The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-07

Eastern Virginia If the rebel troops were re-
moved. IL is to be hoped that that time is not
far distant, and that Eastern Virginia will follow
in the wake Of Western Virginia, and shake of
the incubus of rebellion which is pressing her
to the earth and crushing out her vitals.
The Cry or "Peace, Peace, When There is
no Pcace"-Union or Disunion the Only
Issue.
Our Northern peacemakers of the Southern
Confederate school, through their agents in Con-
gress and through their newspaper organs, have
recently become somewhat noisy and importu-
nate with their petitions and resolutions in favor
OF some peace offering to the South in the form
Of amendments to the federal constitution, or in
the call of a national convention, or through
peace propositions, however, are so ma
nifestly out of season and out of place ut
this crisis that no argument is needed to expose
their fallacy. The only overtures of peace that
would now be listened to by Jefferson Davis
and his confederates would be oyertures en-
as an Independent nation.
In his first message to the Confederate Con-
gress, Provisional President Davis very earnest
ly protested his desire for peace that the COME
derate States were ready to make almost any
sacrifice for the sake of peace, except (the only
matter in issue) the sacrifice of their national
independence. They had entered into this war
for the purpose of establishing an Independent
Southern cOnfederacy, and, peace or no
peace, they would establish it. In sub
sequent session of the same Congress, if we
are not mistaken, member thereof de-
clared that If the government at Washington
were to submit to the rebel authorities of the
South blank sheet of paper, upon which they
might write their own terms for restoration of
our revolted States to the Union, the offer would
be rejected. With such manifestations from
Davis and his confederates months ago, before
they had tried their strength in the field OF bat
tie, can it be supposed that now, since our late
army disaster in Virginia, they would listen for
moment to any peace proposition falling short
of the recognition of Southern independence
No. So inflated have Davis and his governing
rebel associates become since their late unex-
pected victory, that it may be doubted whether
they would now accept even our recognition of
Southern confederacy, unless it embraced the
State of Maryland, the District of Columbia
and the city of Washington.
Our readers will remember that in the United
States Senate in December last, in speech
which, ut the time, was considered very amusing,
but which was delivered with suggestive gravi-
ty, Senator Iverson, of Georgia, predicting
the fulflment of the work of this Southern re-
bellion which has since occurred spoke of
Washington as admirably adapted for all the
purposes of the federal capital of the South.
Nor can we feel assured Of the abandonment of
this idea by the rebel leaders, until they shall
have been reduced to the extremity of evacu-
ating the State of Virginia. Then, perhaps, they
will be prepared not only to entertain PROPOSE
tions of peace, but to advance them.
Meantime we have seen only one Northern
proposition for peace which comes within range
of the ultimatum of this rebellion. This propo-
sition was in the shape of memorial submitted
in Congress a few days ago from citizens of
Prattsville, New York, by the Hon. Benjamin
Wood, fatty recommending treaty of peace
upon tho basis of Southern confederacy as
preferable to civil war. And this is the precise
issue involved in this war-Union or disunon
Belonging to the Union party of the country,
adhering to the Union cause, and strong in the
faith of its enduring vitality, we also believe
that this Southern rebellion is the work of a
Southern minority, and an oppressive Southern
despotism, from which a majority of the sober
rejecting and substantial people of the South
are still hopeful of an ultimate delverance and
restoration to the Union. We still believe, too,
that with the first defeat on grand scale, of
the rebels in the field, there will be a Union re-
action in the South, and especially in the So
called border slave States, which will render
the work of the pacifcation of the cotton States
perfectly sure and comparatively easy.
With division of the Union peaceably, with
out bloodshed, and in fraternal spirit on both
sides, Northern and a Southern confederacy
might, perhaps, go on side by side, each pursu-
ing its own peculiar destiny, for many years,
without warlike collision. But an appeal to
arms has left US no other alternative than the
sword to determine this issue between the su-
premacy of the federal government and the ipse
diait Of rebellious State, or Of conspiracy of
rebellious States. Suppose we were to make
peace upon the recommendation of this Pratts-
vile petition-thst the eleven States involved in
this Southern rebellion are permitted to set up
as a nation to themselves--how long would q
peace, thus purchased. hold good, after the taste
Of blood which both sides have had In this war!
1t would not last year; it would be ruptured,
perhaps, before tho expiration of six months, in
some border or seaboard disturbances, or by
some examples Of rufianism on the one side,
calling for redress by the government of the
other side. AS a matter of security against such
international quarrels, the Northern confederacy
and the Southern confederacy would instantly
recognise the necessity for protecting Gordon
Of great fortresses, for great regular standing
army at all times, and for powerful navy.
From q republican government North and
South, thus organized and defended, 1t would