Litchfield enquirer., 1864-06-09
A PATRIOTIC LErrER.-Geo. ". Peet, Esq.

A PATRIOTIC LETTER.-Geo. ". Peet, Esq, of Falls Village, has lately published letter, which weg give below, in answer to an inquiry as to his political status. The letter has the true ring of manly patriotism, and contempt of party trammels in this crisis in cur country's life ; and We commend his stirring words to all thinking Democrats everywhere, and espe- clally in that part of this County where Mir. Feet has always been recognized as a burning and shining light"
 The letter is dated at Falls Village, April, 1864. He says :- l "As is we'll known in this vicinity, I have all my life been democrat. The breaking up of the Charleston and Baltimore Conventions, from which the arch-traito Breekinridge re- tired with his minority when he found himself out-voted by the friends of MT. Douglas, was for the purpose of breaking up the democratic party and destroying the Union. Such was the prediction of Mr. Douglas in his speech in tn Senate, between the sessions of the Con- ventions at Charleston and Baltimore, and such has been the practical working of the conduct of the Breckinridge part of the Con- vention. 1 adhered to MT. Douglas while he was living and shall revere his memory aDhile Hve. Secession followed. State after Stale under the guidance of the Breckinridge lead CTS, went out of the Union.
 "What excuse had they for this conduct :? 1 None whatever. These very leaders had then the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States at their back, and could have controlled the newly elected President had he been disposed to step beyond the limits | of his constitutional authority
 "Then followed the attack upon Sumter the seizure of our arsenals, forts and ships, and the inauguration of a war, the most uncall- ed for and wicked that has ever disgraeed the annals of the world. The horrors of this war cannot be epicted,-cities desolated, fields | laid waste, innumerable lives lost by sickness | and the casualties of the field, commerce de- stroyed, credit with other nations impaired, a | fearful national debt-such are few of the evils entailed upon us by this rebellion. Un der these circumstances what am to do ?- How can forget that the State Convention of the party which I belonged declared MT. Douglas the regular nominee for President by | two-thirds vote or more, and that the office holders and factious men of that party-a pal, try minority-broke away from the nomina- tion and substituted J. c. Breckinridge for the purest patriot that has lived since the days of Washington! In common with the old Demo- cratic party, had stood by all constitutional compromises, including that in favor of slave ry, and but for the action of shareholders themselves, would have done so to this hour. 1 am willing to leave this and all other matters as the fathers of the republic had ordained. l have done with party catch-words. There is but one course for an honest man to pursue. and that is to use his whole influence to put down the rebellion. The South has chosen to put the case of her peculiar institution to the abitrament of the sword. 'To its own master let it stand or fall. Although have ceased to be party man, I wish here to express my utter detestation of the so called peace party of the North. Peace! on what basis are we to have peace? Why do they not tell us that The South declare that we can have no peace short of eternal disunion; Jeff. Davis declares it in his message; they say so in their legisla- tive enactments, and through their press they omit no opportunity to spurn with kissing the proposal of peace, involving the Union of the States; they say they will not go with us one step further. The only condition on which they will permit us to enter the sacred pre- cints of their confederacy is that they shall command and we shall obey. For one spurn the proffer of peace on these and their terms. Better die thousand deaths than crawl on our hands and knees to beg Q recognition of seryi tude from such taskmasters. The peace party propose no basis. Their ouly hope is to thwart the efforts of the administration and block the wheels of the government in putting down the rebellion.
 "I have said that am not q party man Il will add, however, that I will vote with that party henceforth which in my judgment is most earnest in putting down the rebellion, and with it the hollow-hearted ofice-seekers who cry peace when there is no peace. In times like these man las no right 10 trifc uith Ais country If this rebellion succeeds no matter what is l the magnitude of our debt. It will only con- stitute part of the rubbish and ruins of the republic, that will serve to hide us from the aerision of the world. If on the other hand, We triumph over the enemies of the country, no matter though we mortgage every foot of soil that lies between the two oceans-no mat ter though we lay the burden on future gen. erations, ,-still the price will be mean compar- ed with the blessings which we shall have purchased and transmitted to our children. Such is my answer, and such are my senti- ments. 1 claim no favors and fear no man.
 Respectfully,
 GEORGE W. PEET."