Washington telegraph., 1863-02-18

+, TIE MISUNDERSTOOD or later peace
must come. All wars burn themselves out.
like other confagrations. Either from ex-
haustion or despair of success the efforts of
the North must cease at last: and it will then
become necessary for the different sections to
establish some permanent relations towards
each other, for mutual intercourse. We can
never ignore the fact that the country and
people are there upon our borders, with all
their vast territory and industrial resources
We border on rivers common to both. The
same great watercourses traverse both terri
tories with one continuous channel of naviga-
CATION. The respective vessels of each nation
Will put to sea from ports almost within sight
of each other; and along the vast surveyors
line which divides their territories, the citi-
zens of each will be neighbors, meeting each
other in their daily avocations. We cannot
push them away into the arctic ocean. We
cannot retire from them into the gulf. We do
not wish to annihilate them We do not wish
to be at war with them forever.
1t is well enough, whilst they invade our
territories, and practice upon our citizens the
most heartless barbarities, that we should hate
them with the fercest hatred But humanity
and policy, ITO say nothing of the teachings of
Him whose religion is forgiveness forbid that
this feeling should last beyond its natural
time, in the hearts of the present actors in the
scenes
We would be indignant under a charge of
| l. ILL 6
then mean what We say, and practice upon it.
when we declare our policy towards them to be
enmity in war; and friendship in peace.
Under our government the people control
| the statesmen. There is more danger with us
than with other nations, that the passions of
the heart may invade our international policy.
instead of the calm dictates of sound iudg-
ment. A nation should have no passions; as
| corporations are said 20 have no soul At
most, one passion only is allowa ble-the
| lofty ambition of national grandeur Honor.
candor, integrity, aud courage, should be
lnviolate: but with these ever guiding and
sustaining them, nations arrive at til c highest
pitch of grandeur, by those courses of policy
|
OF the people, and open freely to them the
channels for the ingress of the wealth of the
world, whether it comes from people whom
we admire, or one we detest. Whilst national
antipathies controlled the cabinets of England
and France, neither pfospered. China has
despised the intercourse of other nations. for
thousands of years. and in those thousands
of years has made no step of progress.
Let US show our confidence in the result of
the present contest, by consiI ering our indie
pendence established, and begin already to
make up our minds, with regard TO our future
policy towards our present enemies. The PEG
pie must determine this; and they should be
prepared. There will be much discussion. and
infinite stump oratory; and the first great
parties of the new Republic will grow out of
this first civil contest. 1t is time now to be
forming our opinions--familiarisi our minds
with the subject; and being thus prepared, TO
toke the first step Alright. The consequences
of wrong beginning, will surely extend to
several generations.
At present we only propose to consider this
question as it most Immediately concerns us of
the valley of the Mississippi What shall be our
relations and terms of intercourse with the
States of the Northwest, all of which border
upon, or include the navigable tributaries of
the great inland sea? 1t is the duty of the
journalist to suggest trains of thought: to
place considerations before the minds of his
readers. If they lead the minds of others to
conclusions differing from his own, he has still
rendered valuable service: and in the progress
of reflections, onl the developments of expe-
rience, it not uufrequeutly happens to the
honest reasoner. that lie receives himself the
benefit Of higher truth than he at first per.
ceived, and adopts it accordingly. 1t is good
for both writer and reader, that they reason
together often, of the things that concern them.
| We pass over reconstruction Of the Union,
either with or without New England. 1t is
forever impossible To advocate it in the
South, is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
| 1t is striking at the foundation of our govern
ment 1t proposes to sink it. with all its Clio
ries, out of the sight Of ma ions. They have
seen it and wondered; though they have not
yet stretched forth their hands to welcome it.
| But know its power, and glory in its future.
| To reconstruct the Union is TO abandon it.
We call no honest thinking man traitor; but
he who now raises is voice Tor reconstruction,
may listen to the echoes, and mark whence they
come. They come in countless cheers from the
ranks of the armies who burn our dwellings
and redden our soil with the blood of our bro
theirs; and in the stead Of cheers, there comes
from the statesmen who have laborcd, and the
armies which have fought, to build up the
| Southern Confederacy, the smiles Of contempt
and the Kisses of scorn. Judge, now, if that
| be treason.
| The admission Of portion Of the North
western States into the sou.hern Confederacy,
is entirely a different question. 1t recognizes
our government as established. 1t proposes an
Increase Of its territory and population, in sub
| mission to its constitution and laws. 1t Is n
mere question Of policy and may be fairly dis
cussed without raising any suspicion of loyalty
to the South. For ourselves, we do not think
! 1t prudent or necessary for the prosperity OF
| either section. Our government is safest in the