The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-03-29
PEACE BETTER THAN War.

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Here's an ertro-onother battlel Such
is the almost daily cry of the news-boy, as,
through the clinging sleet and pelting rain,
he thrusts his little sheet in the face of
the pedestrian whose interest he would ex-
cite, and whose three.cent piece he would
transfer to his own sparely tenanted purse.
Another battle ! All! there is the secret
of the news-boy's magical influence upon
the attention of tottering age, robust man
hood, and ardent youth. Each has his in
dividual motive to learn the details of Gan.
other BATTLE" where fathers and brethren
have met in deadly strife and where the
red streams of fraternal gore batten soil
which, only brief period ago, was the
patrimony Of national brotherhood. Yes!
War is upon US His grim-visaged front
meets us at every footstep; follows us in our
waking thoughts; and fills our very dreams
with the horrid phantasies of a crushing
nightmare. The fierce North is pouring its
armed legions upon the South, with hos
tllity as bitter and unrelenting, as though
the war was one of races, and its aim one
OF utter determination. The defiant South
has armed its eager soldiery and stands
ready for the bloody wager Of the battle
field. The healthy currents Of trade and
commerce are stagnant; and all the sweet
avocations Of peaceful industry are disrup-
ted, or made to minister to the necessities
and genius Of war. Poverty and destitu-
ton I'LL the land. Lawlessness aud crime
are chilling the moral susceptibilities of the
people. The public conscience is perverted
by corruption SO comprehensive, sweep
ing and systematic as to find impunity in
the numbers and power of those who are
enriched by it. The perils Of national
bankruptcy can only be averted by sys-
tenn of taxation, that threatens to eventu-
ate, either in shameless Reputation, or
crushing strain upon all the springs Of
material prosperity. Add to these gloomy
shadows, the malignant passions which are
being engendered, both North and South,
in the heated furnace Of civil war, and we
have a picture, with fore ground SO re-
plete with horror, as to defy the longing
sense that would fain seek in the perspec-
tive some alternating touches Of hope.
History has its facts but it has its
philosophy also. The statesman who would
busy himself with the one and disregard the
other, is incapable Of leading country
through public danger and civil commo-
ton He may reason till doomsday upon
facts, in their relation of cause and effect,
and find resultant as barren offruit as his
system is void of wisdom Its only when
he can grapple sturdily aud boldly with the
philosophy contained in his facts, and me-
cessary to full and comprehensive appre-
citation of the obvious aud essential balance
Of means to ends, that he eau rise above
the level Of a policy Of subterfuges--s
gested to-day and abandoned to morrow
and establish permanent claim to the
gratitude of q nation be may have snatched
from peril and saved from annihilation.
Alas I! in this our hour of peril, where is
the man 80 gifted; the patriot SO endowed;
the hero SO ennobled i4 4
The war is upon US. The blood and
treasure Of the country are being poured
out in a stream so copious, as to threaten
early and total exhaustion. Why stop to
inquire into the causes OF so disastrous q
strife Why not prefer to seek peace as
an end and then nationally and conscien-
tiously deliberate upon the means neces-
sary to its speedy and honorable attain
ment Sooner or later such deliberation
must be entered on and when the moment
for it arrives, what principles of Justice,
equity, and national honor will, ior can be,
presented, that could not nosc have the BEN
eft of cool reason and solemn responsibility
TO aid in their necessary arbitrament -
Would the North subjugate the South ~
Wherefore? TO what desirable end p
VIII the means used have any fair and
proportion to that end, even if
achieved? On the contrary, will not the
very use Of these means stimulate disaffec-
ton, create disorders, and reveal compli-
cations 50 dangerous, aye 80 permanently
disastrous, as to change, totally end for
ever, the destinies Of this government, and
blight the hopes Of the civilized world r.
If the wall Of Che yanquishsd shall come
up from the desolated fields. the violated
hearths, and dosecrated altaxs, Of the South,
will the songs Of triumph from the North
swell upon the air unmineled With the
nionody III bleeding hearts, ruined hopes
and crushed Liberties 7 Who doubts Ii I
Who shat has studied che paees q the
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