Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-21
The Peace Party in north Carolina

A good deal OF exaggeration has characterized
the reports from Newbern relative to the peace
party in North Carolina, and it's objects. There
is no doubt a large party who are the bitter oppo
nents of JEFF. DAVIS and the usurpations which
he has established; but taking the language Of
the Raleigh Standard, the acknowledged ex
ponent of the peace party, its object is not q
reconstruction Of the Union, but a peaceable sep
%aration. which it is argued can best be obtained
by the independent action of the different States
rather than by the JEFF. DAVIS government. be
cause President LINCOLN could not negotiate with
that without acknowledging the Southern Con
federacy. In the Standard OF August 25, is a
long editorial in reply to structures by the Fay.
etteville Observer, and the editor thus lays down
his platform:
"The Observer does us the Justice to say tina,
we are opposed to reconstructing the old govern.
ment We are opposed to it, and have been from
the first, whatever some of our correspondents
may have been permitted to say to the contrary
but, having put the whole matter on the issue oil
the sword-having discarded reason under the
pressure of circumstances we could,.Dot avoid, ard
appealed to physical force, VIC do not hesitate to
say that before we would see our State perma.
nently subjugated and trodden down, as Missis.
sippi is, we would consent to a restoration of the
old government, CT the establishment of a new
common government. with all our rights euaran
teed. as the lesser evil. But we would avoid this
by all the means in our power as a great political
and sectional hdmiliation; and hence we are for
fighting and talking at the sam time for some
settlement which will leave at least q portion oil
the slaveholding States under a separate common
government. If forced to choose between the
two evils, we would rather live with than under
the Northern people. Our resentments are as
strong as they can be against those who have car
ried fire and sword through our country, and
many Of whose soldiers have committed wanton
and cruel outrages on our people; but we could
not, as a rational being. sacrifice the happiness
and the lives of both races in the South merely
to CRAFTY hatred and revenge.
"And Just here, we beg leave to inform the
Observer, is the source Of one OF the most serious
apprehensions Of our people. The sudden eman.
~cipation of our slaves in our midst would be the
greatest blow which could be inflicted on South
ern society. 1t would ruin this generation
beyond redemption, and its effect would be felt
for ages to come. Nor would the ruin be partial
1t would include the non STAKEHOLDER as well as
the STAKEHOLDER, and finally the slave himself.
Subjugation, if it should be in reserve for us,
would be emancipation. Hence our people.
while they are for continuing the struggle; and
while they are still anxious il possible to make
good their final separation. are nevertheless dis
posed to pry into the future, to see if. in the last
resort, something better than suhjugation cannot
be obtained. II the worst should stare them in
the face. as il does not now, but as it may, they
would have peace under certain circumstances
vet If the worst should come. and they could see
no honorable mode of escaping it, they would all
die together with their slaves and their little
ones, fighting with a desperation which the world
has never witnessed.