The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-08
Letter from Gen. Geo. W. Morgan,
Of ohio.
WISDOM AND PATRIoTIsM ALIKE DEMAND AN
: ARMIHTICE


: f ARMIeTIOE
The writer of the following letter is not I'M
known to military fame. In the Mexican war
he fought under Gen. TAYLOR, and with Gen.
Scorr, participated in all the battles from Vera
Cruz to Chepultepec, at the storming OF which
fort he was wounded, and rendered unfit for
service, and retired with the breyet rank of
Brigadier General.
During the present war he was placed in COM
mand of Cumberland Gap, where, after watt
ing for supplies until almost the last ration was
consumed, he blew up the fort, and in march
of near three weeks, subsisting his troops up
on green corn, he forced his way to the Ohio
River, his passage obstinately contested, with
scarce the loss of man. At the first attack
on Vicksburg, he led one of the corps of the
army and was noted for his bravery, GOODNESS
and skill:
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio, June 81.
GENTLEMEN Your note is before me, and
with pleasure comply with your request.
There is always danger of civil war among a
free people, resulting in the overthrow of lib
erty; and I do not believe that mere force can
restore peace, or preserve the Union. In my
humble judgment wisdom and'patriotism alike
demand an a, mstice; and believe that ces-
sa,ion of hostilities would result in an honor
able and happy peace.
An armistice is an agreed suspension of hos
tiities between belligerents for specified time,
and for given purpose. Inwars between civ
ilized nations an armistice always precedes
peace, though sometimes resortei to for other
purposes. None but barbarian powers pursue
hostilities to determination, and determination
IF both inor
parties, would be the necessary result in all
wars, did not the opposing parties agree to
suspend hOstilities, SO that the question In dis
pute might be submitted to the 81 bitrament of
reason, after brute force had failed.
During an armistice the hostile armies main-
tain their respective positions, and If terms of
adjustment ore not agreed upon, hostilities can
be recommended. But as general and almost
an invariable rule an armistice is followed by
peace. The proposition fer an armistice gen.
orally comes from the victor; and thus after
the battle of Solferino gained by the French,
the Emperor Napoleon proposed an armistice
to Francis Joseph of Austria, and peace was
the result
Without magnanimity there can be no real
greatness, and the absence of 1t is the certain
evidence of want of proper self-respect. The
cause of the Union has been nobly vindicatod
on more than hundi ed battle-felds, and the
deeds of our soldiers have reflected immortal
equally brave and although we hate secession,
we accord an honest admiration tor the hero.
ism which has half redeemed mistaken cause
The world has never seen such battles, either
in point of numbers or dauntless intrepidity.
We have sent to the field more than two
millions of men, and nearly If not full one
half of them have gone to their grave. More
than one-tenth Of the population Of the loyal
States have been actual cOmbatants in this
war. Whole regions of country have been
made desolate the busy hum of workshops
has been hushed, as if palsied by eternal death;
the pillow has been left in the furrOw; and the
father, the husband and the son have all gone
out to battle. u I say then for q time
let the torrent of blood be stayed-let the olive
branch supplant the sword, and heaven-born
reason take the place of force. Victory has
crowned our banners on unnumbered fields,
and magnanimity will add lustre to our arms.
Say to our cOuntrymen of the South: ''Let
us reason together. Your homes are draped in
mourning and so are ours. Many of your no.
blest sons have persisted on the field of battle,
and SUCH alas, is the ease with us. We are
countrymeu and we have been friends, and
even now, amid the red storm Of battle. we are
proud of each others deeds.
Reason Is the attribute of the Gods-car-
mage is the festival of Fiends. Then let US as
semhle around the council fire, and for once
initiate our red baothers of the forest, and
smoke the calumet of peace"
In word, let the result at Richmond be
what it may let us declare in favor of an ar
mistice of sixty days. We can make the pro-
position with honor because it would be done
on Southern soil. We blockade all the ports
OF the South not in our possession, and the
great Father of Waters is ours from its source
to its mouth. But we want peace; we want
Uniun We want cessation Of the carnage of
war; and these blessings can only be attained
through an armistice
With earnest hope for the preservation of the
Union and the rc.urn OF peace, remain, gen.
tlen,en, your obliged felIow-ci,izen,
GEORGE w. MORGAN.
To Robert Miller and VIM. Lamon. Esqrs