Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-03-13
Political.
Peace our only SALVATION.
'Fom dc Ncaoark ( Nep Jerseyj Journal.

N"eANu 40 AuhJ S4uah w buc CIVIL quullu-
cations and military genius of the men
who compose the cabinet of "a half-edu-
Gated lawyer from Illinois," A want Of
common sense, and deficiency of ordi-
nary judgment, have particularly distin-
guished these philanthropical statesmen
in every movement from the commence
ment of the presen. troubles. Expert
e e5ge !, even, has failed t. enable them ~
comprehend the full measure Of difficulty
or of danger that has encompassed their
position on every hand. Not only have
they succeeded in uniting firmly the peo-
pie Of the entire Southern Confederacy,
but they have been equally as fortunate
in creating division and fomenting dis
trust among the " loyalists Of the
Northern Republic. While this evidence
of folly has been most remarkable, per-
haps, however the aptness and facility
displayed by the especial champions Of
unlicensed and unbridled freedom, to
bind the letters of despotism wherever
they could be riveted by the sword, has
been yet more noticeable. 1t is an es-
tablished attribute to fanaticism, that its
most noisy advocates are the first to prove
treacherous to professed principles, and
the most loud-mouthed defenders of free
speech. and free actions are those who
have been proved by the history of the
past two years to be foremost in forging
the chains of military sway and of arbi-
trary usurpation, when once authority
has been acquired.
If our finances are disregarded, no one
is more to blame than the Secretary Of
the Treasury himself. But how can it he
otherwise in "a state of war? The true,
and in fact the only remedy for all these
disjointed matters, is to cease hostilities.
If we insist on continuance of this un.
natural strife, this coercing of the people
by themselves, a modicum of common
sense would convince any reasonable man
that we must accept war consequences.
among which none are more sure than
high prices and large issues Of paper mo-
ney. Effect does not more certainly fol-
low cause, than depreciation of currency
attends condition of war. If Mr.. Chase
will ever realize the fact, be may learn
bow utterly futile it is for him or his CO.
"loyalists" to force water up hill with
out fountain head.
The premium on gold startles these
worthy patriots from their propriety, and
to-day they are more anxious to reduce
that premium than to take Vicksburg or
Charleston. A "gold head will soon
be as obnoxious to their sight or sound as
copporhead." The result Of all these
efforts to run counter to the natural effect
of their own policy will be what is al
ready indicated. Gold will not only con-
tinue to advance, but there will be pre-
MUM on different kinds of paper as mea-
sured by the legal tender greenback, and
that will be the lowest of the lot. Mr..
Chase, in his war upon the banks, has
simply caused his own shinplasters to be
regarded with less favor by every local
interest with which they come in conflict,
and people to-day are boarding bank
notes as the safest TO keep, and paying
out the universal currency issued from
the grinding mill of the Treasury De-
partment.
Even coppertails, many think,
"copperheads" too-have risen by green
back comparison, since Mr.. Chase has SO
successfully drawn public attention to
speculation in the precious metals. In
fact, no greater exhibition of folly and
stupidity, of total want Of sense and
judgment, has been manifested, than the
course pursued at Washington this win
ter in the high niger carnival that has
there been held. What with the war
upon the South, and that it is wagpg
against our own interests, those of rail-
roads, Of banks, of militia, and in short,
of every plain and fundamental State
reservation, this incompetent Admins.
tration will soon hasten a crisis now re-
garded as inevitable by all who realize
the dangerous volcano just ready to burst
forth.
Peace is a word that troubles sorely
the thoughts Of those who seem 10 be &C.
tuated simply by feelings of retribution
and motives Of revenge in this disastrous
attempt to remedy by a system Of coer-
Give measures our unfortunate national
difficulties. They appear to dread the
idea Of ever restoring the relations Of
harmony that once existed among the
people Of the several States, and nothing
so much as any prospect Of so desirable
a contamination. or even any hope that
a redeeming spirit may yet be found to
walk unhurt amid the conhagration, and
bring forth our country and its nstitu-
tons purified by the fiery ordeal through
which they have passed The work of
devastation and of ruin, of death and Of
destruction only eau appeasc those who
thus exhibit the worst phases and vilest
passions Of humanity, and they will sub
nit to the most degrading species of cor
ruption and proAigacy ever revealed in
the history Of nation sooner than agree
to a settlement other than what may be |
realized By successes that arc moro pro.