The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-09
A NORTHERN PEACE MAN.

his we'll known speech in favor of States Rights
and of Peace, has had grand reception at home,
IN the I'd Congressional District of Ohio-the Gin.
cinnati District. The assemblage on the occasion
was very large, and exhibited great deal of ap-
plause for their Representative. Mr. Long made
to the people, his auditors, of the boldest, if
not the very bodest, speech yet pronounced on
Northern SOIL since the war began. In his speech
in Congress he declared that he had rather see the
Southern States independent than to see their peo-
pie, men, women and children, exterminated. In
his speech to his constituents he put the question
more pointedly and positively, as follows:
"That there is no other alternative in this war
than subjugation and determination oS the South
ern people on the one hand, or the recognition of
their Confederacy on the other is beyond ques-
ton; and how can any sensible, humane, and hb-
ertyloving man hesitate in preferring the latter?
Every days bloody experience and slaughter only
serve to show that there can be no other termina.
tion of the contest"
He declared that those who were sane and sim
cere' VINO cried out for the determination of eight
millions of Christian men, women, and children of
the South, were monsters, "who would be too
highly honored by calling them fends; their idea
was as impossible as it Was wicked and devilish."
He added:
"Two friendly republics having a common an
cestry, common glories and recoections lying side
by slde-having laudable emulation in running
the race of national freedom prosperity and great
ness, are infinitely preferable to one proud and
splendid, but gloomy despotism, resting like
dark shadow upon the future of the American
continent"
He explained his States rights views and de-
Tended the sovereignty of the States. They were
separate colonies-they threw off tie allegiance to
Great Britain as separate States-they were recog-
nZed Independent, separate States after the war
of the Revolution-they had during the war, been
allied soveregnties under the Articles Of Confede-
ration, and their allegiance as such was continued
under the Constitution of 1889. He gave the his
tory of the Convention which framed that instru-
ment to prove that the power to coerce State by
force was proposed to be engrafted upon it and re.
jected. He contended that there was no such
power granted by the States to the Federal Gov
eminent, and that from the day that Abraham
Lincoln called for $4,000 men to be used agains,
the States that had seeded, the old Government
had ceased to exist, aud that they of the North
had "been living for more than three years under
a new Governments Government necessarily
9espotic, because the Constitution being set aside,
the man who rules over us (them) is absolutely
without restraint of any kind, except that imposed
by his own will"
Mr. Long asserted that the idea that the Union
could be restored by the sword was the widest of
vagares that ever afflicted civilized people. That
madEess, said he, "combined with the unnatural
idea of placing the negro upon a level with the
white man, has deluged this land in blood, has
US with debt and taxation, and de.
stroyed the constitutional liberty bequeathed to us
by our ancestors"
Mr. Lopg assailed Lincoln's administration, de-
nounced its corruptious and declared there was no
hope for the North but in driving it from the Cap
itol. He declared that the South could never be
subjus sated, and there was hope of peace but in
its independence. He avowed his
firm purpose to maintain these views, and defed
the power of Lincoln and bis agents. He thus
concluded:
"From the Administration of Mr. Lincoln no
wisdom common sense can be expected. 1t
vii! continue to tread in the downward career of
folly and crime in the hope that upon the bloody
car of revolution which is crushing the masses to
death, its chiefs ride to positions Of imperial
splendor and individual greatness. Ia the dark
vista of the future there is not one single ray of
hope if the blessed sun of peace does not soon as
cend the national horizon and shed its efulgent
rays upon our land.
"Do not, my fellow-citizens follow longer this
worse than wilo' the-wisp of Southern conquest
and subjuga:ion, which is leading this country
deeper and deeper into the slough and mire Of ma
generous. Let US stand by the Democratic prin-
oipie, that all just Governments derive their pow.
ers from the consent of the governed. Though
everything else falls, let us have no other Union
than that based upon the consent OF each aud
every State comprising it, and let US spurn with
infinite disgust and adherence the idea of Con-
federacy pinned together by bayonets,' and only
sustained and upheld by arbitrary coercion and
despotic powers"
A speech like this gives better sign than any
other that appears in the North. There is really
no hope for the North but the independence OF
the South. When the people are prepared to look
this fact full in the face, and to applaud the bold
and manly public servant who announces and trr-
um phantly vindicates it before them, We may be-
lieve that there is a. sober second thought working
its way amongst them And when.we consider
that such declarations, received, are permitted
BIZ the Government which would, two or three
years ago, have imprisoned and probably banished
from the country the author of them, we may well
conclude that great change has come over the
North, and that the tyranny at Washington is
checked somewhat by fear from the pursuit OF
well known incinaIlous.
s1- Mai Charles NJ. Roberts, with portion Of
the 18th Battalion, attack ed a cawp of the enemy
near the Tennessee line, day last week, killing
seven, capturing six, and bringing off twenty hor-
ses. Mai. Roberts did not lose man killed or
wounded. The prisoners have arrived here. There
are no better fighting material thanEcan be found
in the 18th Battalion, and no better leader for
gallant men than Charlie Roberts.---A AsheriUe
Ners.