Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-20
TO OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

Since our recent address We are informed that your
camps are being dsuged with copies of carcature and
hand DILL representing what is termed "a traitors psacs
and that hs and every other conceivable means are re-
sorted to for the purpose Of exciting vndicve feelings
ia your minds nj only against the people of the South
but also against onehaf Of your fsowctzsn of the
North
Listen, while we address few words to your
reason to your humanity to your patriotism and not to
your malignant passions.
II the pretended terms Of peace which found smbo
died in that caricature boastngy prescribed
by the Richmond Enquirer therein asserted the great
mass of the Southern people are no more responsible
therefor than Of the North for the turpude of the
Boston Lberator when it calls the Constitution of the
United States league with bell and covenant with
DEATH" Or for that of the New York Tribune when in
abiding to the flag of your country it exclaimed Tear
down the Haunting lie /"
1t year ago when the Rchmo nd Enquirer 10 said
to have put forth this staggering manifesto Crcuu
stances have since changed These are not the present
views Of the Southern people, Must they be exterminated
account of last years boast of one of their
newspapers
The Democratic party is not now, and has BEEN
in favor OF accepting any terms of peace like those init
mated in this caricature Any statement to that effect
wholly false. We not responsible for what may be
found in the Richmond Enquirer That paper favors tie
election of Abraham Lincoln There is not word in our
platform, sentiment advanced by either of our can.
ddates avorng ending of the any such terms
From none of these sources will you find any aluson TO
peace except upon the basis of a restored Union We
defy any one to gainsay this assertion.
But we do want peace when it can be coupled with
reunited Government. We believe our country to be
upon thu brink of ruin and that continuance of the civil
will soon bring national destruction. We have good
to conclude that large portion Of Southern
countrymen are now willing to recant their
and return to their old places in the Union.
The Richmond Sentnelquite good authority as the
Richmond Enqurerhas recently proposed negotiation to
of the North distinctly stating that although they de-
sire separation yet that such condition would not be in
sisted upon. Commissioners have for many months been
in Canada endeavorng to enter into informal negotiations
for peace. They do not insist upon separation Jefferson
Davis has publicly stated his wish for termination of the
and that he had made efforts to it by negota
ton The wish has been manifested through many
other papers and public just now, too, from
letter Of Vice President Stephens that he favors peace
by negotiation entered into upon the basis of united Gov
ernment Should we not listen to who with all their
faults still our fellow-countrymenl
Will you oppose earnest effort to peace through
the exercise of our reason before death and destruction
have made further havoc both in the North and in the
South This is the great question about to be settled
by our united votes.
Mr. Lincoln has notified all the world that no PROPOSE
ton of peace be entertained until the abandonment of
slavery is first consented to. This will the strong
est preudices of the Southern heart War will not be
ended those terms for years to As we'll might
expect the aboltonsts to the establishment
Of slavery all the North Neither Of those parties
would yield such point unless driven to the last
tremity.
On the other hand Gen. Mcclellan makes the restoration
of the Union the soe condition of peace All other mat
ers in controversy may be settled without continuation of
bloodshed Are you unwilling to permit cessation of this
murdeous contest upon these terms Do you really hate
the people against whom you making war; Il it
not sense of patriotic duty rather than wish to shed
human blood that urges you on Did the sightof the
many miseres you have witnessed give you pleasure2
When you have seen old men and women and children
the n6Im the SICK and the innocent-drven from their
blazing homes gathering hopeless misery around
dying camp fire. sbiverlng, starving shelterles did you
ee impulse prompting you to aid in carrying anguish
and desolaton and determination throughout all the plains
and valleys Of the South merely to give immediate emRn
cipation to who were thousand times happier
you found them than you would thus leave them
We know better You have human hearts in your
bosoms and not those Of ends You brave men, and
therefore never Wantony cruel lney VINO seek by words
pictures to excite your malevoent feelings and thus
urge you to acts of atrocty your worst
mica. They not of your number but are sneskins
towards who remain at home to profit by your blood and
suffering contractors who in safety growing rich by
cheating you in your food and clothing cotton dealers
contraband traders, who in other way are
expecting to derive private advantage through your
hadsps and your death These among the class of
persons who endeavor excite your daboica hatred to-
wards those with whom you hope to live again in will
ling and friendly union. They often make Haunting dis
play Of their generosity by approprang small fraction
of their gotten gains to promote your welfare, and
courage you onwardus the butcher feeds and avors
the animal he intends for the shameless Be assured that
they who deuomnaed copperheads have contributed
times for your comfort in proportion to the pro-
fits they have derived through your suerngs and sacrifices
than have they who pretend to be exclusively your friends
Are there not enough of crippes, and orphans and
widows already Are the mseries and bereavements we
now witness to arguments disinclinng you still
peace When shall the then end The longer it
continues the will these arguments multiply, and
peace can only result from utter determination Remem-
Der that in every house you burn you destroy home;
circle loving and fearful that which would gather
around your lfeess remains to lament the dreadful
sequences Of civil war
Are your thoughts thus led back to your unorgoten
homes and to the anxious friends who mpatiertly
awaiting your retum9 How warmly they will greet you,
nj