Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-21
2 FrOh the LouiaVillo Journai, Peb. l6,ll


We desire peace as ardently asithe most
orthodox follower of the humane Penn,
but the country can accept no offer Of
peace from the rebels until it is able to
dictate and enforce the terms, aud we can
listen to no propositions of truce unless
coupled with promise of reconstruction
Until5thenT our armies must beymaiutained
in the field, and all the resources OF the
nation must be put forward to crush out
the rebellion. The adoption of the policy
OF Me- VallandiRham at the outset of the
would have been fatal, to, our ma.
tional honor, confession that the theory
ef tour Government had been a aIlamentable
failure. and yau admission that the people
were unable or unit to- govern themselves
hunder republican yfinstitutions..,a How
much more degrading and ,suby ersive of
the great tRrinoipls which underlie our
Constitution, would q craven peace be now,
when we have Soilayishly5 expended blood
andttreasure to maintain the, integrity of
the Union, and show to the, world, that tlour
popular iastitu utions are selfisustaiuipg, and
thatithe great problem of our Government
has not reduced its demonstration to 40
absurdity.l We do not believe that the
member of Congress from Ohio will be- en-
dsto enlist even q, handful of his party
on his side of the question; on the CONTRA
ry,sthe, authoritative exponents, the Dem.
ocrats, such as Governor Seymour, of New
York, have never been more earnest in
their wishes for alXigorous prosecution. of
the war by every agency which the Con-
stitution affords, and the imminent danger
tof the country demands The rebels are
not yet thumiliated; they have snotlyet been,
punished for their paricldall crime of strik,
ing lat the heart Of our nationality; and,
until LsomeoeEidences of repentance are
afforded, and. some desire, evinced to offer
reparation for the past, we must deal
sturdy blows and invoke the blessing of
HeaHenlappon2 our efforts. s The radical
point of difference is the rightiof-s secession
2ratherJhan acknowledge which it would
be better that we should sink.iwithin the
tide of time, and never, float to after ages.
"A Union would be a mockery,5 and "a
Confederation al rope of saud, which nd-
mltted the right of State to dissolve its
connection upon every slight " him or
caprice. We have suffered ourselves to be
atfrighted at names we have been almost
afraid to men!ionithe word coercion for fear
1T shouldobe regarded as conveying some
idea OF vindictiye punishment. But if We
reflect moment we must acknowledge
that coercionois the very right-hnnd and
shield of strength to every Government; it
is the vital principle Of.all laws. and when
we SO emphatically. express ourselves in
favor of the enforcement of the laws, we
mean nothing more or less than that the
Legislation of the country must be coerced
or executed by the power which islinierr..
Uthe .ExecutiveD Department OF, the gov,
Vatiandig ghamffs most hope
full that we shallnever separate but his hope
is founded upon the belief that concessions
can be made which would not humili-
ate the Government, aud Gld7prove ac-
ceptableto the extremists of tho South -.
This is delusion. five were to abate
one jot or title now in the mAintenanc of
our national diguity;1t would besa fatal
error, which must in the future lead to con
stant insurrectious, border wars and en-
Uttered feelings. The Reconstruction
which is demanded.by the loyallavoice Of
Kentucky is not mere restoEatioulof terri
torial limits, andthe return of. the State
sovereignties within the orbit of their con
stitutional duties, but it is the excision Of
the gangrene of secession from the BODY
politic and the purgation fromJits system
OF those eruptive elements which seem to
have been gathering strength for thirty
years.: booa hpa sfstg taaGE gAls