New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-29
sUnnussroN TO JEFF. DAVIS.


What means peace is question asked, at
this moment, with much more anxiety at the
South than at the North. As it is difficult TO us
to make real to ourselves even the fact that mar,
with much Of its devastation and many OF its hor'
rors, seriously exists few hundred niles south
Of us, 80 is it impossible for us to conceive OF
the charSeSr of that power with which we are
contend Dg. But it is not so with those at tho
seat of war-with the Yirginian, who has fled in
terror from the presence Of I'm army in posses-
sion of bis houses and barns his fields and crops,
his horses and cattle, or with any Southerner
whom the tyranny of this insurrecton has driven
from his home. Each in his different circum-
stances has been taught, by events sounding to
us almost like tales from some other time and
country, the hardsbips of war, and the mex
pressibe bitterness of the despotism which has
been established over him. 1t depends upon
ourselves not only whether We shall ever suffer
this latter dispensation, but whether we shall re-
lieve those who are now under its dire oppression.
A few days ago two gentlemen arrived in this
city from Southern State, having made jour-
ney Of many hundred miles, and of some risks,
10 ask Of the North this simple but significant
question: "WnAT Do YOU MEAN TO DO 7"
With them it is a very vital question, and one
which they may well be pardoned for asking.
They had been led to believe BY certain Northern
newspapers that have been permitted to circulate
at the South, by certain seemingly authoritative
documents enanating from Democratic commit
tees, that there is bo unanimlty at the North Tor
the war, that the call for peace is growing loud
or aud louder, and that there is au,ng US great
s,mputby for the party which is omODg them in
srias aganst the Government. They come then
to pet an answer to this very vital question:
g Bhat do yOa mean 10 do ?"
by our answer they will shape, if they con,
their future conduct; they will learn, at all
events, their future fate. With them, peace
means ihis and this only--SUBmssIoN TO JEFF.
DAVIS. There are among US many people who
believe that for forty years the North has been
in IN attitude Of subsersiency TO the dominant
power Of the South, that this generation has
grown up trained TO habits of political obedi-
epco, unused to the exercise OF independent
thought md Of moral courage, and therefore
slow and oyer cautious where the ready and
reckless courage Of the soldier IL an imperative
necessity; but however true this may be, II even
truer than we any Of us dare believe. we do
moi, and we cannot know, as Southern
Union man knows, what submission to JEFF.
Davis mctns. All that the most rampant pride
Of succes ssful rebellion, all that the most iuso-
lent assumption Of uncontrolled aud ire
fponsiblo power. nll thnt nnbrid,ed passion,
ali that an unquencbsblo thirst fer wealth
and place all that the love Of revenge, oil that
resentment for bafled purpose, though only for
q time, oil that conqueror merciess and drunk
with unexpected aud almost incredible success
can demand Of the conquered, viii that submis-
SION require Of us. The reign of ruiianism
which now asserts itself against protest, and
even agapst force, at the South, viii be, when |
the loyal South is made over TO Jef. by an act |
Of peace the law of society and Of the statute
book very largo proportion, if not ma
jority Of the people will be delivered over, bound
and helpless, into the haDds of foe Of their own
household, exasPerated by opposition aud hungry |
for revenge. With us all this, even when We |
contemplate it az possible, is ns a thing aiar off.
With them it is a danger imminent, tho nature
Of which the events Of their daily lives impress
upon lNeul tut tOO iu'. NN'A eeht
{" What do you mean to do 2"
And they a.k it, not ia apprehension merely,
but as guide to their own conduct. They say,
and with good reason, il the white-leather party |
Of the North is strong enough to compel submis-
sion to JEFF. Davis under the specious name OF |
peace, then it would be worse than folly in us |
10 make bad matters worse by coming out in |
lngor Of the Union. Our condition is bad enough |
at best and though We are cutie ready to ac.
cept the immediate penalty Of organizing and |
taking the field on behalf Of the Union, we are
not willing 10 do so if we are 20 be- betrayed |
hereafter by the tfeachery ot the North iuto the |
bands Of our worst enemy. IL you mean to |
abandon the position you have taken OF asserting
and standing by the Conltitution and the laws
under colnpulson OF minority Of q minority, |
lot us know It, and We wil make terms in timo
for oartelres If, on the other hand, you mean
10 stand by ne, who, aller oil. are the greatest
sufferers in this conflict, give us assurance TO
that effect, and we viii s:ynd by you. But in
that case there must be no palterng or ialter
ilg; no base and cOwardy submission to this
tyranny, which is to us already a most fearful
reality.
Such substantially is the talk Of the Southern
gentlemen 10 whom we have alluded; and in
OILERS from different parts Of the South, though
not coming as these two did with a spe-
cal question seeking special solution, wc
find the same spirit. Assure the Union
"men Of the South" they sly, that We
"may depend n the North, aOd we are with
I" you." They seek that assurance in tac energy
NJ the Coy ernment in the snnnress sinn of trna.