The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1862-12-13
Give us an Armistice.

We take the following from the Roman
Catholic paper called the Pilot, published at
Boston. The Pilot wants An armistice-
that is, a cessation of hostilities. 1t says:
We cannot but refer again to an amnesty.
The time for conquering the South has
passed. The Administrator has not pursued
the war with the necessary spirit, nor with
the sagacily needed for the occasion. There
has been too much political chiraneiy a,
work. 1t is not the country that has been
at stake with our officers, bu! the interest OF
poliicanS-of e'ectioneering friends. Hence
the appointment to a Major Genera'ship of
Fremont, of Pope, of Phelps, and the eleva
ton of MANY more incapable men. The
Hoo. G J. Bidde denounced the war as "a
Black Republican job" This was very Sc
vere but inasmnch AS the Black Republicans
have been enriched 10y the war it is an un
doubted truth. Ii is no, without foundation,
too, in the sense that those Republicans. who
are filing TIER pockets bv the campaign.
have no wish that there shouiI be ressa
ton Of hostililes; and because the rebellion
has much of its cause in Black Republican
politics, (which Is compound of whlggerv, |
know notIingism aud aholionisn) it is diff |
fcul, to prove that Col. Riddle made an
unjust denunciation. But however this may
be, ;he time for sublning the will of the
South has gone. Tha. will is now too ra,nl
pant 1t has won too many victories over
those Republican jackasses-McDowel aud
Pope-have given it pride that will never
acknowledge defeat Fighting has only in
iured our cause. We are able to ex,erminate
the Sou,h-to give its lands to Northern
settlers-to emancpate its slaves, to leave it
no public work-to remove completely its
population; but we cannot conquer the
Southern will While Southern man re
mains, there will be a Southern will that
cannot be conquered. We can put the
South under foot, but its spirit is ndomit'
able. What profit can spring from such
victory? None. If the Southern army was
beaten to morrow, the spirit of revolution
would grow all the stronger.
The President has issued many proclama
tons which he periodically believed would
be followed by an increase OF Unionism in
the South. But his manfestos are spit at
and himself derided. His documents are of
no avail bat one-that Of enlargng the
spirit of rebellion Can he mention sin
ole proclamation of his that has realjze |
his hopes? We should be sorry to impede
him in saving The Union. But his past ex
perience should tell him now that an armis'
tee would do no good. What does the
South want2 Can he not put a question of
this nature? Can he not try the value of
a suggestion for peace2 This may not be
the highest spirit-it may not be according
to the way in which guilty rebels should be
treated. Rnt it is prudence. We cannot
break the spirit OF the South by arms; and
without their spirit in its freedom their
overthrow would lead to nothing. Enough
Of blood has been shed-enough of lives
have been lost-enough of desoation to all
branches of industry has been done, and
enough coercve proclamations have been
issued let US now try the virtue OF peace.
The President is, indeed, in a most unpleas
ant situation. There is no doubt that he is
honest, but the faction that elected him to
the White House want the war continued,
for their enterprise to realize large profits
are in the balance and not~i hstanding the
pre- eminence of his position, Abraham
Lincoln is, in many instances, the flexible
tool Of an unscrupulous party. But he
should remember his oath of offiae, and be
untrammelel by anything save the Consti
tuition. That is now in the worst danger,
and AS it owes most of that danger to the
havoc of war administered bv Know Moth
ings, AboIitionists and Republicans. an
armstce-a suspension OF hostili'es-
might be offered