The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-07-13
MouNr VERNON, o.,
June II.

GENTLEMEN: Your note is before me,
and with pleasure | comply with your re-
quest. There is always danger of civil
war among free people; and do not
believe that mere force can restore peace,
or preserve the Union. In my humble
judgment, wisdom and patriotism alike
demand an armistice; aud believe that
cessation of hostilties would result in an
honorable and happy peace.
An armistice is an agreed suspension
Of hostilties between belligerents for
specified time, and for given purpose.-
In wars between civilized nations an ar
mistice always precedes peace, though
sometimes resorted to for other purposes.
None but barbarian powers pursue hostil-
tiles to determination, and determination
or complete exhaustion of both contend
ing parties would be the necessary result
in all wars, did not the opposing parties
agree to suspend hostilities so that the
question in dispute might be submitted to
the arbilrament Of reason, after brute force
had failed.
During an armistice the hostile armies
maintain their respective positions, and if
terms of adjustment are not agreed upon,
hostilities can be RECOMMENDED. But as
q general and almost invariable rule, an
armslice is followed by peace. The prop
osition for an armistice generally 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 il is the
certain evidence Of want of proper self
respect. The cause of the Union has
been nobly vindcated on more than
hundred battle-felds, and the deeds Of
our soldiers have reflected immortal glory
upon our arms. But our enemy has
been equally brave; and, although we
have secession, we accord an honest ad-
miration for the heroSm 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 all, one-half of them have
gone down TO thoir graves. More than
one-third Of The entire population of the
loyal states have been actual combataDts
in this war. Whole regions Of the coun-
try have been made desolate; the busy
hum of workshops has been hushed, as if
palsied by eternal death; the plow has
been left in the middle of the furrow, and
the father, the husband and the son have
alike gone out to battle. And yet naught,
absolutely naught, has been gained to-
ward the restoration of that grand and
noble Union formed by our fathers. ]
say, then, for time let the torrent Of
blood be stayed, let the olive branch sup
plant the sword, and heaven born reason
take the place Of force. Victory has
crowned our banners on upnumbered
fields, and maguanimity will add luster
TO cur arms.
Say to our countrymen Of the South !;
"Let us reason together. Your homes
have been draped in mourning, and so
are ours. Many of our noblest sons
have pershed on the fields of battle, and
such, alas, is the case with us. We arc
countrymen, aud we have been friends,
and oven now, amid the red storm of bat
tie, we arc proud of each others deeds.
We honor the name of Lee, Lindy, John
son, and of Jackson; and you respect
those of Mcclellan, of Graut, and OF
Sedgwick. Let US talk together and call
back the sacred memories Of the past
Washington was yours and ours, and
Franklin and Madison sat side by side 10
the convention which framed the great
Constitution"
Reason is the attribute of the gods
catnage is the festival Of fiends. Then
let US assemble around the conncil FIRE,
and for once initiate our brothers Of the
forest and smoke the culnme. Of peace.
In word, let the result Of Richmond