Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-12-14
CUM 5jUN Of TIE StU1n.
Real Impediments to Peace.
From u. New York wsrld, Dss. 8.


laine . private letter from q lady, de-
scribing the present social condition OF
the sou,bcro people. The writer IS q
person who.e name would guarantee at
once her patriotism and her trutbfuln' 50.
The statements which she makes shov
plainly that the chief impcdimenis to
our success in putting down the rebel.
lion cons sts 10 the mistaken policy Of
the Communication, whose acts ard proc
Ismalions have III sde it the interest OF
every southerncr to continue fighting
for the onfederscy. They began fight
ing for the bastard government. The
administration has also made their Prop
e,ty, ,her domestic institutions, and
their Ives the price OF their continuance
10 rebellion. That policy is now the
chief imped' ment t. peace:
70 the Editor of the World
Sra-An old acquaintance Of mine, AZ
intelligent and most reliable lady, hav
iox spent about year with her relatives
in the formerly weal,hest and most
prosperous part Of alabama, where
years ago have lived some time among
4 blqh-minaed and hospitable popula-
ton, returned lately, and gave the most
heart-rendiog accom-: OF The state OF at
fairs 10 the southern States / ever read
or listened TO. l cannot refrain from
giving i, publicity through the column,
Of your patriotic paper, hoping it may
contribute to open the eyes and hearts OF
the truly moral and religious pat Of
or fellow citizens and impel them TO
yiporou. action for the atrogation Of
those unjust and barbsrous measures
tb { cannot but prolong the war to the
x,ermination OF the weaker belIigerent
party, and for the restoration Of peace
and harmony.
Nv acquaintance, whose position in
society procured her an unlimited per-
missi % from both beligereuts to con-
Time her journey wherever she pleased,
says:
1.-The Oscillation OF the Southern
States beggars description. Destitutiou
and poverty have .akeo the place Of OPP
uIence and prosperity. Men that we're
worth hundreds Of Thousands are reduc-
ed 10 utter poverty. As tor the luxur
les Ct lie, formerly SO abundant in the
South here ae rome. Who were for
me,ly the weaItbiest have noting TO
sustain life but what the country stf,rds,
and not enough OF that, for by impress
ment it is taken rom them for the army.
Their garments, even their shoee, the
families have t. make themselves thev
pin, weave, and dye their cotton, an
homespua clothes rich and poor. Tea,
coffee, and sugar are not to be hat ;
mlk and water are the only beverages
Indian corn is their principal food. Tn l.,
antilles are broken up and ruined. You
seldom meet with male inhab ,ant, and
Il you 10, he is either in6rm or a cripple
A large portion OF the male popnlat on
arc killed in battle, many more crippled
for lifetime, many patriotic U"io II
men died OF broken heat. Wha'
remain are in the army or in the employ
ment of IT, government. Nevertheless
press-gaDgs eros the country in all di-
rections in search of men for the army
ALI ties Of social life are completely dis
olved. No courts Of Justice and equity
a'e held-juslIce is melted out by til,
military. Universities, colleges, and
schools are all su pended. The country in
many places resenb es wilderness -
Wherever the armies march there every.
thing is ruined the crops destro, ed
fences burned, trees cut dow; domest c
animals k He'd, robbed, or taken Tor the
army. But whatever the Southern PEG
pie may suffer, they bear it with hero
'sm and resignation; they have Iiule
hope of success. There are very few, j,
any, that prefer ignomiuy to death. I'm
der the impeding Congressional and
Presidential me asures they deem it i'm
possible to surrender at discretion, and
arc resolved to utter dsstruct on.
That, sir, is faithful relation of what
| listened to. No doubt it will rtioic.
the authors Of those insuperable imped-
iments TO peace but the gene'ou-, the
noble; the truly religious citizen Of our
Union must be quite differently affected.