Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-07
The Will for the Deed

Beyond doubt there is peace party, more or less
large at the North and peace movements important or
unimportant are in progress. We say "in progress,
though We are well aware that some Of these move
nents which promised the greatest results have been
suddenly arrested. BE- what means they we're so ar
rested, We are LEFT to conjecture. Knowing the POten
ta influence Of money and the reckessness with which
Lincoln squanders it. we think thar gold or greenbaCSs
have heen in.erposed as obstacles the peace move
ment The inference may be unjust, but the absence
Of Union victories leaves no alternative.
Il NAV be said that the Polish revolt, which claims
the attention Of all Europe, and POstPones foreign IN
,eryenton, may account for the unexpected quieude
and eompasant Welding TO Lincoln Of the peace party
Scarcely; when i, is remembered that subsequent to the
New York election the Incentives to the formation of
such a party have been quAdruPed in quantity and
force ~ the detatOrA powers vested in the Northern
President If mere party riumphs we're looked to in
the late elections and not the rescung the liberties OF
81. i--.-.-.-.-- t' -.
il, purpose 70 eradicate the troublesome fgnent of
State sovereignty from the national polity to abolish
State lines and 70 concentrate the whole power of
government in central and irresponsible authority we
en- sndsrstand the timid tsmporzng policy which the
NorsAern Democracy have recently pursued otherwise
their conduct is problem, 70 be resolved Ouly by the
poli,ico-Gchemical virtues Of gold.
But the peace party is not dead nay, it is no! even
dormant. The election in New Hampshire shows that
il IS alive and working not Intellectually. The concern
manifested in regard to the approaching election in
Connecticut furnishes additional evidence Of its yita
ty The following passage from Ex Governor Seymours
speech speaks for itself;
Now. gentlemen, word or two more, and l have
done What is the mission Of the hour IL is 10 speak
out and speak planly-and not only that but to speak
the whole truth and if you DO this you may say that
We have gone far enough in pnprOhable and cruel
struggle II Is time TO sheathe he sword and spare
mankind Great cheering) Already have quar-
res filed the world with widows and orphans. But per-
hans YOU say 70 nie-some Of you've are TO gain by
this struggle and therefore should &c Gain Wha
If YOU conquer the South you have got keep army
there 70 hold them in subugatiOn and mpoversh your
selves 10 pay for il. II you deVastae the South and
turn the African loose you destroy that portion Of your
country which once your best home market, and
convert it into desert Is i liberty that you are to
gain? Alas my friends, you have Welnigh lost your
liberties BY permitting the military to override the civil
power Depend upon IL in such contest this at the
present time there can but end and that will be
despotism for yourselves and your children.
The only hope is in 10 peaceful counsels and
TO secure the return Of those eounses the cry should 90
forth from end Of the land 10 the other 1--WE have
had enough Of this death struggle But what is to be
dOue they may say after you get cessation of hOstil
ites We cannot perhaps, penetrate the future and be
able 20 see az this what should be done
But alay the passions which engenders, and we
shall be at no loss TO find way. God will help us-
(Applausel Il is not by force Of that to
have another Union, but by force Of reason Reason
hides herself in these days, poor, naked, shiyerng
thing amid the pelting OF the storm. Go your
nv and they viii tell you that they have had enough Of
srtce the Tar egSn=Wng=
Their in their favor against them-but that doubts
have arisen their minds to the possibility OF con
auering the South. Some Of them remember what
Chatham said Of the rebel Ous colonies They could not
forget either nor should forget that the the
other side Of the 'nvidous line are Of our own kin
dred also and re aectng these things these men OF
whom am speaking who are, many OF them, looking
10 Connecticut and hoping for Democratic triumph
Observation-Disclosures begin 70 doubt the morale
of the war Is il for freedom or is il the work Of Cain
in a multiplied and fearful form The pulpit may
push il on, but the words Of Christ shall rebuke the
pulpits thunder-"Blessed the peace makers, for
hey shall be called the children Of God" Tremendous
spplauSe)
This citation derives importance from the fact stated
bv the Governor in previous part Of his speech that
the late Convention Of the Democrats in Connecticut
WAS remarkable" in that il was attended by deleg
tons from every town in the StSte-something which
never happened before The easy explanation which he
vives Of this remarkable circumstance is, that every
70 N has suffered BY the war every town sees the shad
ow Of a coming despotism-has given some OF the
flower of is youth The war who have returned GRIP
pied for life or TO tell how they have been treated by
hose who should have been their friends and pro'ee-
tors-every town is loaded with taxes in all OF them
there Is more or less mOurning-Raehel weeping Tor her
children and refusing be cOmOrted because they are
nOs-and call Of this misery, desOAtion, burthen and
ouOression for the sake of political abOidonsm."
Speeches ike this and many other circumstances, go
% show there is party at the North which desires
peace for lis own sake The party as yet nasoens too