Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-07-02

for some little yielding Of your stern policy How
many arms would be ontstretched, how many hearts
would bound to give welcome home again" to,
the war-staned. volunteer Oh, Sit, those meetings
at the cottage threshold those claspigs at the farm
house porch, those cleaylngs of the throbbing
bosoms OF women to SCARED and manly breasts were
worth all the laures that were ever snatched from
blood stained fields The news Of our victories has
been hailed with peans and illumination; but, with
the first tdngs of peace there is not hovel in the
land that would not have candle atits window,
not palace that would hot blaze with splendors in
token of theadvent Of a blessing priceless beyond
all earthly triumphs.
Then, Sir, Yet us lower the points of our victorious
swords, and parley with the Zoe while the bugle
blasts of victory are yet ringing in ears. five
are free in anticipation from the peril of future re-
verses; if we are sanguine~ that the Federal arms
are henccforward gifted with nvincibility, that is
the MODEST reason why we should say to our oppo-
nents, pause, if you will reflect" Let US yield
them one chance for reconciement, before we drive
them to the resistance of despair There can be
no victory where kith and kin, where brothers and
fellow-countrymen where men who are bound to
each other by the hottest of past associations are
struggling for supremacy All is defeat; all is dis
aster; all is misfortune, tears, ard mourning Do
not let us efface with blood every sacred memory
that may yet bind these men to as brothers.
Give sign of invitation before the Geath strug-
gle be renewed. Let the spirit Of forgiveness pass
between the lines of those opposing hosts, and with
the blessings of Providence, those armed legions
will take lesson from Sabina and early Rome.
whose soldiers united by domestic ties threw down
their weapons upon the battles verge, and spranS
to each others embrace.
SIR, have spoken freely, studying only to make
my words an index to my thought My. opinions
have brought upon me the censure often most dis
courteously expressed of many who differ with me
but for that care bat lttle< am content to bide
the hour that shall set me right before my country
men. AS have believed the prosecution of this
to be widening Of the gulf that separates the
sections, l have earnestly opposed it. | have al
ways looked upon the subjugation of the South as
project whose fulfllnlent would strike heavy,
perhaps fatal, blow to true republicanisn, and al
though will yield to man in devotion to the
Union-athough | would make any and every per-
sonal sacrifice to restore its glory and integrity
will never consent even for the sake of that Union,
to yield up my brthrght as freeman; to sacrifice
those principles Of self government those rights of
free speech, free thought and personal liberty,
without which Union is but Il mockery and name
1t is not grandeur and extent of territory that
covet as the chief attributes of the Government I'M
der which am to live. Were one of but single
community, insignificant in numbers, but secure in
the guarantee of apure Republican administration Of
affairs, would be proud of my citizenship. But the
union of thousand States, each as great and
tives have the honor to be, would det:st-yes,
sir, III my most Utmost heart detest if the holding
together of component parts should create neceS-
sity for the assumption Of dcspotic power
SelfgoverHment is the god of my political idola-
try, and the Union is but temple in which have
worshppcd it. Should that temple be destroyed
would not !orSahc the creed, nor wonld the mighty
principle be buried in the ruins. love and>would
preserve the temple for beneath roof are gathered
pSf n.,pps
hallowcd walls Inscribed the names of patriots,
from the North and from the South, whose blood
has been its cement. But rather would have the
glorious fabric crumb!e to the dust, than see the
spirit Of dcSpotism0 lshrined within its sacred pre-
ciUciS.
have seen already tie silent but engthcning
SHADOW of ahSolntiSn creeping into the spot. And
when the Executive hand tor the first time in
history, was interpoSed between the citizen and his
rights, the germ was planted OF danger mghtier
than rebellion in its most gigantic phase, for be-
lcvc cEcroachments by an Executive TO be in itself
rebellion against the only sovereignty acknow-
lc'isc-,he majesty of the people. believe each
step towards ab>outism TO be more fatal to the WEI
fare OF the Republic than any possible act within
the power of the citizen to conceive and execute
VIII resist every grasp that may be made upon an
attribute OF sovereignty not heretofore acknowedg
cd to the Chief MagISlracy, for reason and instinct
no less than the fearful examples that history has
furnished from the ashes of republics teach me that
the first STEP unchecked will not be the last but
only the precursor Of those giant strides by which,
over the nccks of b trayed freemen, ambitious men
have mounted to a throne.
We want Union, sir, of soveregns, not of sub
iccts and that our Government shall extend over
a vast area to me is of less moment than that it
sh ,uld be purely, strictly. and unequvocally repub-
Tcan, at all times and under all conditions.
Sir, have done. | have only to reterate my
hopc and my eutreaty that this Congress- which has
in sacred charge the welfare of our country, will
adopt some measure which may bring about ces-
saton of hoStilities with view to negotiation
That DONE | an firm in my belief that hostilties
will not be resumed.