Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-01-08


rope, the only hope of the South, seems now
little disposed to give her aid
IN short the Rebellion is already reduced to
such narrow proportions that SHOULD il ever be-
come a distinct Confederation accepted as such
from the WEAKNESS of war, the ConledeIaey
thus created will not be horn with the functions
of life. Neither European recognition nor your
own could give It n serious chanoe Of duration.
IL would end 10 return to you But we delight
to believe the re establishment Of the Union less
distant Aud, in the presence Of that prospect
which thrills our hearts with joy, permit us, us
your friends, to offer you some sincere advice
The dangers of victory. you are aware, are not
lees than those of the combat. We give you,
therefore, our loyal, frank opinion, sure that in
the main 1t will agree with your own and feel
ing, also, that these communications between us
have an aim more serious than simple exchange
of words Of sympathy
We hold it 10 be of the first Importance that
the cause Of the war shall not survive the war
that your real foe, Slavery, shall not remain up
on the field. We have often asked ourselves
these last three years, why God permitted the
proongatiOn Of this bloody struggle. Was 1t
not that the real issue might present itself With
perfect clearness. Conquering earlier, the Fed
era' Government would, perhaps, have been led
to make concessions. to enter anew upon the ia
tai path of compromise. To-day oil eyes. not
willingly blind, see clearly, The New York
riot, breaking out at an appointed day to aid the
Invasion OF Lee, and falling instantly upon the
negro in way 10 show to every witness Of its
cowardly ferocty what kind Of spirit animated
certain friends OF the South-the New York riot
was supreme warming to your country Your
line Of action is clearly traced So long us
anything oil Slavery remain, there will be a
cause of antagonism in the bosom OF the Union.
There must be no longer any question Of Slave
ny. II must be so ordered and settled as never
to return. An amendment 10 Me Constitution to
this end must he proposed and adopted before
the return of the States
The condition OF the free blacks mus, also he
secured against the inquties which they have
80 long endured. No more plans of colonial
ton abroad, no more disabling laws, no more
inequality. Those whom you nave armed, who
fought so bravely before the walls Of Port Il I'd
sou aud Fort Wagner, can never be other THAI
citizens. Leave the problem of the races 10 its
own solution-the most natural solutions are al
ways the best. Under the rule of the common
law, the free blacks of the South and OF the
North will find their legitimate place in your
society, of which they will become useful mem
bers, honorable and ionorei.
In thus ordering in defuitiye manner oil
that relates to Slavery and the colored race you
Will have done more than is generally imagined
for the lasting pacifcaiion OF the South. What
remains for you to do on this point may bu
stated in three words-HodsTdn0n, Ceneyostiv.
Liberty.
There can be no question, as you have often
said, of an occupation Of the South, of n con.
\ quest of the South, Of reducing the Southern
States to the condition of provinces where the
eonquerOr will maintain his garrsons and the
public life will be suspended. Save in the dis
trlc's yet ravaged by the guerrillas aud in the
heart Of which the Federal troops must finisl
their work, victory will everywhere bring witt
the rc-establishment Of the Union, the re-estAo
lishment as promptly as possible Of Constitu
tonal rights. You hope, Gentlemen, that thosl
whom you conquer to day will Tomorrow NEE
you in debate, aud you will accept in all tbei
/ truth the struggle of the press, OF the legsla
, tive hall, and Of the ballot which will replac
the strife Of the battlefield.
We all feel ii is much better that Won shoul
have to encounter difficulties fruitful of liberty
than that you should seek for yourselves the de-
t ceittul advantages Of a dictatorial regime. 4
S apply to the South an exceptional rulc would b,
s alas, quite easy. II would be easy also to prc
I nounoe the death penalty, to outlaw, to execut
y conhscation billsi but il treading this patu c
Q vulgar tyranny you would sacrifice two things
b your high renOWn in the present, a lasting IN
ion with the Southsn the future.
y but u, on the other hand, you show the wor
= tue novel spectacle Of victory without reprisal,
OF liberty strong enough to survive civil war
>. II your Constitution remain, and Slavery Mon
q tall IN such conflict; ii on the morrow of III
i struggle the law remain supreme, if election
10 for the Senate aud House Of Representatives |
l. again open as III the old time, ii the represents
J., tises OF the Southern States re-appear at Wasl
1t ngton, If taking the oath to be faithful to ii
N Union and TO support the modified Constituti,
st they mud themselves on a footing of perte
n equality with the representatives OF the Mort
/, II 1t be permitted to them to atlnck aud 10 en-
= balrass the Government, you will have won Ii
III most glorious Of Victories and assured 10 vol
country the best chance Of prosperity aud grea
a ness.
e. Accept, gentlemen, in the advice which ,
j. tender TO you proof of our esteem 1t is u
to OF every Government, it is not Of every peot
re- that such things eau be asked Protracted 81,
ID wars tend to arbitrary customs, stir up passio
s. and hates, and at last engender derelopme
he OF military power and irresponsible author
n, which generally hin1ers return to control
r Tree opinion anH to the strict letter Of the la
u. We honor the United States enough to belle
Al that they will be capable OF setting US this I,
is after SO many other examples
The moderation which we hope for from v
CHI at home, we look for also from you abroad. A
us suredly on the morrow Of the submission of I
r sons eager 10 recall to you wrongs real or IA
d. oed, suffered at the hands of this or that pow,
he They will point TO your armies and DISPOSAL
Int heets. They will prove to you that forei
Oh war is perhaps the surest way to draw togetl
Q 7 the Two sections SO lRtey hostile. They will |
be you that common enmity, common dangers. 4
49, the cement needed to strengthen your shattel
edfce.
tn You will not believe them, gentlemen. Y
TO- will feel that after these jars il is needfnl bef,
as al else TO restore TO America peace and liber
K You will not seek new adventures and Oh
be lengihen the temptation Of dictatorships |
at peril Of exceptional rule.
,st You will fear a return of the aggressive poli
which with its invasion and turbulence the
lot huence of the South forced upon You, the d,
", when, to assure the extension OF Slaverv
Us awakened in your hearts o wicked coyetousn
aud pushed you almost to the violation of /
ee law of 'tions. Your glory will be to take
tn opposite Of those violent declarations. of III,
al administering expeditions, of those unscrupuiu
nd ambitions.
lie lThe temptations which great army excl
ito ure Of the class most difficult to repress NJ
ia you not hesitate to reduce your forces a 4
on peace Not only your material prosperity
ito your very liberty is involved in disarming i,
Ia reduction OF your expenses, and return 10 I
* old idea Of small armies and small budgets
But we do not deceive ourselves. Your SIN
armies, do what you may, will be large col
pared with those of three years ago. Your n
GU itary education is compeied; you have repl
III but too well to those who smiled al the reeiiai
dy your battles of 1861. You have learned but
he quickly to face death aud 10 kill aud What y
have learned you will not unlearn. You '
lat not return TO your former situation.
e But while We do not expect again to see Va
ir- effective force at ten thousand men, we do Ia
nd that effective forces which are now numbered
'er hundreds of thousands will not long be witnes.
ug on American soil.
les III.
lot Courage You have before vou nm Of