The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-09-20

ded States to their organic condition
ante bellum.
There remains now scarcely hope OF
peace, and the issue is apparently that the
North must triumph on the field of Mars,
or that the South shall prove itself victo-
rious on the same bloody arena. But, af-
ter all, We must not despair in reference
to coming peace. The idea Of an arm
istice even for six months, is now utterly
! hopeless, but think that the North, if the
chance were presented, would be as willing
to enter On terms Of peace as the South
itself Still, am bound to say, under
deep conviction of the truth, that, of both
sections uuhappily launched ON the swell
ling torrent of our domestic troubles, the
North will be the latter to sink or swim in
the sanguinarY tide on which both are now,
aeoat.
You make mention of the commission
ers sent to Washington, at an early period
of the struggle, with kind, fair, and liberal
] propositions, as you consider them, for
the arrangement of the whole difficulty,
Before reaching the point OF settlement
there would be found a vast amount of
principle involved. Commissioners should
have some recognized authority to war
rant them in attempting to discharge the
duties of their official Office. Those Of
the South, in the circumstances. so far AS
can see, had no authority whatever.
The people of your region (when say
people, Of course | mean the voters, as
commonly understood in this country
had scarcely been consulted on this vital
! question. Their Government, so called,
was unrecognized by any civil princi pality
on the face of the earth. Commissioners
presented themselves before the public
servants Of Government universally re-
cognized by all nations. The terms of
these Southern commissioners were moro
Of dictat;on than Of petition. The Gov
ernment at Washington. had to choose one
or the other of two alternatives. The
President and his Cabinet might have cho-
sen the alternative Of PERJURY, and acce-
lei 10 the amands Of those commission
ers, or they might as they surely did, de
cline every official intercourse with them.
They chose the latter course. And now
it only remains 10 see neither the Gov,
eminent is what it calls itself-thc Gov
ernment Of the Uuited States, or merely
the Government ola fraction thereof
and that fraction measured out to them
by Southern commissioners who could
not show a legitimate title for the COM
mission which they professed to execute
You think it hard and unnatural that
foreigners and Catholics should be delud-
ed into the service of the recognized Ma,
tional Goyermeut in order 10 be immo.at
cd in the front of battles and food Of for
Southern powder. If this end were de,
lberate policy 10 The North,I should scout
and despise it. admit and maintain that
foreigners now naturalized, whether
Catholics or not, ought to bear their re-
lative burden in defence of the only coun.
try on those shores which they have recog
nized, and which has recognized, them as
citizens of the United States. .ys-.
Mr.. Russell, the correspondent of the
London Times, reports a conversation
which he had with ga very intelligent
Southern gentleman, formerly editor of a
newspaper" who stated, on behalf of the
Confederacy,H Well, sir when things are
settled, we'll just take The law into our
own hands. Not man shall have a vote
unless he's American born, and by degrees
we'll get rid of those who disgrace u.s.
Mr.. Russell inquired: "Are not many Of
your regiments composed of Germans and
Irish-of foreigners, in facta" "Yes sir. F."
This very "intelligent Southern gentle
man, formerly editor Of newspaper" is
certainly no true representative of the
4 gentlemen whom it was my good fortune
1 and pleasure to meet whenever travelled in
the South, But no matter. If the state
ment be true, it only shows that for the
Irishmen and foreigners in general
the South is nearly as urfriendly as the
:. North can be. It proves, further, that SC
far as the Irish are concerned, the heredi
tary ca'anities of their native land follow
them up wherever they 60 in one form OF
another. Here, and now, they are called
upon by both sides to fight in the battles
OF the country; and no matter who tri
jumps. they need not look for large expires
sions of thanks or gratitude from either
side. Still, whether in peace or war, take
them for all, they are as true to the coun
try as if they had bsen born on its once
free and happy soil. ..-.
Pardon me this DEPRESSION, and let me
return to the other sentiment touching the
hope Of prospective peace.
Tha: word peace" is becoming more
or less famiiiary here IL the North. In q
crisis like this, it is not, in my opinion, ex-
pressive of sound principle or safe
policy. It's meaning changes the basi.
and the issue of this melancholy war. Il
changed, it will be war, not between the
South and the North, geographically con
sidered, but war between the two great
political parties that divide the country
Instead of this partisan hostility, wise pa
triots should rival each other in restoring
or preserving the Union as one nation, its
prosperity, and the protection and bappi
ness of its entire people, in all their legiti
mate rights. But all this is to be judged
of BY others, and the opinion of any indi.
viduaI is of the smallest account. If a
word of mine could have the slightest in
fuence, | would suggest that even. while
the war is going on there might be Con-
ven.ion of the seeded States, held within