Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-03
The PEACE QUESTION AT THE SOUTH
Letter from Kr. Boycs, of lsoaM Carolina.

| The Richmond Wing publishes the following note
worthy letter from Hon. WILLIAM W. BoYcE OF South
Carolina iOrmerya member of the Congress of tho United
States and now member of the Confederate Congress
WrSNsBoRo Is. CO. SEPTEMBER 20, 1864.
HIS Ezeslsney Jefferson Dauis:
SIR: The Democratic party of the United States in
their recent convention at Chicago resolved that they
attained power they would agree to armistcs and con-
venon Of all the States to consider the of peace
think that action demands favorable response from
our Government You tho only person who can make
that response because Congress does not meet until
after the time appointed for the Presidential election Ii
Congress met in time should propose the action
taken to that body and submit to its Judgment my
argument but that opportunity does not occur have
alternative but to remain silent address myself to
you cannot consistently with my ideas Of duty remain
silent. therefore address myself to you
We are waging war to maintain satisfactory peace
BY satisfactory peace mean peace consistent with the
preservation of free institutions BY satisfactory
peace do not that cessation Of hostites which
might after proracted contest result from the exhaus
ton of the belgerents whereby the sword would fall
from their nerveess hands, their hearts prey to the u
RES Such peace that would be but hollow truce,
in which each party would be necessarily preparing for
new final and decisive struggle The peace which
peace which reconces the interests and feelings Of the
belliRerents peace, in short which restores harmony
Unless obtain such peace as this, our republican
institutions toter to their fall and we become the subjects
of military despotsm. Every Government must exist
this is the law OF it's being II 1t attacked by great
force must bring proportonatey great force TO It's
defence If it's form is such not to furnish military
strength to the fullest extent of its MEANS must dsre
gard that FORM The republican FORM ecaly the form
Of consderscy of free States not the best adapted for
war. In fact, it peace establishment The form beat
adapted for war is national military desposm. The
Republic at is gradually passing into despotsm As
the continues and the pressure of its enemy
wall by powerful enemy must end in despotsm.
Mr Boyos then illustrates by reference to the history
of European naons his remark that country be
free which has to sleep with her hand her sword and
proceeds:1
We have been at war not quite four years. and what is
the resutq Is not Federal Government in the exer
else Of every possible power OF national central despo
Suppose there States only provinces and I'M
limited power conferred upon you and Congresswhat
greater power would you exercise than do now Have
not carried consumption to it's last imtsY Is not
every in the country between seventeen and fifty sub
ect to military authority None exempt except upon
considerations of public interest Have We not been com
PEELED lay direct in the very teeth Of the theory of
the Constitution Have we not issued such vast amounts
of paper money as to unsete all values? Have not
compelled the holders of paper money to fund or
lose one-thrd7 Have not seized all the railroads.
Have not destroyed railroads and built others? Have
we not established universal system of impressment of
property, at prices, in our own money! Have
we established Government monopoly OF the exporta
tions of the great staples of the country Have we not
compelled those whom permit to remain at home to
execute bonds to furnish their products to US at
Have we not suspended the writ of habeas corpus Have
not introduced the passport system which we used to
think belonged to the iron despotsm Of Europef In
short has not the Federal Government done any thing
that centralized military dsspotsm could dol Indeed
if you were appointed Military Dictator what greater
power could you exercise than you now do?
alude to these things not to complain Of Them but to
lament them If you tell me they are necessary, reply
that is precisely my argument. ny argument assumes
ment exercises the powers OF central desposm blame
no one for it. those who at the head Of the
Government would gladly have 1t otherwse but necessity
oomnsls the course they have taken But shall be told
perhaps this necessity is limited to the and when
pssce will go back to our old state OF liberty
reconciliation carries in its bosom the seeds of new
This armed peace and Its offspring war would asien upon
permanently central military desPoti.m 1t is com
despotsm If so, then it is very sad truth for for
that would develop their maximum military power, and
would of course necessae the same thing in the same
way on part The truth 49, We are vitality interested
in the preservation of free institutions in the Northern
States because the people of the United States will not
only make their institutions but they will make ours II
they acquire their maximum military strength by gong
into despotsm we must do the same just if they
to originate and oyerpowerngy destructive modes OF
warfare we would have resort to the same be over
whemed Some persons of intelligence concede that the
Northern people have gone into despotsm, but rdcue
the idea Of such calamity Detailing To such would
reply we are but human beings not gods, and we are
acted upon by necessity other people. The truth is,
that the Government at Washington has not dared to ex
ercse power the grand scale that Government has
The Lincoln Government has not ventuTed to resort TO
effective CONSUMPTION it has not resorted to taxation
we have it has tax in kind it does not prohibit i'm
ports it does not monopoze the exports 1t does not
rely impressments 1t plays the yrant but it hest
tates to seize the sceptre.
think have established my proposition that our re.
publican institutions lost we have peace
panied by harmony with the North The great question
for then 10 how to obtain suoh peace. Before
consider this question would call your attention to this
fact that the peace to make with the North to be
made by aud the North alone There is probability
of any interference in behalf The peace between the
North aud the South when it comes, must then by
the act of these parties alone Foreign Powers will not
interfere.
The question then is how these beigerent States
fercey engaged TO obtain this peace with recon
caton, which have said is necessary to preserve their
republican form of government 1t is grave question
! l now approach it.
admit in the first place that successful military de-
fence is Indispensable Without that nothing be anti
cipated but utter ruin. But 10 this ALI think not
10 political policy If Mr. Lincoln remains power there
is hope of accomplishing any thing by political policy
Mr. Lincoln is the exponent Of the fanatcsm and hatred
of the North He holds power because he the exponent
Of these sentiments of his party in order to be master of
others he has to be their slave He cannot exercise what
Burke cals the truest political wisdom maensnmy, be-
he represents magnants Besides Mr. Lincoln is
committed by his past to the most violent
II he had been statesman when he became President he
could, by wise policy, have restored harmony But 10
that great crisis when craftsmanship could have