Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-08-20

A"io 10 quSStioh every genuine patriot
and friend of humanity should ask him
self
The country is being devastated and
ruined by civil war. Brother is at wsr
against brother, father against son, and
neighbor against neighbor. Our fair plains
and productive fields have been laid waste.
and our cities and houses desolated. Twenty
thousand noble lives have already been
sacrificed, and the blood of American citi-
zens has been mingled in the unnatural
conflict. And from the preparations mak>
ing on both sides, it would seem that the
war has but just begun. By the first of
January, FIVE hundred thousand men on
each side will be in the field. armed and
equipped for the appalling conflict. What
sano mind can contemplate these startling
facts without the most painful emotions.
We fear that our nation is doomad-we
greatly fear that the bitterness of feeling
and distrust between the North and South
prevails with such magnifed rancor that
nothing short of long and bloody war
will remove it. In the free States this feel
ing of hatred is kept alive by Abolition pol
iticians and fanatical preachers, while in
the South. the alienation of feeling is fed
by the ultras and hot-heads of that section.
Indeed the effort is being made to eItin-
guish the last tie of national brotherhood
and to crush out the last hone of a restora
ton Of the Union as our fathers made it
1 continuance of the war can only result
/ IN eternal separation or annihiliation OF the
people of one or the other of the sections.
1t is surprising and unaccountable that
so large portion of the people are in favor
| OF carrying on the war, when its results
must be followed by such terrible cnnse-
/ qnenees. No peace-no compromise lis
'he motto under which the leaders Of the
dominant rarity place themselves They
have been in favor Of the war. and have
led The people alnnS step by step until their
heiiish desires are being gratifed They
/ opposed all overtures of settlement and
compromise. They would not even submit
the question ct war or compromise to the
direct vote Of the reorIe. The peorIe w-re
denied the oprortnnity Of voting on the
question, They refused 10 call Nations
I Convention to consider cur difficulties. tho
! one was recommended nv President Lin
+ calU We earnestly believe. if it had not
hece for these radicals. THAT Q should have
had un war and that tow we should have
been ir the midst of prosperous times
1 These same Union destrayers are vet
harpiug on the no compromise str;ng
They are opposed t. peace on any terms
Those who declare themselves in favor of
houorabls measures for putting u stop to
the shedding of blood, are denounced as
traitors.
But regardless Of the threats and mena,
ces that have been thrown out to intimidata
people. we declare ourselves in favor of
compromise and peace, honorable and Just
alike to all parties. We would have no
humiliating surrender of national rights
Let reason, justice and humanity dictate
the terms, and we have no doubt the prop
ositIon would be accepted and peace and
happiness oPce more reign in our at press
eut disturbed land.
There will be no peace, if the advice of
the Greeleys, the Summers, the Blairs, and
the Loveioys be followed When the peo-
pie CT the North shall be moved by COM
mon concern, interest and sentiment, and
their common object be to save our beloved
land from the impending destruction, then
shall we have peace and not before.
Let our earnest prayers ascend to the
Omnipotent Ruler Of the Universe for this
desired end