The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-26
The Peace Feelins AZ the North.

hC II CdCO CNAAht 'aN
We find in the Philadelphia papers
very significant and out spoken letter
from Hon. William b. Reed, one OF the
ablest and most influential Democratic
leaders in Pennsylvania, in reply to an
invitation to attend a party gathering
We copy the letter in full. Mr.. Reed was
Mr.. Buchanan's Minister to China:
CHESTNUT Hill, NEAR PHILADELPHIA,
December 5, 1862.
Gendemn: Nothingwould give me more
pleasure than TO unite in the festival in
honor of the recent victory in Pennsly-
vania, but the short notice, and someper.
sonal considerations with which J need
not trouble you, prevent il. Let me hope
that before long may congratulate you
on the fruit of this political success in
the restoration of the functions of Con-
stitutional Government at the North, and
an honorable peace. II is my firm belief
that he paramount tcish Of The masses Of the
North is for pedce-though timidity, or
considerations mistaken in my opinion
of expediency prevent them from saying
so. 1t has been part of the policy of the
Administration to crush out this craving
of common humanity, and 10 denounce
as traitors those who think as do, that
blood enough had been shed already
This has oeen acquiesced in too long
There are thousands who think with
me. whose property is endangered
whose industry is paralyzed-fathers and
mothers who are praying anXiously Tor
the return of their children from the
battlefield or waiting for the stern doom
that takes them from those who are lett
at home. This prayer will soon find ut
terance-and the community, weary OF
war and bloodshed-weary of debt and
taxation, of the tax-collector and the re-
cruiting sergeant-weary of the ambu-
lance of the wounded and the hearse for
the dead-will hail with ecstacy beyond
control the hour when flags of permanent
truce shall be displayed at Washington
and Richmond. am old enough to re
! member the peace of 1915, and the JOY
! it excited: but it was as nothing in com
parison with what ours will be when thi!
| brothers war is over.
When peace comes-or before it comes
if the madness of those in power pro
| longs this dreary conflict-will come the
day of responsibility; and part of the du
ty of the Democratic party will be to en-
| force this stern account. The House oil
Representatives at Harrisburg will be
strictly the Graz d Inquest of this Com
monwealth, and it will have work enough
on hand. On it will devolve the duty to
inquire into the conduct of this war so
far as Pennsylvania is concerned, and to
| know if her authorities have been faith
| full to their local trust. The bitter cry OF
the Roman Emperor for his lost legions is
echoed by Pennsylvania asking why her
gallant reserves were sacrificed ana cut
to pieces on distant battle-felds, and her
own frontier left open to invasion and in.
suit. General Stuart's unreslsted raid
through two of the most populous and
loyal counties OF Pennsylvania, circling as
he did in defiance near the capital Of the
State. is to the authorities the most dis
graceful incidents of this war 1t was
bloodless by mere accident. 1t was moi
the less discreditabe because it was blood
less.
But another outrage on the dignity and
the sovereignty of the State demands in
qury and redress. On the 9th OF Au'
gust last, Federal military otficer-Gen.
Jas. MISUNDERSTANDING to be Militia
nv Governor of the District of Columbia,
came, with guard to the capital of this
State, and without authority of law, in
the middle Of the night, seized and drag
ged from their beds, directly under the
eve of the Governor and his Cabinet, four
respectable, and. as the event proved, in
nocent citizens of Pennsylvania. They
were incarcerated in a distant prison,
and finally discharged without an accusa-
ton or an accuser, and for them, our own
immediate fellow citizens, no word of re-
monstIance or even intercession was ut
tered by the Executive or his advisers.
Had no other cause for rejoicing at
the restoration of Democracy to legisla-
tive power in this State, find it IN the
prospect of inquiry, and, if need be,
punishment Of those whose neglect and
in difference have inflicted these kindred
gnominies on an ancient Commonwealth
where the step of invasion has not been
felt for more than seventy years, and
where personal liberty, as secured by law.
has never before been violated.
You will, | am sure, excuse these sug-
gestions for the future. Something may
be pardoned to freedom of speech sud
denly restored
have the honor to be, gentlemen, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
VIM. B. REED.