The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-23
MasAr!lle atniuu.
FOR Freedom and Nationality
:. G. MERCER, Editor.
SUNDAY NoRyING. NOV. q l8C2
Ianguid War a Weak and Cruel
Policy.

"
off there be any truth established by the
universal history of nations, il is this
that tooarry The spirit Of peace into todr IS a
,seak and cruel policy. The time OF nego-
tiation is the time for deliberaiion and
delay. But when an extreme ouse cats
for tint TemedN ,Clich IS IA itS O1n
nature most uolent, and which, in such
cases, is a remedy only because it
is violent, IL is idle to think Of mitigating
and diluting. Ldngatid tOdr can do nothing
tglich negotiation o. submission UiB not do
letter and 10 act on any other principle
is not to save blood and money but TO
squander them" 'i"
This is not only the deliberate opinion
of one of the profoundest thinkers, and
the greatest of modern historians, but it
seems to\us so reasonable and obvious
thatitis hardly worth while to attempt to
establish it by argument or illustration.
This would be almost like trying 10 prove
a mathematical axiom. All will admit
readily that TO hesitate and daily, in
time of war, is TO encourage and give con-
fldence to the enemy. MAcAULAY's SEN
timent quoted above is brief exposition
of the philosophy of war, if we may use
such an expression respecting the ultima
yatioregum--the arbitrament of the sword
Let US apply this rule TO the conduct of
the Government towards che rebels. The
rebellion is an "extreme case, whose
originators, by their own refusal TO
submit 10 the decision of the ball
lot-box, have forced the government to
apply "that remedy which is in its own
nature most Violent" that is acar; and
this war is remedy, only because it is
violent The war cannot be "mitigated
or diluted" for lis success depends solely
upon its unrelaxed energy. The sooner
all who love their country, and desire the
perpetuation of its government, realize
the fact that the rebels, who have repu-
dated all laws, and spurn the constitu
ton, by planting themselves on the abom-
Unable and atrocious doctrine Of seces.
sion, which is the destruction of all law,
must be completely conquered by the
sword, the brighter will be the prospect
of peace, and the restoration of the gov
eminent, The rebel who calls himself
President and the rebels who call them
selves a Congress, and the rebel newspa
pers have again and again declared that
they would accept no compromise,
| and listen 10 no terms save the com
plete acknowledgment of The independ-
ence Of their Confederacy; and this dec
laratiOn they are endeavOring to back by
vast armies, filed up by most rigorous
CONSUMPTION. We can tell the misguided
people of the seeded States TO return 10
the old Government, and We will afec-
tionately and gladly receive them, but
we can hold no parley with the "intelli-
gent and conscious traitors" who raise
the sword against us. AS well might
we open the Bible, and read the Ten
Commandments 70 bnrgular who was
breaking into our chamber, or 10 ruiiian
who was drawing a dagger upon us.
Our only safety in these caues would
be not in words, but in immediate action.
We may argue with men who themselves
argue, but il is folly to reason with those
who have thrown aside all argument.
We cannot mingle tho words of peace
with the weapons Of warfare. Argu-
ment has been exhausted, aud compro-
mise has failed, and we must either con-
quer, or be conquered. No platform, no
resolutions, no law, no proclamation,
can save the nation, which is assail
ed by armed and desperate men
who have slaked their all upon the for
tunes of war and the decision of the
sword. War only can avail anything
We did not invite the bloody arbiter 70
settle the dispute. Thatwa the work Of
others, and we must abide its decision
1t does not become the assaulted 10 plead
for cessation Of hostilities that is the
work of the assailants, We firmly be-
leve that the repeated attempts to carry
on hostiliti,s, and subdue the rebellion by
diplomacy and words, have cost us many
lives and great sums Of money, The rcb.
els interpreted our unwillingness - fight
as a proof Of cowardice and conscious
weakness and laughed as heartily
al US, for our hints at compromise.
as = highwayman would laugh at the
poor traveller who shouldrsng him a
Sunday school hymn. Did our fathers
propose % compromise with Great Britain
after lhc bl'tlcofBunkor IIillw was fought