Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-10-22

~. ~ .Y0RKVILLE sc
The Prospects of an Early Peace,
We present this morning an interesting
communication upon the prospects of an
early peace, written at our request, by an
eminent and highly educated gentleman,
lately returned from the United States Il
To the Editors of the Richmond Enquirer,
GENTLEMEN At your request, I will
state briefly my conclusions, from the iu.
formation possess, as TO the chances Of an
early termination of,the war. My Beliefs
that-the war will be either .terminatedsin a
few months or be indefinitely Prolonged
OF these two-results, my opinion is thai
the chances are greatly in favor of, the for
The first consideration incliuing n3 mind
to the conclusion I have Stated, is the re-
suits that am convinced have flowed from
the battles in Virginia and Maryland in.
the campaign now progressing, from the
battle IF Williamsburg down to the present
time inclusive Notwithstanding what ,is
asserted iu official dispatches, aud alleged,
by army correspondents and in editorials Of
newspapers, my information satisfies me:
that the Confederate arms have met with no.
defeat thus far in this campaign, and that
the truth of this statement is well 'knownto
the Federal officers and soldiers participa-
tting in these various battles. 1t is not
only known to and. appreciated by them,
but it is fully and frankly acknowledged
by very many of them: The battle Of An
tetan, or Sharpsburg, was to the Federal
forces, the most terrible defeat of:tbe war,
and such, l am satisfied, is the general es-
tiinate of it BY the Northerp public, and
such it is admitted to have, been by NUM-
berless Federal, officers and soldiers who
4 participated in it. The bloody results of
these battie.6elds have produced, & think3
as they we'll might have done, effects favor:
able. to All. early termination Of the aRar.--- :.
My, observation: and information satisfy me
that a large majority of the Northern off
GERS aud soldiers desire peace and wish that
the war were now terminated. The spirit
of resentment is, Ithiuk, visibly abated on
both Sides, The Northern soldiers are
obviously less denunciatory of the South
\ and. Southern men, The declaration that
they are tired of the war and earnestly de.
sire it te.cease is frequently and everywhere
heard. The proclamation of President
Lincoln for the emancipation Of the slaves,
though not openly condemned by thesar!
mB is greatly disapproved BY many and, il
openly, freely and bitterly denounced by
prominent mep, ard leading newspapers Of
; the North-a proceediug that would not
have been tolerated slA weeks ago, ;but
have caused The arrest Of the individuals
aud the suppression of 1.-The newspaper =
Dencnciations of war conducted to secure
1.-The emancipation Of slaves are .snnreseryed
aud constantly to be heard. There seems
to be conviction resting upon the minds
Of large portion Of the North, both army
and civilians, that enough has been done
in these battles fully to vindicate the ,cour
age of both sides, and that blood enough
has been spilled, and suffering and misery
enough have. been, experienced and caused
to appease even the Mooch Of carnage him
self. The conviction l am satisfied, has by
the results of these battles been forced up
on their minds, that while they may be
able with the immensely superior mber<
they can bring into the field Ito overruu, .fa5
I waste and destroy our country and to re-
newsthe, siokeuing scenes Of DEATH carnage
and misery, presented in the deadly con
fc,s between brethren of the late battle
4 fields, yet, that they cannot subdue the
d South, that the Uniou as 1t was can never
3 be restored, that the acknowledged ailegec
unwilling surrender of Mr. Lincoln of The
Government of the United States into tht
hands of the Abolitionists, suppresses the
hast lingering hope of a restoration ofth'
4 Union, even on the part of those who sus
: tained bis Administration under the homes
belief that he was endeaVoring in good faitt
to accomplish that end =
| A majority Of the North, certainly a ma
j6rity of its officers and soldiers, are con
viuced that even if they were able to sub
due the South, (and without which they
have no idea that the power Of the, Fedora
Government can ever be established ovel
any considerable portion of the. Gonfedera
cy,) the accomplishments this result wuulc
be accompanied with the utter destruction
+ of the cotton, sugar aud tobacco crops anc
of the market of the South, that source anc
those elements Of incalculable wealth to the
North in the past. Trul y,-"a barren scep
tire in their gripe,"' the fruit "turned tt
ashes upon ther,lips." The facts, which
| verify believe do exist satisfy my minc
that the tendency ofthiugs is to termina
ton of the war. That conviction is be
coming general in the North that the res
toratiou of the Union-that is to say, The
], re establishment Of the Union as it existed
S under the Constitution of the United States
is impossible and utterly hopeless, thai
in point of fact, the Constitution Of the
i. United States itself no longer exists Iu
e deed, have heard it remarked very re-
Gently that it is rarely named or referred
to; that it is the Government, and not thu
!, Constitution, is now the subject of refer
$ eDce, aud the upholdiug and supporting
it in whatsoever it may think fit to do il
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