Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-05
SUhnissisa - he 1shels-WAe talk Il
Peace.

They who, in the present stage Of
the Rebellion, clamor for peace, mean
secession and secession only. They
are confederates Of the very spies and
enissaries Of the South whom We are
daily arrcsting. Many of them are
doubtless as much in the pay of the reb-
el Government as the spies themselves.
In order that the plans Of the rebels
should be carried into effect, they need
not only that skulking class who col
lect and clandestinely convey to them
such information of our movements as
they can turn to use, but they need
also men who can operate upon public
opinionin the loyal States. They need
presses, they need public writer's, they
need speakers ut public meetings, they
need politicians, and they have them.
They have them and pay them; men
do not enter upon so disgraceful SER
vice without salary. Dirty and some
what dangerous work must be we'll
paid.
We have in this county daring re-
volt organized and in arms against the
constitution and the laws. The only
question is-Shall it be successful or
shall it be put down? Shall the insur-
gents be allowed their own way, or
shall they be subjugated aud the Con-
stitution vindicated? The highway
man presents his pistol, aud the ques-
ton is, Shall the traveller shoot him
down with rcvolverorgive up the purse
which is demanded! Peace may be Sc
cured by giving up the purse; of that
there is no doubt. The clamorers for
peace are for giving up rything to an
audacious demand.
If these persons really desire peace,
let them try their own powers Of persua-
sion upon the traitors. In that quarter
there is ample opportunity for displaying
their philanthropy. Let them declaim
to those who are in arms against the
laws, upon the horrors ofcivil war, upon
the Nervousness of treason, upon the
inexcusable wrong of resorting to force
in country, the institutions of which
are so framed that its government is
controlled by the popular will expressed
in the elections; upon the fortunate
and prosperous condition of every part
of the Union, before they interrupted
and destroyed this prosperity by their
ili-starred revolt; upon the admitted
fact that the Southern States had not
suffered single wrong which they
could lay to the charge of the govern
ment they are seeking to overthrow !;
and, after dwelling at sufficient length
upon these topics, let them induce the
rebels to lay down their arms, return to
their allegiance, and if they have any
grievance o complain Of seek its re-
dress in legal aud constitutional way.
If they can do this, or if they will seri-
ously attempt it. they will prove them
selves true friends ofpeace. Until they
do it, they are confederates and accom-
plices Of treason, just as much as the
man who counsels peace when high
wayman demands your money and you
have the means of defense ready to be
used against him, is an accomplice to
the robbcr and sharer in his guilt.
The spy who sneaks about our camps
and communicates with the ringleaders
of the insurgents, the emissary Of rebel
lion who sows disaficction in our army,
the commercial agent who purchases
arms and ammunition aud attempts to
smugyle them across the rebel frontier,
the men who call peace meetings and
advise submission to the demands of
the insurgents. and all those who labor
to influence the people to that course
through the public press, are co-workers
in one great schemc-the scheme of
breaking mp the Union. All are the
tools Of the Secession;sts-a few of
them SO perhaps from mere perversity.
bu: most Of them salaricd-!or though
the rebel leaders do not always pay
their soldiers, they must pay their spies
aud political ageuts, aud their hack
writers iu TIE Northern States. The
guilt Of rebellion Is as much shared by
those creatures who are prating about
peace as by the meanest eavesslropPer
that turks in the purlieus Of our camps
or listens in ante-rooms to pick up some-
thing which the rebels may turn to ac-
count.
Whoever, therefore, talks ofar y peace
short Of such q peace acknowledging
the vxlidty of our Conssitnsion. and
the duty Of obedience to the laws, 10 q
rebel. He ccunsels submission to the
revolters and is their agent. Whose
ever raises the white dag, raises the Sc
ccssion flag. aud must ~ certainly ex-
pect that il will be pulled down by an
Indignant multitude, as if it had the
cmblems of Secession glaringly dis
played on its folds. Whatever press
-. Al - ahn N<~osu m ant sh~11 sssk.