Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
The Prospect of Peace.

We do not attach much importance to the recent
so.callcd Democratic triumphs in the North and
Northwest. The Democrats of the North are equal
ly pledged with the Republicans to vigorous pros
ecution of the war. The former appear to be op
posed to confscaton and emancipation and in favor
of conducting the war in such way as to maintain
liberty among themselves; and they have, from
the first, vehementlv opposed and denounced the
favoritism, partyism, and corruption by which the
Lincoln administration has been marked. But STILL
with Mr.. Lincoln, and his party, they are for the
unr If they had control of both branches of Con-
gress, they would be compelled by public opinion
to vote supplies of men and money to the Presi-
dent. But they not likely to obtain this control.
The war will most probably continue during Mr..
Lincoln's term, unless some CONFUSION or revolu-
ton should occur among the Northern people to
arrest it.
Nor do we perceive any grounds for hoping that
Great Britain or France will interfere The priv.
legged orders in those countries and the enemies of
free representative government generally, are too
much pleased at the condition Of things in North
America to interfere IN our behalf. In addition to
this, the destruction of African slavery this con-
tinent has been a cherished object with British
statesmen for the last thirty years; and the eman
cipation proclamation of Lincoln is constant and
powerful appeal to the abolition millions of Europe
to agate to prevent their governments from inter-
fering in our behalf, even if they were inclined
to do so.
We entertained the hope month or two since,
and expressed il: that peace might not be far dis
tant; but this hope was founded on the suppostion
that no attempt would be made to invade the United
States. We believe the invasion of Maryland and
Kentucky, and the disasters to our arms in those
States, and the threat which accompanied the in
vasion to carry the into the heart of the North
ern States, have destroyed the hope which might
otherwise have Geen INDUCED that the North would,
at some early period, propose terms of peace to our
government. We believe that Maryland, Kentucky,
and Missouri are against us by decided majorites.
Leaving out those States, We have but about five
millions of whites; and when was it ever known
in history that five millions invaded and conquered
a peace from twenty three millions? If we can de-
fend our own soil successfully and protect our sea-
coast from the ravages of war, and negro prop
erty, we shall do remarkably we'll No one can be
more anxious than we are to punish our enemies
by pushing the war into their very midst, but we
must not consult feeling alone in matter of such
grave IMPORTANCE The more we cripple ourselves
byexpedi.ions into the enemy's country the more
we will expose ourselves, in the end, at home, to
the power and progress Of his invading armies.
The child must learn to crawl before it can walk
The pros pect is by no means bright or cheering.
We are no alarmst, but we must deal frankly with
our readers Still greater sacrifices and sufferlngs
are before US. We can only brace ourselves and
| meet them like men. >,