The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-08-15
shall we Compromise,

SOpSlooo. AUS 10 uuLuIdis war 10
great evil. No nation can prefer ii on its
own account, much less our nation. Rear
ed for the most part amid the benisons Of
peace, and devoted to peaceful avocations
we cannot look upon war in any other
light than that Of great calamity. 1t is
no marvel that the immense outlay Of
means required for the prosecution Of war,
the prostraticn of business In all depart
ments Of trade and commerce, the pos.
sibility of protracted struggle in which
thousands of lives must be sacrificed, the
wasted and crippled condition of the
country when all is over, with the possi-
bility, even then, that exasperations will
remain which will bar happy contin.
uance OF the Union, should suggest to
all minds the desirabeness Of some kind
of adjustment as speedily as may be.
Our heart sickens at the prospect Of the
great battle which seems imminent, in
which both sides, if true to their convic>
tions and heroic antecedents, must incur
immense loss. This is 10 be followed by
other engagements no less destructive il
the policy of the Government be success.
fully carried out.
There is not true heart in the nation
that would not hail with shoutings and
weepings ofgratitude an honorable peace.
From every hesrtstone Of the land would
ascend songs of rejoicing, as the telegraph
should wing The tidings from city to city, &
from hamlet to hamlet. And this is no
new impulse, having its birth, in terror
or disaffection. There mas been no day
since this unhappy trouble began when
it has not been true. Every pulpit hes
prayed for it; the most belligerent press
has invoked it; each soldier of the repub.
lie that has sprung TO arms would rejoice
in it; the Government itself would. at
any moment have proclaimed thanksgiv-
ing for it. The war has never been pre-
ference. Nothing short of an absolute
necessity could have made it possibili-
ty so much did the. nation prefer peace,
The Government did not desire to waste
her own treasure, murder her own sons,
dishonor herself among the nations. dis.
member herself, that she should 90 to
war. The North bad no grudge against
tie South, that she should pour out mil.
lions of treasure and lives to satiate her
thirst for blood. Nothing of the kind
/ The land was at peace. The Govern.
ment was pursuing its normal and honor
able course. Never with its history had
it been more prosperous and happy. In
its entire borders the people we're dwelling
in security, unmolested each following
his own way. No home was INVADED, no
right interferred with, no privilege i'm
paired, no burdens imposed. The sun in
all his circuit upon no people so b4nignly
governed; none making such rapid strides
Of prog sress in wealth and culture. The
world looked on with astonishment and
admiration. War. and especially wat
among ourselves, was the last thing
thought of.
Under these circumstances rebellion
arose. States renounced their allegiance
set up a Government for themselves
seized the public property, levied armies
and at the point of the sword demanded
that their indepencc should be acknowl
edged-this upon the plea that the Gov
ernmeut from which revolted was no Gov
ernment, had no sovereign powers, but
was a mere compact, dissoble at the op
lion of any disatfected party. The plar
of the rebellion included the withdraw
ment of all the slaveholding States, ant
their erection into great slave power
The capital of the nation, located within
the proposed seeding territory, was tt
be appropriated as the seat Of government
of the new empire. The officers of th
existing government were to be capturr'
and held as prisoners of war, murdered
or banished. So far the programme wa
plain, openly announced. What NOR
can only be imagined. Within the Sc
ceding district were many loyal mer
amounting in some states TO large major
tiles; they were to be coerced into lh
measure by their politicians; and the in
huence Of an arrogant aIistocracy OF wealt
The loyal free STATED, comprising two
thirds of the whole population of tn
country was 10 be insulted and trample
upon, and the whole land reduced to al
archy.
War Of course was eVitabie. Reluc
tsntly the Government was compelled
draw the sword. The Issue was plain
the rebellion must be put down or I'll
g Government become extinct. THIS va
b the issue then-it is the issue TO day.
However bad war is, and however a
IDENTIFY we may long for peace, is con
: promise now possible? There are b.
!. two ways, one or the other party init
: wholly abandon its ground, or the que
r ton must be settled by the stern and il
t exoiabls arbitration oi the sword. The
k is no middle way. Can the Governme
d yield? Would it be right? Would it
It safe? Would it be for the common goo'
+ Then, in the name Of reason, lot it
u done. But can any man think 50?
Can the rebel yield? Here only
d the possibility Of the bloodIess solution
= the difficulty. Let them disband the
e armies, aud as good citizens, return
's their homes; let them abandon their caus
k less treason, and return 10 their allies
g. auce. Let them fault, give their declaT
d tions Of disloyalty TO the fans, and thu
3. pseudo flag and Constitution to be To-
lie to pieces, and remembered only in SC