Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-29
A Plea for Peace.

Every one knows that the Springfield Mass
Republican is one of the ablest and most infiu
entail supporters of the Administration of New
England. As significant sy mptom of return
ing reason the part of some of the Republicans,
the following article is We conceive, of sufficient
Importance to justify its publication in full If
reader will make it a point of showing il to
their friends who are from mistaken but patri.
Otto motives, sustaing the Administration, il may
do much good. Says the Republicans:
Since winter susDends operations. why cannot
this time be employed to make peacel Virtu-
ally it is an armistice: though not having been
so declared, the Government and the people
make no use of it. On our side we should at
once commence the discussion of reconstruction:
and on the rebel side the pent up feeling against
the Richmond dynasty, that has been growing
stronger in consequence of their defeats in 1865
would find vent; and they, too. would talk about
their future condition. Observation-Disclosures like
those of North Carolina and Georgia would
speak, and fuller announcement of loyal senti-
ments would be made in three months than we
have had in three years of war 1t would be the
death OF rebellion; and it would produce reyo-
luton in public sentiment here.
When Charles III. returned to England to be
received with gladness, he said he would have
come back years before, had he understood the
sentiment OF the nation. a 8 long men stand
with arms in their hands or in hostile attitude
they fear and hate each other: but when they
speak. and look into each others eyes If reason
Is not overcome by madness, they may be
friends All that is needed for the restoration of
the U nion-since the people on both sides are
tired OF wars that the parties should speak to
each other. There would have been no rebellion
if we had known each other better and the war
could not continue if now we could come to that
knowledge.
The South acted on its fears. which were
groundleSs. If they could have seen the facts
as the were. that three in four at least of all the
people designed them no harm. but would have
shed their blood to defend the rights of South
Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi as quick as of
Massachusetts,, New York and Michigan. thew
would have lifted an arm i'm rebellion
They were deluded and cheated They conjured
up phantasm-a devil-and gave themselves to
its direction; and like Sndbad carrying the Old
Man of the Sea, they will be slaves to that de
ception till they rid themselves of the bulden
and lift themselves to the light
If we have not been as much deceived il il
very evident that many of our people are labor
ing under erroneous Impressions Hence comes
the universal denunciatiOD; the assumption that
every man in the South is an enemy TO the North
the affirmation of Wendell Phillips that there is
no loyal man in the South who has not a black
SKIN; and the resolutions and propositions OF the
hall insane radicals in Congress that the war
should be for conquest, subverson of all former
institutions, the subjugation of the white race,
the raising to an equality with ourselves the AZ
rican population, the abolition of the States, and
forcing upon million square miles Of territory
and six millions of people the ideas opinions and
modes OF life that belong to New England, and
! which can be done just as easy, and no more so
as England can implant her civilization and re
ligion on Ireland We give it as our opinion
that we labor under deluson; and il the people
OF the South can ever speak shall fhd that
we have been fighting against majority in those
States who have been overcome and held in sub
lection and led to the battlefield by the armed
traitors, while they desired more than the perpet
uatiOn OF the Union and the Constitution their
fathers gave them. As long as this is an actual
conflict OF arms must war upon all engaged
/ IN IL We cannot inquire how they came to be
IN battle against the government; bnt we have
the duty of Destroying all who are so arrayed
But victories over the rebels gained by the uD-
rising of the Southern people would be of much
more value in restoring the Union than victories
In the held; ana they would obvate the necessity
OF more boodshed To this we hope to see il
come at last-a party in rebellion against the re
bellion; and that we shall see, whenever the peo-
pie there dare to discuss the question
The reasoa why there can be no suspension of
arms ana no consideration with the people of
measures looking to re union and peace. is sim
ply this-thAt the Radicals will not permit it.
Jef Davis and bis friends are contendng for in
dependence; they will not admit the idea of re-
union. They would rather lose ten battles than
have one State like North Carolina hold con-
yention TO consider that subject: for every word
| spoken would be more disastrous TO them than
bullet from loyal rifle They have ssaked all
and will die rather than submit SO on our side
we have party that are fighting for eman
clpation. lt ~ all they about They have
no desire to see restoration of the Government
more than JEFF Davis has. They do not hesitate
TO declare every where and in the most open man
ner that they prefer disunion to the ole Union,
with the Constitution as IL now Is And this
they term loyalty, and denounce restorationsts
as traitors. Strange enough they make large
part OF the people believe that IL Is treason, and
there are very few public men in the country VI no
dare 10 dscuss-fartber than the parties will per-
NIT them-the question of restoring the Union
IS it was established by the fathers OF 1776, aud
understood by jefferson. Madison, Andrew Jack
son. and John Quincy Adams. While, there
fore, the jeff Davis party rules the South, there
can be no peace, 90 approach to pcace,as there
can be no cessation OF war, and while the Gar
rison and Phillips men control the popular chr
rent of the North, there can be nothing but such
measures as will be resisted at the South so long
as man can be had; and in the end, IL thew rule
in that end they will not restore she Union. but
give MS conquered country 70 be held as Russia
holds Poland. and Austria holds Hungary