Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-28

\
rSyencSs> of tolerance pf brotherhood, aud kindly
Keeling "a nv conviction that before the close OF
this eyentNA session the prelimnarieS OF peace
! weoll DO arranged but while, with the obstinacy
Of a bind anate aud the instinct OF brutal glad
iatan the first object is To promugate party creed
aud The Sp,N,aa to crush an opponent and wear the
hal,,, AT yle,ay sec fairer prospect than, at
same distant period, reached through seas OF blood
! and hes,,S OF carnage the forced submission OF a
crushed and acvaSted section, and the equally I'M
h.ppy spectacle of n government triumphant but
! exhausted by its triumph, deteSted by a moety OF
those Sovereigaties that gave it birth, and gazing
With horror aud remorso upon the desoiation 1t has
: Wrought
Sir il not my intention to vent reproaches, even
! where believe them best deserved l have risen
10 enter my protest against The discussoh III inns
| Chamber, of any anti-slavery scheme whatever at
this crisis and to offer an earnest appeal TO TINS
Congress that its legislation shall embrace every
means of securing an immediate peace. H. as the
government claims the Confederate cause is hope
| less the leaders of the secession movement cannot
be ignorant of the fact, and knowing It, they Will
be naturally inclined to lend willing ear to what
proper overtures this government may present
At some period of this struggle there must he nc
gotiaton; it must be resorted TO, sooner or later;
why not now!
Is it because pride forbidS that we should DC the
first to outstretch the hand of Cancellation! Heaven
fOrefend that thousands of human lives and coun-
rys welfare should depend upon so false principle
Is it because the South has not been sufficiently
punished humbled and subdued? Then let US con
TESS that chaStiSement and vengeance are the objects
of this war. Is it because the antSlavery move
ment has not yet received a sufficient impetus! IL
So 20 tell it the armies that have won your VIC
tories. Make abolition the war cry. Place banner
with that device in the vanguard and lure those ar
mics on to conquest with tiff you can. Your
soldiers would rend the treacherouS ensign into
shreds, and would march TO their homes with the
same alacrity that they pushed on with 1t to the
battle field.
What, then, is the cause that wlthholds negotia-
ton? You will not parlev with armed treason
But you have pareyed with armed treason, if that
be the word; pareyed for the mere convenience OF
an exchange of prisoners and other purposes to
! mitigate the grievances of war. 1t was your duty
so do And shall you not do so 70 accomplish all
that your troops fighting for-the re conStruc-
! ton of the Union
Let us suppose that the South is anxious to EN-
! brace an opportunity of return, and is withheld
| FROM making advances by doubts as to the Inten-
tons of the North. Is it not right that we SHOULD
! confer with them, that those doubts may be re-
! moved?
! What do the people for such miserable pune.
tilioS in the hour oI nation agony? Sir, an hon
orabe peace is within the grasp of this Congress,
without further hlood>hed This Congress knows
that it is So and when the people shall realize that
! it is only the Infamous design TO strengthen the
anti slavery movement that prevents an effort 10 ob
| tain that peace, to the chiefs OF the Abolition
party in the land
Bat, enough of them. Words are thrown away
upon their stubborn fanaticsm. appeal with bet
ter hope to the locr feelings that should pervade
humanity and especially pervade this august as
scmblage- that should by the nature Of lis sacred
functions be far removed from the miserable amhl
! ton of reduc ng section of. our common country
to'the extreme and therefore dangerous c"niitI"a
! of despair.
Sir, there may be a fascination in the CORY mag
niticence of war. There may be craving for mar
shall gloricS in the hearts of men, and an instinct
! of triumph which We share in common with the
! brute creation But if ever there can be time
! when more Christian impulse should possess our
souls it is now; now, when the triumph and con
seriousness of strength give the nohle privilege OF
extending the hand of reconciliation without fear
Of degradation, of self repToach for cowarGice.-
Ic adversely has been our excuse for SernneSS let
success lie plea for magnanimty. Providence
. has placed within the reach of the NOsth greater
, triumph than countless armed legionS could con
uuer; the triumph of subGuing brave enemy with
! generous and nercfu policy, that will diSarm re-
sentiment and rekindle the old brOtheiy flame that
perhaps is not yet totally extinct. For, after all.
they our brothers. SIR, and some sOitening of
the stern Roman vigor which our rulers assumed is
due to that brotherhood, which, BY untmcly sever
: ity may be cancelled now forever There are gen.
dued; that every armed SouthcrnCr must throw
down his weapon and sue for mercy.
Should freeman ask much Of his brother
freeman? Would they be worthy OF companonShip
in fraternity, being reclaimed at such sacrifice
of manly feeling? What would You have them do :
Would you have them crouch and cringe and strew
their heads with ashes and kneel at your gates for
re admission? They are Americans, Sir. and will
not do it! No. though Roanoke AMI Fort Henry
. and Fort DOnclSOn should c re enacted from day
to day through the lapse of bloody years, they will
not do il! Gye them some chance for an hUnOra
bic return, or you will wipe out every chance, and
the two sections viii be twain forever Yes, Sir. you
may link them to each other with chains, and pin
their deStnieS together with bayonets but at heart
they will be twain forever They are the children
of the same heroic stock the JOINT inheritors with
ourselves of the precious legacy Of freedom; and it
/ seems a Sacrege and an insult to the memories of
the past, that many Sir, should sit in your pres
ence here to-day to goad them on to desperate re-
slstance, and SO few-alaS so very few-to mediate
and restrain.
OF those few, | thank my God that am one
am proud TO proclaim it here beneath the dome of
the Capitol. | shall proclaim it, here and every
where, until the wings of peace shall be once more
folded over the bleeding b0som Of my country. |
shall proclaim it aloud and honestly, although to do
so would make the next victim of this cruel
strife.
Sir, it may be said that | speak of peace, while
its attainment, without further recourse to arms.
remains impossible. But do not believe it impos-
sible. What effort has been made What door has
been opened through which the passions and i'll
feelings of the contestants might pass out and
enter? None. The single idea has been forced
upon the people that the sword and the sword
alone, must decide the issue. 1t has been pro-
nounced treason to hold an-opposite position. Sir,
If to have but little faith in the efficacy of the sword
for joining severed friendships if to earnestly desire
peace and to deprecate the horrors of war; be
son, then am | a traitor; and am proudGr of such
treason than others have the right to be, of their
vindictive, flaming and pretentiouS patriotism.
l conjure this Congress, IN the name of our suf-
ferlng country-in the name of wives that may be
! widows, of children that may be orphans, in the
names of gallant men, now strong IN health and
he oil d