The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-03-04
Peace and the Northwest.

hopes Of peace, and have. suffered SO Sc
verely from those false expectations, that
we are admonshed not to lend willing
ear to those reports and statements which
promise deiterance in a short time from
The calamities caused by this terrible con.
test. All these statements concerning
the disstfec'lon in the army threatening
Vicksburg may be true, and may lkewis
be true that Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky,
and Ohio, are prepared to solici, sdnis
sion into the Southern Confederacy, and
in tie event their request is refused to
establish separate Iudependency, all
these statements may be ,rue--true to
the letter, and yet it is dangerous to bot
tom our hopes Of speedy termination Of
our troubles on these advices
The people Of the Northwest are in a
bad humor because, after having done
the most brave and bloody fighting, they
are suffering for the want Of market for
their grains and bacon. The Emancipa
ton Proclamation has also great deal
to do with the mutinous spirit of the in
habitan,s Of that region. But though
they have given expression to their just
and sensible sentiments in terms 80 plain
and forceful, and have even gone so lar
as TO call Convention for the purpose Of
adopting measures for the adjustment Of
the momentous questions at issue, before
the date set for the assembling Of that
body events may nanspire that will
change the tone Of their feelings.
For these demonstrations and designs
DO not in any measure impair the vigor
and weaken the. determination of the
men in power at Washington. They are
as bitter and as resolved rs they were
before the muttering Of these murmurs
and complaints and curses reached their
ears. In truth, SO far from making them
less earnest and determined, those words
OF menace and dehunciat;on nave intensi
fed The ierceness Of their wrath, and
aroused the more deeply all their mighty
energies.
The feeling in the Northwest, that may
break out into revolution, only serves to
hasten the prosecution Of the campaigns
now in progress. And il any one Of those
campaigns is successful, the victory may
hush these notes Of dissffec,ion, and cause
the war to be wsged with more fury and
obstinacy.
The course Of the Northwest depends
upon the result Of The battle st Vlcks
burg. The d~ellers in that region are
uncomfortable and mutinous because they
eHnnot avail themselves Of the navigation
Of the Mississippi. II We can keep thai
river closed we can maintain and increase
their opposition to New England and the
Yankee Administrstion. They will grow
more and more disIoy al to the Govern.
ment, they will continue TO devise means
to deliver themsslves from their CALLING
and disgraceful bondage, they will adopt
measures in harmony With their great
ness, and those measures will Do execu
ted with spirit and energy tina. will So.
cure success.
But il the many billed city falls before
the guns that will il short time tiua
der upon its earth works, that victory
may arrest the movement on foot, and
give different complexion to matters in
that quarter. Having been relieved Of
their heavy load Of woes, the people Of
the Northwest may abandon their inten
tions, submit with grace to the usurpa
tions Of the Government, and CO operate
with the renewed ardor in the wild
scheme Of reconstruction. Ifdisaster be
iall our arms at Port Hudson and Ycks
burg, the Convention may fan to the
ground, and those powerful States now
on the verge OF revolution and inspired
BY high motives Of patriotism and honor,
may retire from tue position they have
taken, and swallowing the infamuos
Proclamation and the stupid and cruel
Negro Regiment Bill, give their earnest
support to the party they at present so
detest and denounce.
These iidiues that have come TO US
over the wires are pleasant. but il is dan.
gerous to build our hopes Of an early
peace upon them. Iflbe Northwest does
carry out its purposes, we may expect
the war to terminate at no distant day.
But the execution Of their designs de
pends upon events which are yet in the
womb Of the future, and we should not
suffer those movements to abats our vipi.
lance, or relax our energy. The expedi
tons that are now ready, the attitude OF