Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-19
sAUFRDAY, KOyEnBER Ia.
yvha3 are the OBSTACLES to immediate
F1aaaa .-

NF8@Ne%~A~'
Peace,
Whether the speech of General Butler
was designed to foreshadow the policy OF
the Government, or intended as well di-
rected afseLer," it is certain that the sub
ieet S exercising 8 widespread and pro
found interest. Men are asking each pther |
what obstacles are there in the way of
the rebels returning to their allegiance;
why should they persist in their bloody |
opposition to the rightful authority q the
Constitution and Laws. Some mayI per-
hans. reply that Slavery, with sufficient
guarantees are offered the South, they will
then return to their allegiance. But they
who assert this, know not what has become
the sctustIng motives of the rebels at the
present time. In the Jsques- Gilmore in
terview with Davis, he distinctly asserted
that they were not fighting for slavery, but
for their independence. The general dis
position there is among the leading rebels
and rebel newspapers to sacrifice slavery
bv arming the negroes, if it is finally
deemed necessary to their cause is another
evidence that slavery is not the obstacle IN
the way. Indeed they know that slavery
is practically dead; that wherever our arm
les have gone, there slavery has Perished'
and that if the war is continued, the insti-
tuition will be ground to powder between
the furious mill stones of unrelenti1g war.
Knowing that slavery is already dead IN
many portions of the South, and that it
must wholly perish by the progress of the
war, the institution of slavery can be no
obstacle in the way of the rebels y.lratnrn-
3. a. -. ..l4egiIance. II the Govern
ment should send distinguished citizens to
Richmond, saying, send your rePresenta-
tive to Congress, and there will be adjust
ed slI difficulties, our armies in the mean
time pressing vigorously upon any armed
opposition to the government that might
exist, no good reason could be given to the
people of the North and South, or to the
civilized world, why the rebellion should
not Ger immediately. We ask the South
to come back and live in the same relation
to the Constitution and Laws that we our
selves do. They are invited to 6eOas- EQUALS
The North gave up slavery long ago. L
is dead and improbable institution il
the South, and no sacrifice is therefore nee
essary in giving it up.
The only obstacle therefore is the stub
born and unreasonable will of the wicked
leaders, concealing their objections to re
union under the plea that the idea of Stat
Sovereignty is an essential doctrine of tn
Constitution. But this doctrine authorizing
8 state to seoede when she may see ft, i
one whichthereople of the North Willneve
admit. They will pursue it and all wh'
insist upon it by armed opposition, witt
such fierce energy that it snail be eDtirel.
annihilated in its present form of organizes
rebellion. If the government shall there
fore offer pesce and reunion to the South
with one condition only, the immediate O
gradual removal Of slavery as the source
civil feuds and future rebellion, and tn
rebel leaders refuse acquiescence, two yer
important consequences will result. Tn
refusal of the rebel leaders would undOub
edly create party among the people who's
object should be the overthrow Of th
wicked men at their head. Another resu
would be that the Justice of our cause woul
again be vindicated in the minds cf all re-
sonable citizens of the North, and also b
fore the civilized world. Then our peop
would pur.ue the rebellion with more fur
than ever. They would not insist upc
paying for the war themselves and if the
should eonRscate the lands of all rebels ar
promise homestead in the South to evel
soldier, they would be justified in so doin
The rebels may complain of unrelentir
war now, but if they refuse the proffer'
msgnsnimous amnesty of the governmer
they may know that on their own heal
rests the consequence. The obstacles
the way to peace should be overcome
the people of the South, if they do n
wish to invite greater terrors than thu
have yet experienced. The people of t
North are becoming tired of paying 0
money and sacrificing life, to put down Il
wicked rebellion. The North will hsl
after make the people of the South pay
their follies and their crimes, unless tn
return to their allegiance. The wretch
delusion of State sovereignty is all tn
stands in. the way to Peace. This will
given up when the rebellious States retu
to their allegiance.
Commerce Between the East an'
West.