New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1864-04-08
PRINCIPLES OF THE PEACE PARTY

We feel :hat the sound principle
laid d,wn in a speech Of great powe
by Hon. Fernando Wood in New Yorl
nearly one year since cannot be too Of
ten presented to the eye Of the Ameri'
can people. We ask careful perushl
of the incontrovertible positions Of thu
speech, by every reader of our paper
Neither Republicans nor war Demo
Gratis tavc yet attempted to answer the
sound logic of this speech, the conclu.
ding portions of which are as follows:
u. The war should cease, because it
should never have been commenced
inasmuch as there is no coercive mill.
tary power in the Federal Government
as against the States, which arc sove-
reign, and in possession Of all power
not delegated. If power of coercion
exists at all, tbs legal and not military,
2. Because, there was no necessity
for it. An amlcable adjustment Of the
questions in dispute could have been,
and can be still procured on terms Of
fairness and equality.
3. Because, however legal and Just
at The commencement, it has been d.
verted from its ostensible original pur.
pose, and made war for the abolition
OF Slavery and the. extinguishment of
the Southern States as such, which, of
course, as consequence, subyerts the
Government itself. a"'
4. Because it is made pretext for
the most outrageous and damnable cri-
mes agaipo the liberty of the citizen,
the rights ofproperty, and even against
the form of Government under which
we have lived. gH Ea ..s...~ ,a i. ,fr :
5. Because it is creating a stupen-
dous public money debt, which must
bear down labor, destroy capital, and
finally cause national bankruptcy and
dishonor. ~ -.11a .... ara -a.,.=
6. Because, in the military, it is es.,
ia ablishing new and dangerous power,
which already overrides tae Courts and
the constitution, and which history
teaches when once firmly established
becomes permanent, despotic and tyr
anical. When military law subverts
the civil law liberty departs for ever.
7. Because there is neither IN the
civil nor in the military departments
of Government, any man or men of
sufficient mental power to successfully
prosecute the war against the vastly
statesmen and generals Of the
South. -.r ....,,...
8. Becauee the commercial wealth
Of the country, derived from foreign
trade, and largely enhanced BY South
ern products, must gradually disap-
pear. if this war,eontinues. As yet,
artificial stlmulants have supplied the
defet tion of sound mercantile resources;
but time must Gssipate them, and then
Will follow reaction, terrible, over
whelming and annihilating. re- p.
9, Because the popular enthusiasm
necessary to conduct the war and sup
ply the failing armies has subsided.
Force, by draft, cannot supply this
indispensable requisite. Republicans,
who have grown up with the ideas of
personal freedom. and right to politi-
cal opinions and action, cannot be sc
suddenly changed as to become willing
instruments ofpower, and be used effec.
tually agair st their own convictions of
policy and right.
10. And, 6ually, because experience
should admonish US that the ovcr-rullng
power of God is against US. We can.
not succeed in what we have underta.
ken. Hence every dollar expended is
thrown away-every life lost is little
less than murder-every acre of land
laid waste is so much toward national
impoverishmcnt -and every days con-
tinuance of the war places additional
barriers between US and reunion, and
drives another nail in the coffin Of the
Republic. s~ @'at z .nqa s5g
My frien ds, need I say morel Need
I attempt the calculation Of these prem