Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-22
The Armistice Question.

"It seems to be nearly certain that pro-
posal will soon be made TO US from some
auarter-either from Lincoln or from the
Chicago Democratic Convention, to assent
to an armistice, or simple cessation Of hos
Utilities, to allow Of negotiations for peace
and reunion and for that alone. A New
York paper most urgently advises Lincoln
himself to take the initiative in this, in order
to 'disarm and silence the demoralizing peace
faction at the North, because it shrewdly
guesses that such armistice and negotiations
would be refused. This is merely move to
take the wind out of the Democratic sail.
Whether Lincoln is to make such proposal
now, or whether the Democrats are to carry
in their candidate expressly that he may
make it-from whencesoeyer it may occur, it
is wholly inadmissible. II the North desires
to have negotiations for reunion entered upon
withdrawn and the right Of secession formally
acknowledged, and then negotiations would
be at least possible. If they invite us to ne
gotiate on any other footing our only rational
answer would be another blow at the heart Of
Pennsylvania. We are not likely to consider
the question OF reunion with sword hanging
by hair over our heads and if such pro-
posal be made we shall only conclude that it
means war, and endless war, until one nation
or the other shall be subjugated or extirpa-
ted"
The above is an extract from the Richmond
Examiner, of the, 18th Of August. 1t sets
forth in very strong light the spirit in which
any proposition looking to an accommodation
Of any kind is received in the South. It ap
pears that rumor recently obtained circula-
ton in Richmond that somebody was going
to offer them an armistice. What is the re-
ioinder? That the Government can have an
armistice after an acknowledgement of the
right of secession-that is to say, that the
best way to restore the Union is to consent to
its division. So far as we have any means of
Judging from the declarations Of their press
and leaders, there is nothing to which the
rebels will succumb but the sword. The
fight is Of such a character that accommoda-
ton of any kind is to all appearances out Of
the question. Our antagonists took up arms
for the purpose Of perpetuating and main
tanning slavery. They abandoned the ground
occupied by Southern men in the early days
of the Republic, that, slavery was an evil,
but an evil which could not be exterpated,
and proclaimed it a divine institution,
and il not exactly Heavens last gift, it was
at least its best. For this they have fought
for over three years-for this they have I'M
dergone the seyerest hardships and the most
terrible woes. They will never surrender
this dearly priced institution until it becomes
apparent to them that they will have to
choose between it and humiliation. The
great mass Of the people, robbed of every
thing-hunted with bloodhounds for service
in the army, and crushed by tyranny the
like of which the world never saw, may be
and probably are very anxious to have the
war ended, even if they should lose their
slaves, but the men who hold the reins Of
power will never yield while they can induce
a regiment to remain in the field. 1t is with
them neck or nothing. When peace is re-
stored, even If pardoned by the Government,
the South would be no place for them
Among their own fellow-citizens they would
be regarded, and justly, as the authors Of
that dissolution, the traces Of which cannot
be entirely obliterated for quarter of cen
fury to come. Lee and Longstreet, Hill and
Hood, in the event Of reconstruction, can
never reside in the South while the fresh
graves Of so many battle-felds testify to the
madness and villainy Of the course which
they pursued.-AHG.