Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-10-20
NV YoRK, October 10.


The announcement that Mr.. Beecher was
to deliver another political sermon drew
together an audience at Plymouth church,
last night, which was an unusual jam even
for his tabernacle. Every seat was fall,
every aisle crammed, until there was no
standing room left. The crowd about the
doorWays was noisy and uncomfortable.
Ladies' were handed over the backs Of pews,
bonnets and beavers were crushed, crino.
lines were rendered shspeless, and hun
dreis went away from the doors unable TO
obtain admission. We wish we could say
that there was no evidence of i'll nature on
the part of those who were compelled to
remain on their feet, tor the sermon they
heard-or could have heard had they re-
mained quiet-should have more than com.
pensated for the Inconvenience incident to
approaching within ear shot.
Mr.. Beecher soon merged his remarks
into the political drift; said that it was to
the last degree, important that the commu
nifty should learn to understand the signs
of their times. Every thing depended on
our prosecuting the present war vigorously
in order to secure the peace that was so
desirable to one and all. II is our duty to
see that this war answers good end, and
| that peace shall be substantial and durable.
When this rebellion dashed against the
Constitutional Governmental the nation mo
crime could have been greater than 70 have
given up that government without blow
War was then virtue; peace would have
been crime. 1t was one Of those cases
in which the instincts of the people we're
just and noble. And their instinct, their
impulse to defend their Government by the
sword perfectly wise. But now there may
be a crime greater than cowardice would
have been when courage and frmness
were the all in all. II is the crime that
desires and plots for peace such as no
honorable and self respecting people can
for moment entertain, peace which
involves submission to traitorous demands
which we have hitherto fought against.
In one sense, peace means everything
that is is noble and true. But peace may
mean a treacherous truth-a time for war to
take breath iu, or TO give rest to the enemy
whom we fight. Which peace is it that We
Want2 Is it genuine peace that springs
from justice and prHdencef or is it a coun-
terfeit peace-the peace of bogus states
men and insincere platformsi They tell us
that, after tour years of war, the attempt
TO put down the rebellion by force of arms
has proved failure. The briefest retro
spectiVe glance proves the falsehood OF
this assertion, when We see how much has
already been redeemed from the rebel sway.
Aud, after four years of war, it will be a
Icrying shame If we end as We begun, with
nothing settled for all time. The peace
Ipraters cry Is "the Union as it was" There
can beno Union, after four such years OF
war, just as it was. It is FOOLS counsel,
and none but fools will follow it. You can.
not 90 back for single day; aud can you
do SO for four tyeArs2 Il will be shame,
without a shadow of excuse, If the North
the leader of progress aud civilization,
/ with the power to crush and TO command
at her Will-it will be a lasting disgrace II
the North, with all this power 10 her hand,
shall consent to peace ct another's die
tAtion, when she can command one upon
her own terms of justice and liberty TO
ALL There are two great questions which
tower above all others. One of these IL
the question of the restoration, in full, Oi
our State. Sovereignty; whether we are "a
retain our individuality as States, or 70
maintain the integrity of the National Gov
lernmeut The doctrines Of the North and
South are directly autagonistio on this
subject. The South coustrues the Union
las q league, from which State may with
draw at its pleasure; while the North be-
lieye that the National Government ha!
been created to remain solely and forever
soyereiEn, and that Sovereignty cannot bI
taken from il. Slavery was the supreme
motive of the rebellion; but the absolute
sovereignty of the States Was the instru.
mentality employed, We must settle thesl
questions gnowI At once, and for al
, time. 1t will be a shame to our menor
les, if we permit that to go down to on
children, which We can settle ourselves
Mr.. Beeeher next drew from the Language
: of Alexander a. Stephens, as used in ont
lot HE Georgia speeches Of 1914 self
refutation of the sophistries expressed il
his recent letter in regard to the rights o
States, and looking TO peace ooncedin,
those rights. At the inception OF Seces
D siou, Stephens had exhausted his research
: and power of prediction in endeAVors Il
Y[provel 70 his Georgia friends the folly
d dfnSdness, ingrattude and criminAlity 0
Is.,...,,yoi, Ppk -ban Gaor1ia uanf ont