" is
certainly no true representative of the
gentlemen whom it was my good fortune
and pleasure to meet whenever Travelled
in the SSuth. But no matter. II the state
ment be true, it only shows that fer Irish
and foreigners in general the South is
nearly as untriendily as the North can be
1t proves further. that so far as the Irish
are concerned, the hereditary calamities of
their native land follow them up wherever
they 60 in one form or another. Here.
and now, they are called upon by both sides
TO fight in the battles Of the country and
no matter Who triumps. they need not look
for large expressions Of thanks or gratitude
from either side. Still, whether in peace
or war, take them for all in all, thew are as
true to the country as if they had been
born on It's once free and happy soil.
Pardon me this depression, and let me
return to the other sentiment touching the
hore of a prospective peace
That word peace" is becoming more or
less familiar here in the North. In a crisis
like this it is not, III my opinion, express.
i've of a sound principle or a safe policy
Its meaning changes the basis and the issue
OF this melancholy war. If changed, it
will he war, not between the South and
the North, geographically considered. but
war between the two greA, political nar-
ties that divide the country. Instead of
this partisan hostility, wise patriots sbopId
riva! each other in restoring or preserving
the Union as one nation, its prosperity
and the protection and happiness of its en-.
tire people, in all their legitimate rights.
But all this is to be judged of by others,
and the opinion Of any individual is of the
smallest account. III word of mine could
have the smallest influence, would sug
gest that, even while the war is going on.
there might be Convention of the seeded
States, held within their own borders, IL
might be one representative appointed from
each OF those States, by the Governor. 10
meet and examine the whole case as il now
stands, arrange and draw up report OF
their grievances, or what they consider
such, and report to their several Governors
the result of their deliberations, and the
conclusions at which they shall have mr.
rived.
The same process might be adopted in
the States that have not seeded, and siu,i
lar reports be made to their respective
Governors. This would be only a prepar>
tory measure for something more important.
If better feeling, or understanding. could
be even partially arrived at, future con
vention Of all the States by their represen
tatives would have something to act upon.
The difficulties might be investigated and
provided for; the Constitution might be
revised by general consent and If the plat
iorm-sufhciently ample for 900, 900 at the
period when the Constitution was formed
Is found 10 be neither of breath or strength
to support population Of SO .000, GOO, wise
and patriotic men might suggest, according
to the rules prescribed in the original doe
ument, the Improvements which the actual
condition of the country would seem to re-
qulre. The Constitution itself. in its letter
aud spirit, is, no doubt. the same as il was
when first framed; but everything around
hus been undergoing change for nearly
eighty years.
For a peGce of that kind / would be a
very sincere, if not an influential, advocate.
But 10 expect that peace will spring up
by the advocacy Of Individuals in the midst
of the din and clash of arms, amidst the
mutually alienated feelings of tn e people.
aud the widening Of the breach which has
nov operated them, would be. in nv opin
ion, hoping against hope. Still we must
trust that the Almighty will oserrule and
direct the final issues Of this lamentable
contest.
! had no intention to write so long
response to your kind letter. Enough, and
perhaps more than enough, has been said :;
and 1t only remains for me 10 add that the
Catholic faith and Catholic charity which
uuites US in the spiritual order shall re-
main unbroken by the booming of cannon
along the lines that unfortunately separ-
ate a great and once prosperous community
into two hostile portions, each arrayed 10
military strife against the other