New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1863-12-11
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.

80 far as numerical strength is con-
cerned the North 10 in the ascendency.
1t has, also, if the administration jour
nails are to be implicitly relied upon,
just closed campaign wherein the
most brilliant achievements in military
science and valor have been won. Con.
sequently we can afford to be magnan
imous, and it will cost no sacrifice to
be the first to offer compromise. We
believe the masses North and South
are sick and tired Of the war, and that
tue true poliay Of both sides is peace !;
that if the common sense, PATRIOTS
and duty Of the masses in both sections
are enlisted in the cause Of peace that
these considerations lemanitha one side
initiate the movement. An offer from
Us to compromise, refused by the South,
would he its own wrong, and lot our
degradation. Eut what evidence have
we that those who rule in Richmond
are hostile to all plans ofjust and hon
orable compromise! The admlnistra-
ton at Washington has never asked
the question; how then could it be an
swerel? From the beginning Of the
struggle whether IN victory or defeat
the administration has steadfastly ad-
herel to Its policy of subjugation, ex-
termination, confscation and en1ancips-
ton. determined not to contemplate or
negotiate any peace that did not ensure
these policies. 1t has never once init
mated tina: settlement upon any
terms By negotiation would be possible.
Not only this but good care has been
taken to give the South to understand
from the commencement, that We de.,r-
ed no tie Of friendship, no political com
panionship, but that Of ahject submis
SION and constrained unity. The al-
ministrasion has also spared no pains
to convince them that il designs the
destruction Of sheir institutions, and to
trsmple upon their sacred rights az
Fre-men after suh;ugation. 1t has
demonstrated that its design is not to
heal, but to destroy; that it does not
ask or aim at fraternity, but suprema.
cy. lis sworn to the overthrow of
slavery, and has given the Sonth to
understand that this if the great OBJ
Of the war.
The rejection Of the rsque't Of Mr..
Stephens for an interview is additional
evidence that the administration is de
termined to choke up every avenue
through which peace, without eman-
cipation, might be attained. But in
spite Of all this we firmly believe that
if the democracy would use its united
and undivided energies in behalf Of
negotiation and peace, the admin,stra
ton would yield to the popular will
Let none lay the hattering nnctioa TO
their soul. that the South will not Weld
to imperialism onthis Continent. sooner
than yield to the humiliation schemes
! Of the administration. When thev
shall become convinced that they are
in danger Of immediate subjugation
they will not pause to ask if the ally
that brings them sword gives Mexico
Crown. Peace, negotiation and
compromise, will alone save the Re-
public from dlsintergration, or the
hopes ofthe Republican Fathers from
an untimely and eternal oblivion. 1t
! is for the democracy to say whether the
glorious sun of constitutional freedom,
peace and fraternal union shall shine
forth with Its national effulgence, or
sink into the oblivion Of perpetual
night. 1t is for them to demonstrate
that rising with the emergency they
are equal to the sxige ncies of tho ease.
Congress organized on the 9Th, by
the election Of Schuyler Colfax of Indi-
ana as Speaker. Mcpherson was elect
ed Clerk over Etheridge. Ordway
was elected Sergeant at arms, and
6 oodenough, door keeper.
In the Senate, Lane of Indiana gave