The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-04
From the Boston Traveller.
Unconditional Peacemakers.

"Tho loss OF firm, national character. or
the degradation Of o nations honor, is the
inevitable prelude to her destruction These
are the words which will be remembered by
the American people as long as the immortal
name Of Webster holds place In their minds.
Words trucr than these were never uttered,
and 1t would be shining light In the his
tory Of this great rebellion II future ages
could record that there lived not one man In
the loyal States but who, by word and deed,
showed that this great principle Of national
honor was one Of the most precious bequests
Of those who fought and died to maintain il
while the nation was yet in its infancy.
Sad as It may seem, and humiliating to
every true American, there are fuw In the
loyal States who would gladly consent to .
peace with tho rcbcllious States. which
would not only destroy our national honor,
but hold us up as the laughingstock Of the
whole civilized world, and brand us forever
nation of towards.
What are the causes which influence the
action Of these mon? They may bo one
thing, they may be another. Bat whatever
they may be, they cannot amount to plausi.
bic excuse for the course they would pursue
il they had the moral (or immoraD courage.
II may be their mental calibre Is not expan-
sive enough to admit Of their breaking from
old party ties, and acknowledging the Con.
stitution and the enforcement Of the lsws,"
as the only foundation on which we can
safely rely. Such is, In many instances. the
caso. II may be want of confidence in the
administrators Of the government, or Of GER
tain departments Of the government, Of
whose blunder they take advantage to find
an excuse for disloyalty. These things.
when compared with the great issue at stake,
are but as drops Of water to the ocean, and
no honorable man, no true patriot, can for
moment harbor such paltry and ephcmeral
prejudices.
There has been growing feeling at the
North, among small clique, since the dis.
aster which has befallen the Federal army,
which has manifested itself in several in
stances by open and bold avowals Of q desire for
peacc-peacc ut any prics--evcn at the price
Of sacrifice Of every principle Of free gov.
ernment upon which the hopes Of future
millions arc based. Happily these individu.
als stand in the community very 'giorious
minority, and We feel assured that there Is
fxed determination In the hearts of the pat
riotic hosts Of the Union, which will Keep
IN check oil such fawning sycophanis. and
teach them that patriotism with the Ameri.
can people has higher Specification than
vain praise Of our institutions and apostro-
phcs to the American eagle in "piping times
Of peace"
The sccessionists Of the Middle States are
very anxious for. peace; breckenridge and
yallandigham are anxious for peace; and
the latteS in the face Of his abuse OF the
National Government, and thereby Of the
whole loyal people, declares himself as good
a Union man as any one.' Tho peaccmons.
crs Of the North would do well to nominate
Brcckinridgc, or some other traitor, for their
standard bearer. They are composed Of
those who would kiss tho rod and bow obei.
sance To JEFF. Davis and his horde Of con.
spirators, and accept their sophissry and
damnable treason for their guidance. and
Transmit them TO thoir. children, an sverlast
ing curse, for their inheritance.
Every American citizen. doubtless. is des'r'
ous Of peace. But, thank hsavsn, every
American citizen Is not dcsirous OF dishon'
orable pcacs-a peace which would ooupro-
mise not only our own 'slfr~pccs, but tho
yrea, name which we have won among foreign
nations, and cause us TO sink from the admir-.
inc ea1s Of the civilized world into chaotic
collection OF turbulent communities, with
no government savo that formed 10 tho delu.
sive imagination Of those who hold to the
right Of secsssion-which Is no moro nor
les than the " essence Of anarchy"
When the acknowledgment Of the right Of
secession becomes . necessity, then let Us
talk Of peacs-is would then dignity it.slf
BY. the name Of revolution. and, ri- e or
wrong, 1t would have TO BE- acknowledged.