Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-23
LcnrnunIeAIrn



10 Ne Edifoys Of re Daflp Pes:
While our whole country appearD To have
gone mad with military excitement, win you
permit one who loves his w1oEe c0u~hg 10
offer few dispassionato suggestions to the
common sense Of your fcaders7
War against our tsIlow-citizenB Is q crime
which nothing but necessity can excuse
Cioil pcr IN tie Unftsf iStdtssi il the most
gigantic crime Of which history viii ever
give record. And yet ne see at this time
both South and North IenpfnR 10 the bloody
fray with much greater aiactity than thew
have ever shown In aeeaiiing foreign en-
emy. Each party reHardH The other IS aQ-
gressors. The people Of TIE Worth and the
people of the South have been alienatef
from each other by persistent partisan mis-
representation and slander. This is the sole
cause Of our present unnatural and horrid
war. f afA al l '
II is nottoo late to discuss the history OF
this difficulty. The best men Of each section
believe that they are in the right and that
they are simply acting in self defense. Each
section is nearly unanimous.
And yet, do not, can not, believe that
the intelligent masses of either section have
any purpose of aggressive warfare. They
rush TO their flag with such exuberant
patriotism simply because they believe that
tuOy arc IN SolF Oef6ube, IN Qet0uSB OF
their country, their homes, their Govern
ment. In no other view can comprehend
the course of my friends in Cincinnati and
at the North.
But slasl Our reckless rulers make no
distinction between patriotic war of self
defense and an utterly damnable war Of in
vasion, conquest rapine and every form of
crime that man can commit Neither Presi-
dent Lincoln nor President Davis have inti-
mated that their operations are to be con-
fined to the defense of their own territory.
nor have the people, in their wild responses,
appeared to consider, for a moment that
when they advance from self defense to q
campaign of conquest and devastation, they
pass from heroism to brutality-from pa
triotic courage to murderous treason.
use the word treason deliberately, but
in no technical sense. To defend the terri
tory Of any State from invasion against
either domestic or a foreign foe, is pa
triotic duty, but to invade any State for the
purpose OF conquest and destruction, is Just
as much crime, at this time, as it would
have been ten years ago, when our country
was at peace and the Union unbroken.
Thank Godl KentuckiRns are still true 10
all their cOuntTymen. While four-fifths of
our once United States have fallen before the
hurricane of passion into the dark wbirlpool
Of war, Kentucky, towering in moral gram
deur, rebukes alike the North and the South
for their treaehery to the cause of humanity
and liberty-to all the glorious memories Of
the past and to all our hopes in the future.
Kentucky sustained the extreme South in its
demands for peaceful adjustment of our
national controversy, but il condemned that
hasty and passionate declaration of inde-
pendence which crushed the hopes of the
patriot. Kentucky sustained the present
Administration in repelling any attack upon
the North, but when, with designs as merci-
less as those of Alaric: it orders a sectional
rrA as l. II n
war OF determination against our late fellow
citizens Of the South, many of whom are
connected to us by the ties of blood. She
can only regard this as it will be hereafter
regarded by the civilized world, as one of
the "bloodiest pictures in the book of time.D
know that Northern men are prompted
by the idea that the South struck the first
blow in spirit Of wanton aggression, aud
that honor requires a terrible Vengeance
upon their late fellow. citizens. All, sirs.
the duellists code of honor does not apply to
family quarrels. If it applies anywhere, it
belongs only to the foreign policy of our
Government in dealing with hereditary en-
emies.
The Southern Confederacy shocked the
country by striking the first blow at Fort
Sumter. But when we coolly reflect upon
the circumstances, we perceive that this was
apparently, but not really, the first blow or
the Inauguration of war. 1t was the settled
purpose of the Lincoln Administration to
conquer that Confederacy. That purpose
was thinly vailed with smooth words of
equiyocal meaning, butnever disavowed, The
Southern Government was steadily ignored.
and knew full well (although the Border
states were deceived) that it would have to
defend itself against q powerful fleet and
army.
The Administration was determined tn
hold the city and harbor OF Charleston at its
mercy, and only modified its policy as it was
compelled by military necessity. Fort Sum.
ter was OF no earthly use to it except for war
against the Southern Government (the re.
enforcing expedition, have been informed,
was condemned by Gen Scottl and when it
was distinctly known that preparations were
making for war, the capture of the fort must
be regarded as simply defensive act which
would have been performed by the people Of
any American city under similar circum-
stances.
For what now is war to be maintained2 ?
We have two independent Governments.
between which an internal separation Ia as
tablished. If any faint hope of reeonstruc-
ton existed, the Presidents Proclamation
has annihilated that hope.
The South cannot be SO insane as To aim
at an invasion of the North. Does the North
desire to sacrifice hundred thousand of ita
bravest men by powder and pestilenca in the
South2 to annihilate its own commorce and +.
manufactures, and saddle itself with an in
caiculaDle load OF DEBT Does it desire to
demoralize its population, and to be oyerrun
by hordes of escaped negroes, who will live
partly by begging and theft, and partlv nv
competing with the white laborer and low
ering his wsges2 Does it desire. in short
to bring seven years Of ruin, mourning and
desolatiOn upon our whole country, 70 graf
ify spirit of revenge against a people who
have repeatedly asked for peace, and who
desire now simply to be let alone in their
independent goYernment-who, moreover.
solemnly believe that an approving Provi,
dence will guard and guide their war for
independence now, as it did in l7767
IL religion, humsaity, and common seusa
have not Departed from our country. let 4
truce be demanded, and eur needless armies
be dispersed, until, on the Fourth Of July.
Congress may arrange basis Of peace; and
questions which can not be settled by ne0o-
tiation may be referred 10 the arbitrstio1 ~
some friendly foreign Power.
Meantims, let the valley of the Ohio stiIl
be a valley of peace. OiReinnati. Oovino-
ton, and Newport have united In the pres-
ervation of peace. Louisville New Albany
and Jefferson will have Just combined Ia ti5e
preservation Of order and friendship bv their
authorities and their Home Gaarde Let An
the country along the OHIO River initafe
this beautiful example, and cultivate peaco
and friendship, and keep aloof from thia
most needless and atroeioas war TI
]. r. BUCHANAN.
LOUISVILLE, April 20, 1851.
THE RESULT on IMPRUDnKoK.--A. aiddr
| r.fv Il H. II