The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-07-22

DEAR SIR: Inasmuch as you are one
of the delegates from this Congressional
district to the Chicago Cqnvcn'ion, both
we aud our neighbors are anxious to learn
your views as to the true line of conduct
to adopt in order to secure the return of
peace aud the preservation of our liber-
ties. Very truly,
ROBERT MILLER,
WILLIAM LAHMAN.
Mount Vernon, Ohio, June II.
Gentlemen: Your note is before me-
and with pleasure l comply with your re-
quest. There is always danger of civil
war among" free people and 1 do not
believe that mere force can. restore peace
or preserve the Union. In my humble
judgment, wisdom and patriotism alike
demand an armistice and | believe that
cessation Of hostiiities would resul; in
an honorable and happy peace.
An armistice is an agreed suspension Of
hostlities between bellgereuts for a spo
cited time, and for given purpose. In
wars between civilized nations an armi-
stlce always prcccdes peace, though some-
tunes resorted to for other purposes
None but barbarian powers pursue hostili.
ties to determination, and exterminalion
or complete exhaustion of both coatend-
ing parties would be the necessary result
iii all wars, did not the opposing parties
agree to suspend hostiliiies so that the
question in dispute might be submitted to
the atbitrameut Of reason, after brute force
had failed.
Daring an armisticc tho hostile armies
maintain their respective positions, and
1t terms Of adjustment are not agreed
upon, hostilities can De recommended
But lis general and almost invariable
rule, an armistice is followed by peace
The proposition for an armistce gene.
rally comes from the victor, and thus,
after the battle of Solferino, gained by
the French, tho Emperor Napoleon pro-
posed an armistice to Francis Joseph of
Austria, and peace was the result.
Without magnanimity there can be no
real greatness, and the absence of it is the
certain evidence of want of proper self
respect. The cause of the Union has been
nobly vindicatcd on more than hundred
battle-Geids: and the deeds of our soldiers
have reflected Immortal glory upon our
arms. But our enemy has been equally
brave and, although we hate secession
We accord an honest admiration for the
hero'sm which has half redeemed mis-
taken cause.
The world has never seen such battles,
either in point Of numbers or dauriless
intrcpidity. We have sent to the field
more than two millions IF men; aud
nearly, if not full, one-half of them have
gone down to their graves More than
"pe-tenth Of the entire population of the
loyal States have been actual combatants
III this war. Whole regions of country
have been made desolate the busy hum
OF workshops has been husded, as if pal.
sled by eternal death; the pillow has been
LETT IN the middle of the furrow, and the
father, the husband and the son, have
alike gone out to battle. Aud yet uaucht,
absolutely naught, has been gained to-
wards the restoration of that grand and
noble Union formed by our fathers. |
say, then, for a 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 unnumbered
helds, 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 uoblcst sons have persisted
on the field Of battle, and SUCH alas is
the case with US. We are coun 'rymen,
and we have been friends, and even now,
amid the red storm of battle, We are proud
Of each others deeds. We honor the
names of Lee, Sidney johnson and jack
son; aud you respect those of Mcclellan,
OF Grant, and of Sedgwick. Let US talk
together, and call back the sacred memo
rles of the past. Washington was yours
and ours, and Franklin and Madison sat
side ~ side in the convention which
framed the great Constitution.
Reason is the attribute of the gods
carnage is the festival of fcnds. Then
let US assemble around the council tire,
anu lor once Initiate our brothers of the
forest, and smoke the calumet oi peace''
ln Il word, let the result at Richmond be
what It may, let us declare in favor of an
armlstlcc ct sixty days. We can make
the PROPOSE ion with honor, because it
would be done OH Southern soil. We
blockade al! of the ports If the South not
III our possession, aud the great Father of
Waters is ours from its source to its
mouth. But we want peace, we want
uhion, We want cessation of the car
mage OF war, and these blessings can only
be attained through an armisicc.
In my letter to the State Central Com
mlttee, Iii September, 1868, denounced
the policy of President Lincoln in refus-
ing to receive Alexander H. Stephens as
Confederate Commissioner and, siuce
then, l have frequently urged the APP
p'intment of mmis,ioners on our part,
to meet with others to be appointed by
the nut horitips If R,obuanl T ro,,,ot