Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-12-20
Miscellaneous.
The People Must do 1t.

There 10 prospect for peace, aud it
depends upon the loyal States, whether it
shall become certainty or nor. We have
more than once predicted that the result
of the elections would have powerful in
huence upon the rebel states, and would
do more toward ending the rebellion than
all President Lincoln han done since his
Inauguration. We have seen our expec-
tations realized much sooner than we an
ticipated, for we are now assured that
overtures for peace, and a restoration of
the old Union, have been made to the ad-
ministration. While this news will be re.
ceivsd by the people, as the most precious
and cheering of any they have received
since the commencement of the war, they.
must not fatter themselves that the war
will be ended, and peace, union, and har.
mony restored, unless they themselves
bring it about. The men who have con.
tralled the administration ever since its
Inauguration, determnd that war should
be commenced for the sole purpose of
abolishing slavery, have also determined
that it shall never end until that object is
accomplished We might cite any mum.
Der of speeches, Of the prominent men in
the abolition ranks, both in and out of
! Congress, in which such determination
is clearly, and unequivocally expressed
but we deem it unnecessary, as our read
ers are already familiar with them,-
These men will not iorego their determi-
nation they will resist every overture
for peace--however fair and just it may
be, and however much the people may
desire it--unless it contains a proposition
to abolish slavery they prefer war, blood
shed, butchery, starvation, and taxation,
ESQ long as they are not the victims to a
peace, on any terms, without the accom-
plishment Of their pet scheme.
1t is hardly necessary to say, that if
peace is not declared until the Southern
States agree 10 the abolition of slavery,
1t will never be declared; and that if
peace is to come when the administration
Shall have abolished slav,ry by force, it
will come after the white population in
the Southern States are wholly extermi,
mated and after the Constitution shall
have ceased to be of any binding force or
effect, The President, by virtue of the
Consultation. has no power to change the
status of single slave, and by the Chi.
cago Platform, he and his entire party are
bound not to interfere with the institution
of slavery it is therefore apparent, that
any attempt, upon his part, to free the
slaves, is violation of his solemn pledge,
made to :he people, upon accepting his
nomination violation of the Constitd-
ton, and of his solemn oath to support
the Constitution.
From party, having the power to
make war, and to declare peace acting
in utter disregard of the fundamental law
of the land; of its solemn pledges; the
people have no right to expect their inter-
ests subserved, or that anything will be
done to remove the awful and terrible ca
lamity, under which we labor, unless it
tends to the accomplishment of the objects
the administration has in view.
Thus it will be seen, that if the people
prefer peace to war; the Union to dis
union; amty and friendship, between the
North and South, they must not expect
the present administration to bring it
about for them; if they prefer the lives
of three or four hundred thousand white
soldiers, to the freedom and vagabondage
of three or four millions of negroes; and
if they prefer happinss and abundance, to
taxation and starvation, in order to clothe
feed and keep these negroes, they must by
concert or action, bring their power to
bear upon the administration, and compel
it to do that, which it should be its pleasure
to do without compulslon. If the people
desire peace, and restoration Of the
Union they must be up and doing; they
must hold meetings, and petition Congress;
in short, they must leave no effort unmade
to accomplish their object
If the great Democratic party, with the
conservative republic acting with it, arc
united, and solemnly resolved that peace
and restoration of the Union, withou,
regard to the question of slavery, shall be
accomplished, what power in this country
will be able to 'esist them? The people arr
the only power known to oar onstitUtion
and if they will it peace will be ours
without the slaughter of another white
man, and woe to the party that will dar'
to oppose it 1t we're ten thousand time
better for the President to have a millston'
hung around his, and cast into the deepes
part of the sea, than that he will oppos
fair and honorable terms for peace, and ,
restoration eff tho Union.
Fort Wayne Times q. UnSom,