Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-02-27
hpeaca na.irahIea

Every one says it is. We are fighting for peace
But we can have peace unless it comes to us as
selfgoverning free people How shall we obtain 1t :
By resting on arms2 By desertion, and strag-
Cling and all kinds of expedients to avoid service
By waiting for the Northwest to secede from the
Northeast3 By depending on foreign Intervention
Fellow citizens soldiers, these not the roads to
peace. We shall obtain this great blessing only
when We shall have thoroughly defeated the enemy
at all points, and endured the privations the losses
and the suilerings of war until that enemy shall
have deSparel Of success This is the road to peace
There seems to be no other road to it. What then?
Let the people hold up the hands of our Generals,
and let every soldier be at the post of duty If our
enemies should fail at all points during the next
three months they will begin seriously to consider
that their task is most difficult if not an imposs-
bic ono. Opposition to the in the North is GER
tainly increasing. There can be no doubt that
large portion of Lincolns armies and of the North
ern people are tired of the war. They want peace
as much as we do Continued defeats for the next
three months must tell powerfully on their feelings
and judgments. Many Of them-perhaps MAORI
ty are opposed to fighting free the slaves. They
regard such policy changing the character of
the war. They look upon it also as fraught with
incalculable misery to both races in both sections
Phe madness and folly of Lincoln in this respect are
operating in our favor. Now is the time to present
one compact front at every point We can lose
nothing by it but on the contrary we may gain eve
ry thing. We repeat if our enemies should fail at
all points for the next three months, that failure
must tend to cessation of hOstilities, to arm
stice, which will be long step towards peace. But
what if they should succeed? The war will be pro-
longed, and our suerings will be increased tenfod.
Starvation will be added to the horrors which would
follow in the train of their triumphant forces.
We believe that we have enough regiments in the
field, if they are kept we'll filled. We must have
men to cultivate our fields, and men to fight Let
the former make every grain of corn and every
pound of meat they can and let the latter to man,
rally to their regiments. Let soldier act to
have it thrown up to him hereafter, that he was
deSerter or CUTLER 1t makes no difference wheth
er we approve of the measures by which the war
was brought not we are in it. and we must
fight 1t out We deplore those measures as much
as any one but they belong to the unalterabe past
We cannot change them nor their consequences, by
deplOring them. We can only profit by them in
the future. We repeat, we must fight. There is
no other way to peace but by submission to Abra-
ham Lincoln. Who thinks of that Are we ready
to swear allegiance to his government? 1t is not
the government it mas but rank and bloody usur-
patton Our people will not be forced to do any
thing. They will decide their own destiny. 1t is
true no one foresee the end of the struggle 1t
may end in the ruin of every North American State
but if we true to ourselves our ancestors and
to our children, at least in North Carolina will
never call any section or any man MASTER But
Providence permits no mortal to foreSee events. He
shows US our duty, and if we perform it. events will
take care Of themselves. Duty, duty, duty-let US
all do that We can do no otherwise, and be true
men. We appeal to gallant soldiers who are
absent to hasten to their colors. They will be I'M
just to their own reputation and unjust to their
comrades who impatienty await their return if they
lnger longer. Peace is to be desired above all
earthly blessings but 1t be reached only through
blood and suffering. To your posts, then, soldiers
You are the countrys hope. Every priVation you
submit to- and every blow you strike brings US that
much nearer to blessed peace.