The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-08-21

makes you say "that peace is disunion," and |
ITO be in favor of peace is to be in favor of
dissolution of the Union.' /
DIR. WEST also said that he had letter from
you containing the same sentiment. The Re-
publicans in this part of the county are trying
to make capital out of what you said in your
letter and many of your friends feel very sore
over it. am of the opinion that there is |
some misunderstanding about it, and would be |
pleased to have you explain.
Please write Immediately, as desire to have
this matter settled. s7
Respectfully Yours, qa
lsst hs.tiE 81 =. - = E' 11A
5 WooDsFIELD, o., Aug. IA. 1861.
p Dear .Sir:-Your letter to me, directed
to Washington City, was returned to me
here, and / hasten to reply, And in an
swer thereto, you must first permit me to
say, that, to the best of my knowledge, I
have not written to any one in Belmont
county, who was not my friend at the last
fall election. ! have. written to, r. s.
CLARK, Esq, of Morristown. to DR.. West
and D., PECK, Esq, of st. Clairsville,
to GEO MoCLELLAND, Esq, of Barnes
vile, and to W. s. KENNoN, Esq, (the
choice of Belmont county for Congress
last fall all Of whom, I believe, were my
friends liza. j, 4rr
Relative to the letter to Mr.. PECK, /
have this to say. 1t was not intended for
publication, or the language used would
have been more explicit; 30 that I could
not have been misunderstood. 1t was
written in answer to q business letter., in
which some reference was made to the
great question of the day.
I have not sought :he endorsement of
any Convention for the course I have
thought it my duty to pursue. and was
much surprised to learn that the "Uncon.
ditional Union Convention" of the 3rd
of August, had thought my action of sufi-
cient Importance to make it the subject Of
resolution Atthe same time, the good
will and approval of the people of the
District, must and ever will be held in
grateful remembrance by me, if not pur-
chased by . sacrifice Of principle. I have
been Democrat all my life and expect to
live and die one.s sa'asaaa aae9eaf%
I confess to much ignorance of the state
of parties in Belmont county. In beth
recognize some of my warmest friends al
the last election. <4sta4el Ja4I 3; sif las
wish now to copy few extracts from
the letter to Mr.. PECK, ver6atin,, changing
however, the relative position Of some o
the sentences, but not changing my obvi.
ous meaning: fes9 sssl5ssis.
i, Il have voted for all propesitions}ook
.ing towards q peaceable adjustment O
''our troubles; at the same time l heliev.
led, and still believe, that they would be
..of no avail even if they had passed Con
..gress. sis*s = ~ = 4 Again, / hay,
.svoted for all the men and supplies asked
"by the President, believing the exigen
.cies of the times demanded it. There
.tare, and can be bat two sides to thi
squestion. The one, for the war for th;
epreservation pof the Union; the other
1 .against the war, and in favor of peace
(which simply means to be in favor of !,
dissolution of the Union.' Now reat
i my reasons for this opinion, as given il
i that letter: ssThat man has read the his
4tory of the times to but little purpose
"who believes the South will nop accep
"of any terms but q total and compile
recognition Of her independence. M,
"reasons for voting for propositions look
"ing toward peaceabic adjustment wer,
E"these: Il believed If we rendered thi
"South some mode of adjustment ant
.they refused it. we would not only hav,
"the civilized world on ou- side, but W,
! awould more certainly have a unitet
cNorth.t' 33a aFsa .gg8llay s.jjH ls1ai
,|gr Now, friend Collins. i ask you to an
swer, in all candor, this question: If yo,
: believed, as I do, that the South. woult
accept of no terms of settlement but
recognition Of her independence, 'uoul
you vote for such ternss2 4 believe tina
she win accept of no lotheraterms, aconse
quently, in myrletters to Mr. PECK, L said
ITO be. in. favor of peace that; is. term
of peace which tie South will accept
! ..simply means to be in favor Of disso
! luton Of the Union, !" because she vii
not .'now accept of any terms butea tota
and complete recognition of her indepen
> dence." s.4.o...s., .,sf.st.n.s. ..,.s,is.
I have voted. and expect to vote, TO
al! propositions for an honorable adjust
, ment of our troubles for the reason
above given, and.l if possible, throw til,
entire responsibility OF the further, prose
, tution of this war upon the Southerl
S, es-unwarrantubiy commenced, as i
was, by then, At the same time. if III,
) so called Confederate S:ates vi accept .
honorable and just terms of peace att
. God grnnt. that they may. though dt
J not believe they will shall rej.,ce at i
os ruch as nny true friend of the IL nio,