The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-01-13
The Question Of Peace in the
Soulh-A Letter fro,n "a. But
Ipr of fsrOrgtR,

Butler hing, OF Ueorgiai VIII atuaCI a'ien |
tion and excite reflection. Mr.. King had
long been, previously to the war; a repre-
sentative man Of the moderate public senti
ment Of the South. and that he shoIld, only
low months ago. have written Ia the tens
per Of this letter, shows that theft exists IN
the South, to some extent, at least, an incli
nation 10 reconstruct of terms which should
not bo telt TO be degrading. lie mentions
certain t,rms, which are something more
than the old Constitution and the old Union,
but who can say that he and those for whom
be speaks would not accept the old Con
stiutinn and the Old Union, If they were
offered to them? Ano il he should pro
pose the acceptance OF the terms which are
actually offered, how large party could he
enlist in support Of the proposion, does the
reader suppose? -. -.-.--..
STANFORD, Ga. June 26, 1868.
ROBERT IL. WhIrFIEtD, Esq-DEAR SIR:
Your favor oil the 18th inst, informing me
that ";he presentation by my friends OF my
name as candidate for Congress in the First
Congle sional District o Georgia has called
forth parag: apis in the Richmond papers to
the effect that am reconstruc;ionist, etc "
was forwarded from my home to ms at this
place, where propose to spend fortnight
or three weeks
The friends who have thought proper to
use my name IN come ion with tho posi-
lion re erred to are per ly familiar with
tho sentiments | enter ala on tie subject OF
the war and tha CONDITIONS upon which !
whuld .yor peace; and am perfectly viii
ling that III, vews on those subjects .hould
be equally well known to the whole people
o: the COun ry. .....
A pan ul indisposition which | now suf
fer will preven. my addressing yon at much
length, or with much care, but hops to bo
able to develop my views sufficiently to pre-
vent any misapprehcnsion in regard to
them. ... .... .. - ..-.
My telitical record will clearly show that
/ | have sver maintained the right OF any
State, or number Of States, to Withdraw
from the Federal Union, and lorm new
Government for themselves; and it will fur.
ther show that, alter the election Of Mr. Lin
coin 10 the Presidency. advocated the pro.
priety and necessity Of snch o course being
pursued by the State Of Georgia.
Whilo | advocai ed this measure, | pro-.
ioundly regretted the necessity oi it. Hoth''
ing but firm conviction that our cnnstitu,
ioral rights would be denied and violated
by the LiLc In administration prompted and
induced Inc TO recommend the secession Of
my State. And when the ordinance Of Sc
cession was passed by our convention, in
dnlged tho hope and even the expectation
that, at no distant period, measures would
be adopted by the Federal Government whic
would result such guarantees Of our rights
within the U.iol d. would enable US to 70
turn 10 it. ...,..t..-..... ..-. ...
NV hopes were soon dissipated by the
cla'h o arms, and was behind none OF my
fellow citizens in declaring that wo must dc
h. | our country to tho last man have
ven t. the f Id ev,ry IN so member Of my
| family, an | to the soldiers grave two who
were most dear TO me, and although too far
advanced in years to rem ltr much military
Gervi e, am willing aud determined, il it
becomes necessary, 10 coninno my iseble
s-i,tance in my curh'r.'s deiense.
| Bal war mlst cad in p,acs; and sooner or
later both parties must agree TO erms upon
which they will lay asida their arms. The
events oil The past Two years should 30 snM
Client TO cob,inc every reas, natls nan, bith
North anI South, that it is mp ssihle for
the Federal Government to SUI jugate our
people; an statesmen Of tbs South cannot
fail to perceive thst the Federal Government
cannot abandon the war, except on rsstor.
alton o the Union, without dangsr to the
further dsmemtermsns Of the nation. ..
Then, unless t. parties can be intuen>
ced by the spirit OF concession and compro
mise, "When," in the language of ono Of
our distinguished S,nators, "is this struggle
to end?' NJ man can answer ns to the
year; bu, h. may ssfely answer, "Not un
ill both psrirs arc exha sted an ruined
not until the North il reduce 10 a condition
worse than it would have b,en il she had
quie .ly ACCUSED in our separation, and not
u un il tie South is worse off that she would
have been by remaining IN thu Union under
an Abolition administration Of The govern
J men,"
These considerations would lead me to
favor any terms OF peace that the South
could with proper regard for her interests
and honor, accspt. .
The energy, skill, and blo Of our fathers
helped to achieve and establish the indie
pendence o. the United States, and our own
enterprise treasure and statesmen have help,
cd to make the nation one OF the greatest
and most power al on the globs. We have
the same right to erjoy the power and gran>
deur OF that nation as the people OF the
north. Our States cut the Galdian Knot
I retire from the Uniont and formed new
Government, because, and only because, our
rights in the Union, and under the Consti
tuition we had helped to establish, wera do
MED US. If tho people Of the North would
now concede our rights, and the Federal
GoyerDmen. secure them to u.s. the
danger with which we were threaten by
remaining in the Union, and the obje .tion
We had to it, would be removed, and ne
might with honor and advantage return to
, il. ara a.a,e7
Ths Federal Governm ,nt has proceeded
so far with the war that these are the only
J terms Of peace to which we could reason.
ably expect it to agree; and regret to say
that have no expectation that such terms
{ will be proposed, or would be accepted bv
} that Government while the Presidential chair
is occupied by the present Abolition incum
bcnt. But iG fortunately, during his ADJ
! ninstraton, or within reasonable tame
after ward such terms should be offered,
am free to say that should preer thoir ac'
1 ceptance by our people to the continuance o
|! the war, which must result in the desola'
ton OF our country, aud. tho ruin Of bo
4 Nor tn and South. "A, peace on such terms
would be eminently honorable to- both par
, ties--ne,ther could claim tbe victery--wbile
/ the srrsngth and valor each has exhibited
, would command the respect aud admiration
OF tho other. ..LA a.4
/. !. TO this ex.entJ am a reconstructionist.'
B But it must not be understood that ! woult
llnrefer reconsideration and peace on the term