The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-02
Peace or War!


Peace party. AZ the time for holding their
State Conventions approaches, the necessity Of
determination one way or the other becomes
more pressing, and the difficulty OF agreement
becomes more apparent. Thus the Chicago
Pest presents the subject in a very clear light :;
"ShaH We have war platform or peace
platform? In the State Convention will be del
eeates in favor Of the doctrines oil Mr. Falian-
djgbam. and others in favor OF the war policy OF
Gov Seymour. Gen. Mcclellan and Gen. Grant
both Of whom are 10 favor Of prosecuting this
war by the sword until no armed rebellion exists,
will have friends there; aud then, too there
will be some men who think, and Who will want
TO declare that an, man ShO II in iavOr OF the
further pros, cutOn OF this war 10 an abohuonist
or insane How can State Convention recon
Gle these difficulties? Suppose It declares for
war and the National Convention in Jolly de-
clares for peace or suppose 1t declares Tor
peace and lhe National Convention declares
for war how peculiarly painful would be ire
position Of our State Candidates who would be
compelled TO repudisle tie action either OF toe
Convention that nominated them, or the acton
Of the National Convention"
IL will be seen that the war Is not regarded A.
a great aud terrible evil 10 he disposed Of in
the manner that shall be best for the whole
country but Is force that can be brought TO
bear on Presidential election. " 5 ate Con-
venton is not expected to declare for War or
Peace on the merits of the case; but to take
one side or the other, so that the position of the
State candidates may not become "PEcU
IIARLY PAIsyULw That is the thing to be
mainly looked alterl
According to our observation, the Democracy
are about evenly divided on the war question,
with an increasing tendency to 60 over to the
war platform. The vast number Of volunteers,
both veterans and recruits, that have recently
enlisted, shows the current Of popular feeling
in a manner not TO be mistaken. The army is
unit in regard to the prosecution Of the war.
Under these circumstances, the leading Demo
Gratis generally are unwilling to put themselves
On the record before the public opponents to
the war. Such a record after few years, may
be very unpleasant to the person making il. For,
as the Free Press says, ito advocate withhold
ing supplies, IS but Gis indirect consent 10 dis
s'-'~. =" and " wnnld once establish South
ern indepence on an immOvabie iounGauUu.
The Free Prese, which has played fast and
loose on tbissubject for long time in a careful
ly written editorial Of Feb. 22d, defines lie pc
sition with much ssgacity and good sense. Al
ter stating the arguments of the Peace men, il
proceeds
"These questions suggest the position taken
by the peace democrats, and they are worthy OF
thoughtful consideration. In short they deem
the war democrats Inconsistent in charging the
Administration with incompetency and danger
Gus violation Of the constitution and law, and al
the same time urging the people to furnish this
same administration with supplies OF men and
money We do not believe that an honorable
peass can BE- made ,cithout further fighting.
" doubt even that democratic administration
could close the contest now without further
blOOdshed. We believe that a refusal 10 furnish
military supplies and money for the war would at
once establish Southern independence on an in.
movable foundation. We further believe that
the South will never be made to submit TO the
sbOli,ionists oDiess it be done by force. Should
Mr. Lidcoln aud bis adherents strictly Obev the |
constitution il would make little if any differ |
ence with the Suutherners, as they - ~e-- /
fdeDoe, and cannot have any in the radicals now
in power. To advocate ritholdi"g supplies as
then but an indirect consent 10 dJSunlOn and 1
we firmly believe that while any hope remains |
OF a restoration Of the Union, there Is 10 ssc..-
fee which we should not cheerfully make for IT, |
In the present state of affairs, there Is no hope
except It be supported b. large armies What |
ever harm this administration can do TO the /
armed hosts of the South between this and 1863 |
will be so much gain for those on whom the sue |
session shall devolve. Ever should the war
continue to be carried on in the same blunder |
ing aud exhaustive manner heretofore for an
other year, il cannot fail TO still further weaken /
the Southern armies aud conduce to a discOur-
agement which must inevitably precede restOr
alton. We see 40 udy, therefore, but 10 furnish
military means to damage the military poper Of
the South, while az the same time We strenu-
ously protest sgsist the administration in its VIC
lations of constitution and Law, in its manage
ment of tue war, and the dishonesty, extrava
gance and corruption with which all departments
are full. But these abuses reprehensbe as they /
are, do not afford sufficient reason for stopping
the war.
About half the Democratic country papers Of
the State, so far as we have an opportunity Of
Judging, while they abuse the Administration
soundly, take substantially the position of the /
Free Pres, or lean heavily that way" Tbe |
Livingston Democrat, while it deplores ths MANY /
unconstitutional acts " o. sss administration. |
still " loves the Union. and Gill fight TOR IL"
and hopes to see the Federal mics triumph
ant the Union restored, and the flag Of our faith /
ers hailed with pride and joy BY all sections OF
the Great Republic" That, certainly, must be
the hope Of a true patriot
The Pontiac Jas ksonidn, a rabd Copperhead
paper, classes its party brethren in this way:
" 10 this State, sorry to say, but few
OF the professedly demOcl attic papers are worthy
the title. First aud most deserving the support
OF the Democracy OF the State is the Lansing
State Journal, edited BY the outspoken and IN.
dsunted Geo. W. Peck. This paper has the
ring OF the true metal ana 1t any one pana- !,
the State can claim leadership, il is this The
fact that that lie-Oug and sterling democrat
Hoo. John Barry. is a regular contributor TO
the columns OF the Journal, viii at once recon
mend Il 10 the true men OF the party
The 1psilsnu SentiRsi, jackson Patriot. Al
bon HiyrOr, aud perhaps two or three Others
are about al the square.t oed, stand up a d
fight papers in the State. The remainder, head
ed BY the Free Press. encourage this most inia
nous var. conducted as It is at the expense OF
every principle OF self government"
We do DOT see any way for the Democracy to
obtain even an Os'eusible appearance of unanim-
ity In Michigan, in any other Nay than by agree
ing to have the State Convention entirely silent
on the matter OF War or Peace, and then let al
the party follow the lead OF the National Con
vention, whatever It's decision NAV be- Il seems
TO US. however, that il would be very hard for
papers like the STATE Journal and Jdeksoniaa