Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-10-13
SANDY GRovE, MAR BARROW P. O., Ga. !
September ash, 1854.

cusses'
SANDY GRovE, MAR BARROW P. O., Gal
September 26sh, 1854.
G,na,nen Your letter of the IA h inst was re-
.s, several DAYS ago. have taken time TO consider
he object which il propose" the Inauguration of :
nscs movement at the South" l,ng for peace az ar
Ssnly a. the hart pants for the cooieg brook
rsa with YOU that "this unna ural strife car NOT bt
terminated By srms" The pen not the sword must, Al
last aolys our difficulties aud the sooner the contro
vsv can be transferred from the field of battle 10 the
forn of rational and honorable negotiation the betsl
1 n vill ne fer both governments. I agree with you
that the peace movement At the North should be duly
encouraged at the South. To this end We should lose
no OCCASION Omi: any proper means to convince the
North thai we are STILL as We always have been willing
40 asiust ths difficulties between u.s. upon honorable
terms We have AvoWed our desire for peace and res
dipess for negotiation from the vary beginning Of the
war in every form in which organized communities can
/ eivs expregsiOn to their will We have Avo1ed il in
Executive messages in Legislative resolves ana Com
| prsssionsl msnifes.oes.
/ What more can We do, IN view of our situation p
Ssdly would ! do more IL it we're possible. But do
not believe that it is We raugurats no movement
that would lead 10 the rasutso earnestly desired BY
ery friend OF humanity, and urgently demanded by
the interests Of both sections Our military situation
vcu'd seem to forbid even the attempt Tie capture
Of Atlanta and Richmond is regarded by tho authori-
ties of the Uuted Saes all that necessary for our
Ultimate sutjugAtion. They have captured Atlanta,
1
ia certain, beyond doubt What, rnder the circum-
stances would be the probable effect Of any peace
/ movement at the South? Would it corcilate the
North Would it inspire the government Of the Uni
ted ates with sense Of justice, or fJrbearaucs or
maRuanuiJl So far from this, it would be construed
| in o intimidation our part, and it would stimulate
and intensity the spirit of the North Il would be
regarded as confession OF overthrow and the pre-
monory symptom of our readiness to sue for mercy on
the Bonded knees Of unconditor al surrender.
In view OF the avoWed object Of the the part
| Of the N)rtbern Government it ia very certain that
there can be no peace, uscn any honorable terms so
long az It's present rulers in power. The President
of no United stes Las proclaimed emancipation and
bis determination to enforce it by he sword Hs has
announced in advance Of any formal CJr of pegotis
ton On cur psr that he will not treat with rebels las
he s pleased 10 call the people of the Confederate
State except upon the condition that la down our
arms, abandon slavery, and reius2 to the Union. He
Il then grant such terms as may bs compab IDLE With
his sense OF justice, ioerSlty and msguanimty. So
long therefore, az its present rulers are 10 power and
this policy shall be adhered to, there be no peace
between Us aud the Government of the United States
which viii not brig upon US ccnfcaton, soosl disOr-
sanzAon poverty degradation, and intolsrabls dis
honor. What worse would he our doom if subjugaed
by military power? Subjugstion ia than the
submis ion of,rsd to the only condition o. peace
I; would at least save 20 US our honor.
tire people Of the United States will change their
ruer; if they viii repudSe the avoWed policy of sub
iuratop; Il they will return to practical recognition
of the true principles which underlie the whole sruc
iuro of American government organized to and
sintaiu constitutional ber y, the door will soon be
opened for an honorable and lasting peace. Peace
upon any other terms involves the loss OF liberty be-
cause il will be the result of torce-not OF choice and
compact between cc-:qual and sovereign Satee.-
Peace ulon any other terms, m ans despotism, en-
throned in enpirs-Roi republicanism founded upon
"Lhe consent of the governed" and organized n such
form as to them shall most likely TO effect tbeir
safety and hapDin sa" This is the kind Of peace which
the Uoited States now propose to enforce upon the
people OF the Oonedsrae StSesthe peace Of death to
constitutional hbsTty-the stagnAnt peace of despc-
tsm-the peace which chains aud prison bars i'm
poso-
look with anxiety 10 the approaching Presidential
election in the United States. For although the Chicago
platform falls beloH the Preat ason and the nom-
nee III lower, yet the trump Of the Democratic party
OF the North will certainly secure temporary suspen-
ion OF hostites and effort 70 make peace by an
appeal TO reason They confess that four years Of
b cody var; 81 q means OF restoring the Union, h.
proven faure. They declare that the true prnc pies
of American government have been disregarded and
tramplsd under foot; BY the,present EsG0ave OF the
Uuied S ates Their success will bring q change OF
ADMINISTRATION and with that, change of policy. IL
wiz DO more and What ia OF infinitely greiter impor-
lance t viii bring the two cOntending parties face to
face 10 the arena OF reason aud consultation. Then
AID there can bs discussed the history Of all our din
culties the principles involved in the bloody issue and
the espI ctvo iuerests OF both governments. Such is
my conviction Of the Omniy otnes OF truth ard right
thss l feel an abiding confidence tina; an honorable
pace would ultimately spriog fron such deios rstoDs
In their long cherished devotion to the U1ion Of the
S stes-A sent ment which challenges my respectable
people of the Nsrth IL me, have fipea into
two grave AMI capital errors. On the one hand they
tseh an undue importance 70 the rere fact form
Of Union ignoring the principles and objects tf the
UaOn and forgetting that it ceases to be valuable han
l. fis 10 SECURE tia. object and maintain those prin
cir los On the other hand they think that the States
Of the CoDlederaey have separated from he U Sat,s
in contempt OF that Union 10 o Uastoa dieposiuOl to
Dsult its e AID 10 eetrsy the Government of which
| s the emclsm. BOth opinions are wrong. The old
U9ion was an organic on OF States. But was more
l. vas such an orgsnizalion founded upon great prn
cps5, in order 70 give the most Cficent security for
toe maintenance OF those very principles. These
cples are the soyerCgnty OF the Stitss hs Tghs
Of the PEOPLE to govern taemEelVes the right Of each
ate TO regulate Its domestic affairs, to establish
is own municipal institutions, TO organise IL own sys-