Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-01
The EEoctS OF a Peace Policy in a
time of War.

ton OF our readers to an incident recorded
ina Washington letter to one of our ex-
changes. 1t is worth reading and still
more worth remembering 1t 10 this In
the course Of debate in the United States
Senate, Senator FeSsenden, OF Maine, put
this question to Senator Powell, of Ken
lucky, who was making a speech denouuc-
ing government arrests:
"Will the Senator tell the, it be was al
the head Of the government, and be were
satisfied in his own mind that an iDdiVid-
ual, in timelike this, was about to com
NIT crime the consequence Of which
would be exceedingly injurious to the gov
erumeut itself, and would strengthen the
arm Of the rebellion, and there was no 9th
ar way in which he could prevent it, would
he not arrest the individual without law,
and hold him by the strong hand for the
safety of the people"
This question goes to the root 1t is
most searching in its breadth and e1teut.
No wonder that the report adds that Pow.
ell "cooghed, explained and apOIogized.'
It struck home at his inteutious-Nt the
whole animus not only of his speech, then
making, but his whole course since this re-
beIliou began. he, himself is II mOnu-
meut Of spared mcrcy-miSt,ken mercy, Hv
We believe, to call it no harsher name. In
no other government under the whole heav-
en-, could such man as Senator Powell with
his often disclosed sympathies, wishes aud
intentions, have held position OF public
honor or trust, And yet strange to say, and
shameful to say, be has been allowed, just
as John G. Breckenridge was, to sit in the
highest council OF the nation, and there
day BY day use his talents and personal in.
fiuence to impair and stay the strength OF
the government from being exerted against
this rebellion. There is not Senator
around him who does not this day know
and feel tina: PoweIrs industrious Hflilia
tons aul sympathies are with the rebels
They know, because the record is there
to prove it, that every speech which he
makes aud every vote which he gives, go
as far As ne can.make them 90, to the moral
support of the rebellion.
Its knowledge OF fact like this that
makes the loyal American people sick and
respondent at heart II is this lsrnentabe
and melancholy weakness in high places
that takes away from them that instinct Of
confidence which always disccrus "tbe
eternal fitness" Of any line of policy on the
part OF those in power. It is repeated
evidence like that recorded above which
has gradually undermined the expectation
of results in the efforts making TO put
down this rebellion: .
1t is perhaps now late in the day, and
may be out OF time and propriety, to ask
why is this man Powell. allowed in the
American Senate. His own colleague Sen
ator Davis, earnestly and long protested
before the country against his being per.
mitted to remain there. That protest WAS
unheeded. He remains as Catalina so long
remained Heis not thrust OUT, and We sup
pose he never will be. 1t is perhaps too
late now. Public opinion is too far demon
allied perhaps, Lameutnble and mourniuI
probability How it chillS the heart, mocks
the hopes, and blasts the desires of Loyal
men. that such things should be. Time
wears away and precious opportunities to
do things pass with them. Imagine whN! "
different state Of things might now Iur-
round the country bad the strong, untrIng'
memorable arm OF loyal, national power
StsurE right and left in the loyal States
Had that been the case our Tu!l&ulighams
: and Powells would have shared the fate of
the loyal BrownlowI, Bolts, and Mnynnrds,
and Hamiltons, and Johusons in the South.
Why are not these latter men preaching
treason to the CoufederAcy in their places
at home, just AS VaIlSndighnm and Wood
aud Powell and Olds are preaching treason
10 the Government of the Union ? Can amy
one tell? Not voice is heard in oil the
Southern land pleading ever so remotely
for the Uuion to-day, All sound is gone
out. A night OF despotism regns unds'
turbed. Not Union paper exists. Not
breath of loyalty ia fatally heard in the
Southern wind. All is 'mothercd =
Is that the policy for war; Answer, yc
loyal men. Iflt is, what will be the re-.
cord Of our rulers in history will it be
that millions of pounds Of herculean power
actually svaporatcd and died out in their
hands because they bad no will to usOi', no
capacity to appreciate the numberles' op'
portunilicu that presented themselves
wherein the nntion might have been saved.
God forbid that this shall by the record
Aud yet things seem to he ominon'ly head
ing that way.
What this government needs is II rclcn''
less exhibition Of ita still majestic but I'M
deniably waning power. It needs to pur.
sue the policy which the rebels hive pur.
sued, We need not be told that on tho side
r. a.. Ill.,. ,,... 80 r - -. - .i-