Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-17
GEN. Buffers SPEECH.

| York for his PositioH IN the FTeLd-HH
Programme as to What Should notO Be the
Course ToDard the Rebels.
Yesterday We gave telegraphic outline
of Gen. Buffers farewell remarks to a party
of ladies and gentlemen who waited on
him at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York.
The following is the speech in full
The citizens of New York have done me
honor, over much. Their kindness, ex.
| tended in every form known to Christian
courtesy, overwhelms me. That should
be able to add anything to the sum of in
Ielligeuce is still greater honor. That
entertain very distinct views upon the
subjects to which you have adverted is
most true. Peace hath her victories no
less renowned than war; and of all the
peaceful victories ever yet achieved in the
interests of human freedom, that achieved
10 the peaceful quiet which almost brood
ed over this land on the 9th of November,
was the greatest. Before we proceed for
moment to look at the material results,
let us look at the moral. It has taught
the world who shall look on, and it can
now be said that it is no vain boast in
America that the eyes of the world are
| upon her; it has told all the world that we
are able in the stress and strain of civil
/ war llk6 LQbL u6NeE be6u U6lUEeI U garry
our institutions in peaceful quiet, change
or re-elect our rulers as we weigh them in
the balance to find them either meritori-
GUS or wanting, without SO much of
trouble or disorder or riot, or of
commotion, as attends a constable's
election in a parish in England. The
moral, then, is, that the government, EN-.
balmed in the hearts of the people, depen-
dent on the intelligence of the people, is
the strongest government on earth-strong
in the affection, stronger still in the right
arm of the people. And when we have
been told heretofore that it was necessary
that their should be either monarchy or
despotism to WELD bayonets, we see bay
onets welded by hundreds of thousands
where other countries have been sble to
WELD them by tens, and they entirely sub
servient to the peoples will, [Applausel
The material results are not less striking;
first in the fact that all disputed questions
which have divided the country are now
settled by the almost unanimous verdict of
the country. Does any one complain that
in the conduct of military operations there
should be an arrest of a traitor. That ques-
ton has been argued and settled, and the
verdict Is guilty-arrest him when he is
guilty. T"Bravo"1 Does any one COM
plain that the true theory of our Coustitu-
ton has not been carried out which enrolls
all able.bodied men and holds them to mil.
, itary duty in defense of their country's life
and liberty That question has been set
tied, and hereafter it will be more honora-
BILE to be drafted than to volunteer
daughter Does any one complain that
, the government in its wisdom has organ.
iEed troops irrespective of the color, and
believes that black man would fill as
large a grave as though his color was whi-
q ter, when he falls in battle in defense of his
. country's liberty2 That question has been
settled, and has passed away forever to be
amongst the things of the past. Does suy
Q one now claim, as was claimed in 1860
Q that Abraham Lincoln is the President Of
It a minority That question is settled
by an overwhelming majority. Applause.
Let US look for a moment at the fact tina
IT If We count every rebel against him as be
o was; if we found every sympathiser with
/. rebels against him as he was, if We count
=. every untrue aud disloyal man against him
~ as they all were, yet he is reelected by q
n msjority only second to that with which
o Jackson swept the country in the hour OF
. financial peril. These material results
have been achieved. Now, then what is the
. duty of the government in the present fu.
b ture2 War cannot always last. The his
! tory of nations, the experience of the world
a has shown this. War, therefore, must
A war of this kind is to be prosecuted for
Q the purpose OF breaking down the power OF
Il those opposed to the government and
q bringing them into the fold of the govern
ment, under the supremacy ofits laws. In
0 view, therefore, of the unanimity of the
6 American people, in view of the staength
il and majesty of the Law, in view of the might
of the nation, mightit not be suggested that
now is good time for US once again
" to hold out to the deluded men of the
Il South the olive branch of peace, and say to
9 them, "Come back, come back, now
This is the last time of asking. Come
back and leave the feeding upon the
: husks aud como with us to the fat of
d the land, and let by.goues be by. cones
Q if by-gones are by cones and our country
will live In peace hereafter" Are we
not able to afford that now? Do We not
stand strong enough2 Do We not stand
with Union enough to be able to afford
8 that to the leaders and to ALI There
i, might have been reason, think, among a
proud and chivalrous people that they
would not desert their leaders in answer to
the amnesty of President Lincoln but now
, has come an hour when we can say, "Come
back, come back, and submit to the laws,
and you shall End exactly such laws as be-
fore, except so far as they are altered by
, the good judgment of the legislatures of the
: land. We are in condition now, not taking
> counsel from our fears, not taking counsel
from our weakness, but taking counsel from
: our magnanimity aud our strength, again
to make an offer for the last time; to call
! upon them, aud then shall We not, in the
eyes of the country, have exhausted all the
resources of Craftsmanship in the effort to
irestore peace to the country. Who shall
! hinder2 Not fer the rebel to come back
after he has fought as long as he can, aud
then chooses to come, but to set some
time, perhaps the 9Th Of January, for the
, association will be as good as any, for all
/. | To anna hack And nhan that tirnn h..