The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-08-03

Peace.
After nearly four years OF war Of unex-
amplcd barbarity in the history of civilized
nations, the first faint whisper of peace has
been heard amid the roar and tumult of
contending armies. Peace How welcome
is that word after the long agony of war.
What blessed visions of home circles re-
stored, of holy broken ties renewed, Of
glad welcome of absent, loved ones, re.
turned, rise to the view. How the pulse
Of the wife and the mother quickens at the
thought that gentle Peace will soon snatch
her loved one from the jaws of remorseless
war. But the beautiful vision has faded.
1t looked an instant on the head of a
Gorgon and turned to stone. The temple
Of Janus stood ajar ard we heard the
rustling of the white wings within, but the
door has closed again ON its iron hinges
with dull and heavy sound and long
suffering people must turn once more to the
field of mortal strife. From the ocean to
the river, from the river to the going down
Of the sun, on thousand plains and among
thousand mountain defles million of
men wrestle in the embrace Of death. A
wide column of mangled men mark the
boundary line from ocean to ocean between
hostile sections ola once happy republic.
Rude unnumbered graves, on countless
battle fields, checker the continent, while
vast multitude Of bereaved orphans or
mourning wives and mothers linger amid
the desolation of ruined homes, or warder
TO and fro among the habitatons of men.
In this crisis of the 2aton's fate with
hostile army belcaguering the gates OF rs
capital, the Executive turns his attention
from promulgating "bulls against the
comet" and in the unlimited exercise of
despotic authority demands another army
Of half million of men. The ranks of
those who have gone before have become
vacant, and the machinery of despotsm
must fill the places, if voluntary enlistment
fails.
In this condition Of things it is said the
rebels, tired of war, are anxious for peace,
and have proposed as basis Of settlement
the old Union, the statu quo ante 6elluna,
the present status of negroes, whether free
or slave to remain and both parties to
join in discharging the common debt, the
rights of the several States to be respected.
This was near approach to the solemn
declaration of principle embodied in the
Crittenden resolution adopted by Congress
at the beginning of the war: ''That this
war is not waged on their part in any spirit
of oppression, nor for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugation, or purpose of over
throwing or interfering with the rights or
established institutions of the States, but to
defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights of
the several States, unimpaired, and az soon
as these objects are accomplished the sear
ought to cease" The President replies 10
the proffer Of peace that no propositions
will be entertained that does not contem.
plate the abolition Of slauery. Would it
not be wiser with peace and the Union re-
stored, to attempt social revolution in the
way pointed out by the Constitution, rather
than carry on bloody and fruitless war,
after restoration has become possible. not
to crush the rebellion and restore the
Union, but to destroy slavery? If the
Necessity, warranted BY the war power,
where does the President obtain his warrant
to prolong that necessity when the object
pointed out in the Crittenden resolution has
been once attained? Rebellion offers t.
throw down its arms and restore the Union
The President in reply calls forth new
half million of men and declares his inter.
ton to continue the war to enforce his
emancipation proclamation. In the lam
guage of Attorney General Bates, is this
not an "original, independent act of revolu
ton" on the part of the President? Will
the restoration of the Union made possib
by the voluntary act of those in rebellion
does not the purposes of the President t,
accomplish his object, convert the war
from its legitimate aim into stupendous
John Brown raid? Such course to say
the least, is not authorized by the Consti-
tuition and is contrary to the desire Of
vast majority Of the American people. The
Presidents "my plan" is now stripped of
all its decitful surroundings. Voluntary
enlistments have filled the ranks while the
aim of the war was the restoration of the
| Union but now the bloody hand of re.
morseless CONSUMPTION will be stretched
forth to fill the slaughter pens Of A. Lin
coin for the purpose of carrying into effec,
his negro policies. "John Browns soul is
marching along" while "five hundred thou.
sand more" are called upon to fill the ranks
There will be no peace, except it be found
in "the dark valley Of the shadow Of
DEATH" IT s.
WHEREAS, By dispensation of our Heavenl,
Father whose ways are past finding out, anc
who chastises whom He loveth, the Indepen
dent Order of Odd Fellows have lost true
and faithful member by the death of our be
| loved Brother Christian Raes who wae drow,,o,