The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-10-26

carried on, or it is not; If not, then a
disgraccrul and dishonorablc peace,
which will DC no peace, and which no
true man wants, is TO be the result. Or,
if carried on, then both platform and
candidates are pledged to the disband.
mcut Of two hundred thousand colorcd
men, now doing duty as soldiers or
serving the army, their places to be
supplied either by volunteers, at an
expense of hundreds Of millions in
bountics, or by n draft, which is the
great ground Of complaint by the oppo-
ncnts of the Government.
Nay, more: if either the Chicago
platform or McCle!lan's acceptance
means any thing, these negroes are to
he returned to their masters, to fight or
labor on the other side, because most Of
them coming from the border States,
does any ono doubt, if returned to their
masters, they would be at once sent into
the rebel lines, where alone such people
have any value ? Upon tho theory of
the Chicago platform and McClellan's
" constitutional rights of States, I think
it would exhaust tho resources Of
craftsmanship" to show why these men
should not be returned to their former
masters, as, indeed, was the practice of
General McClellau's army.
Sill further: does not General Nc.
Clellan twico over, in his letter and
platform, promise new constitutional
guarantees to the rights Of the South D.
Is it possible that all these concessions
are to be forced from the North by
secession andahe point Of the boyonct? i?
Why not treat the slavery question
according TO the Jnct that slavery dies
and is buricd/ wherever our armies
march? No political action can aid, no
resolutions Of conventions can hinder
that result. The war, if prosecuted to
the eud, will accomplish all that the
most ardent slavery man can desire;
so that if tho war goes on to the bitter
end for tho restoration Of the Union,
then slavery is no more, and all declara'
tions that the war shall or shall not be
carried on for the extinction Of slavery,
arc futile and worse than useless. The
war will cxtinguiSh slavery whether We
wish it or not. Nay, it has cxtinguishcd
slavery, by rendering the slave worth
less. In Charleston, day, negro
can be bought for $4,000 in confederate
money, which sells for $50 for one in
gold, making the value Of the negro
500. And this, too, with cotton at
81 IS por pound in New York. Before
the war the same negro would bring
81 600 in gold, with cotton at II cents
in New York.
Some different system Of labor must
be devised for the Southern country in
the future, and peace upon any terms,
even tho acknowledgment of the Con-
fedcracy, cannot prevent it. If | am
right in this view of the Subject-aud
upon this conviction I have acted since
| saw the fact in Louisiana in 1862
then what is there in the Baltimore
platform to which any true loyal Demo.
crat, who loves his country, aud is de-.
termiucd to fight, if neod be, for its In:
tcgrity and honor, can object7 / see
nothing. But in the changes so rapid
in administrative policy mad, by this
war, no one will tic himself to any party
cry or party platform.
I have but one article in my political
creed at the present time. l um for n
sharp, thorough, and decisive prosccu::
ton of the war until the authority Of
the Union is acknowledged, and its laws
obcyed upon every foot Of soil ever
within the boundaries Of the United
States.
Believe me truly yours, 90 49,
... :. BENZ. T., BUTLER.