Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-13
THE PEACE PARTY

THE PEACE PARTY.
| A new party is about to take The field and
do battle in the approaching political contest.
In Maryland, we fed that the only plank in
the platform Of the new organization is Peace.
The whole force Of the new party is to be
brought to bear against the present war
Strange to say, but it is none the less true,
| they who seem so anxious to secure TO the
country peace have not one word of rebuke 10
utter toward those who broke the peace, which
eVerywhere reigned supreme before the present
rebellion was inaugefated. All their clamor
is directed against the President, and other
officers of the law, who, il the discharge Of
sworn duty, are actively engaged in suppress
! ing the unholy insurrection. As well might
these peace men, par ercettence, undertake to
| restore quiet and order in the midst of great
riot IN large city by arrestIng and putting
| to prison ali the police; or they might as sensi-
/ bly undertake TO arrest fierce conhagration
! by shooting down all the fremen as to attempt
to restore peace by putting down those who
are acting in defence of the Constitution and
laws against The depFedations Of armed trail
| tors.
| Desirable as is peace, there are worse evils
than conflicts. He who meekly suffers bis
wicked neighbor to take from him slI his
worldly goods, and destroy bis good name,
rather than disturb the quiet that may long
have prevailed troUghout the community in
which they may both reside, is unworthy the
name OF man. is false to those sho depend for
support upon bin, and is buying peace at, 8
price entirely beyond its value-is paving too
dear for bis whistle. Better far, not only for
himself and his, but for the reckless narau-
der, that the actual owner of the property as
sert his right aud punish the offender, even
with the utmost rigor Of the law, than that an
unrighteous peace be the consequence OF sub
mission to palpable wrong and outrage.
| Ii Peace Is the greatest of earthly blessings,
as the adhererts to the new party would make
the people believe, why did those for whom
these evidently entertain so high regard, the
leaders IN the mad rebellion, disturb our re-
| pose! Or, since that wicked act has teen
committed, why do not the peace advocates
turn their attention to quieting their own
lriends-those who have been the aggressors.
II those who elamor so loudly for peace are
honest Why do they not put the responsibility
OF the breach of peace upon the proper personsl
Can murder be attoned for BY permitting the
guilty wretch to escape and 10 his stead bang
ing the Sheriff, who is entrusted with the exc
cution of the law? If the new dogma is TO
become the accepted rule of society: That
when any wrong is done BY bad man be is
not to be punished; but the Judge OF the
Court, whose sworn duty is to try, and deal
out the law to such culprit, is alone 10 receive
all the blame, how long will such an abomna-
bic usage secure peace?
Before falling into the pit of ineztricahle
| difficulty it is we'll for the people to view the
matter calmly; to see whether their pathway
lies over solid earth, or whether beneath a
! smooth velyety surface there is not dire calam-
ity4 de who has no word Of comfort for his
country 10 her sad hour of distress; who only
seeks to give aid and comfort to her enemies
aud assist thom in their cruel efforts to des>
troy the best and purest form of Government
aye, the most without any cause or
provocation, simply seeking personal aggran-
dizemeut, is bad adviser. Such an one is a
poor leader for tie honest masses to follow
Every such man is himself as guilty of treason
as is he who wields the sword, and, himself
being amendable TO the law, his advice is full
of danger for honest men TO follow Such ID
the position of every false-hearted creature
who now cries peace.
There is no doubt whatever about the true
position of every man who now joins iu the
cry for peace every oHe of them if be could
do so without mourning the penalties of the
confsoatiOn act of Congress, would i3in the
rebel army and if compelled to take part in
the war and allowed to choose sides, they
would all join the ranks of JEFF Davis. Not
one OF them will ever be found battling for
the Government many of them will yet Join
he of raholffop ac
them would now be arraysd in deadly hostili,
ty to the Union, with arms 10 their hands, but
for the reason that they can best subserve the
cause of treason.by assisting to carry elections
in loyal States upon the basis of opposition to
the national Government, and 10 its desperate
struggle for the maintenance of its existence,
under the deceitful cry of Peace.
There was time when these peacemongers
might have been Of service to their country:
when their efforts for peace might have done
much good. If, before the FIRST overt act of
rebellion was committed, these men had boldly
arrayed themselves on the side OF the Govern.
ment and shown their love OF peace by assists
ing to swell the ranks of law and order, there
never would have been any rupture in our
land. The aid and comfort which these crea-
tures extended to those who began the war,
did more than anything else to produce the
strife, bloodshed and carnage which they now
profess so much to deplore. Their reason for
shouting for peace is not because they are sors
ry for the lives of innocent Northern men, 10y
al sons of freedom, who fall iu battle, for none
of these uttered one word against the mob
that ruthlessiy murdered unarmed Northern
men in the streets of Baltimore on the 18th
of last April; but all their sorrow is reserved
for the rebels who meet With the fate they
justly deserve Chambysburg Repository
FROM MISSOURI.