Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-11

responsibility of their position and earnest desire to
escape the reproach of having failed TO do all in their
power to convert temporary armist ice into perma-
nent peace.
The first STEPS would probably he taken On neutral
territory since until armisce s proclaimed 9TH
er course could be adopted. And it is also likely that
these first steps would b. informal and unofficial mere
civil reconnaissance made to feel the position and es
mate the spirit by which The party of the other part
is animated.
A struggle like that in which the United States and
the Confederate States have beenso ong engaged and
are still engaged must necessarily have given rise to
the btterest eelngs The people of the two countries
hate each other and feelings alone to be consult
ed the voice of tire people of the Confederate States as
addressed to the people and Government Of the United
States, would be" Let us be separate and apartlet
us never speak to you trade with you, nor have
anything to do with you" But this would be only pres
emit feeling treaty of peace is, in terms at least,
treaty of amity-a bond OF friendship and not of the
reverse and therefore the subject OF peace only be
approached in the spirit OF peace if any successful result
is even to be hoped for. We must all hope for peace
and assure those the North who wish for peace that
we willing to meet them 10 proper spiritwiling
to make oil fair dvances and only tenacious Of the hon.
or and independence of our country.
1t is only by reapproachment of public opinion that
public sentiment he Influenced and the way paved
for peace. By yielding anything to ABRAHAM LIN
co-N-by weakening the hands of our own government
we do nothing but harm But by frankly assuring the
true friends OF peace at the North that ready
and willing to meet them hallway, tenacious only OF
honor and independence may dspel illusions indus
trously propagated at the North, and it may be &C.
IF -
are anxious to cultivated.
We have pretended to eketch no plan Of peace. We
did not make the war, We ,nno make the peace. That
rests with the North Let the North cease make
upon u.s. and meet Us on equulterms to treat with
a separate and independent peopl', and we presume
much of acebrity would pass away and treaty peace
aud amity would not only be possible, but
could, in fact, be easily arranged.
To this complexion must things come at last. Why
not now as we'll as way he future after hundreds OF
thousands have alen and Thousands OF millions OF dol
lars have been spen The result of the election in this
State shows the spirit OF the South TO be unconquera-
b,e and her determination to submit to any terms
that do not her Independence, to be even ner
than ever l. would Of be folly for any friend OF
peace at the North postpone his Efforts for that with
the hope of accomplishing short Of the recognition Of
Southern independence.
The ELECTIONS are over in this State, and the game
of electioneeripg is about played out"
Toe collapse in the excitement manifested by some OF
our contemporaries especially those located in Raigh
is remarkable. They brought up stand ng and for
the moment, appear willing to say with Othelo, that
their occupations gone" AL who Joined with
might and main in the grand scrimmsge now ear
nestly engaged in trying to find cat what all TIE
fuss was about, and some must lock in each others
faces aud laugh at the rid culous wind up Ct the
great potter made over tie bursting Of soap bub-
BILE, for to nothing else tka1 the bursting of C. bub
BILE can the sudden evanishmert Of that model o. unra
atty and humbug-that bioaed political pretension
which claimed through the columns OF the Ra!-jgb
Standard the power to kill and make alive, b. compar
ed.