The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-17
THE TRUE METHOD.

General Butler struck exactly the right key in
his speech, favoring final and most liberal offer
Of amnesty to the Rebels, and in the event Of is
rejection the most crushing warfare possible.
IN zee can In the way Of w8r-that is unluos-
tionsbly the true poll ", dic'a'ed alike by humans
ity, justice, aud publc eXpedicucy. The ship Of
State after this election is like the storm.bcset
ship at sea, whose stluuchncss has been thor
oughly tested, aud vhi h now only wars but
for a new reckoning to make port speedily either
in this direction or that.
All we can In the way Of peace. Well what
can We The public opinion of the North can
not too plainly express itself on this point. There
is good reason 10 believe that the popular mind
of the South is labUriug under a great deluson in
regard to II. The general impression there seems
tC be that the North is determined upon Southern
Subiugation IN the literal sense OF the word-a
reducing of the Southern people to a condition Of
subiugauon to the North instead Of an equality
with II.
This Impression has been wrought by systematic
Misrepresentation of the newspaper organs Of the
Jeh. Davis Government. Precisely as the same
journals fired the Southern mind for the war by
constantly declaring that Mr.. Lncoln's object
then was to make ircemen of slaves, so they have
held the Southern mind TO the war by constantly
declaring that Mr.. LincDlns present object is TO
make slaves Of freemcu The word subugltion
has been made to play just the same irt in keep
ing up the war that the word abolition did In
bringing II on,
There is no more truth in the one than there
was in the other. The Northern people have no
desire to live with the southern people in any
other relations than those of absolute equality,
to have precisely the same constitutional rights,
precisely the same ratio Of representation in the
Government, precisely the same laws, precisely
the samo share in the national prosperity and
glory. Such guarantee tn the South Of an abso-
lutte equality Of course eXhausts all zee can do in
that direction.
The question of slavery does not actually touch
that equality 1t is true that for the sake OF the
national harmony the South will be asked to part
with that ms tution but that would simply put
them on the same level with the North, which
parted with it long ago. In parting with slavery,
7 the South would only part with what must soon
become yalueess, If it is not so already. If the
war continues, slavery porshes unavoidably up to
the line Of the advance of our armies and be-
yond that line it must quickly come TO an end by
the arming Of the able bodied negroes which, by
Southern admission itself, is the only mode of
replenishDg the Southern armies.
Thus war inevitably makes an end of slavery.
IL lies not then, with the South to oppose peace
that will do the same thing. JEFF. Davis told
Colonel Jaques that they we're not fighting for
slavery, and the Rebel newspapers generally have
reiterated the language. We are entitled to
assume, both by the inherent reason Of the thing,
: and by the express aYOwals of those who speak
for the South, that the question Of the fate Of
slavery does not stand at all in the way of peace.
What then does stand in the way Simply
the Southern claim TO the right Of secession.
That TIE North will never yield. 1t is deter
n mined at all costs TO maintain the nationality un-
broken. 1t will concede absolutely nothing in
N that direction for the sake of peace. TO the
Northern people, the vital issue of this war has
Ebeen whether the United States Government has
yor has not authority to enforce its own laws in
Ndependently of State action-in other words,
whether the United States is or Is not nation in
Pats home relations as well as in its foreign rela-
tions.
u They believe that this issue involves all their
skuture security; that endless strife must result
from any abatement of the fall force of the words
tftf1f,T
Hhe laws of the United States which shall be made
Pin pursuance thereof, shall be the supreme law Of
Athe land" They intend to have this matter now
4etlod once for all aud to secure this settlement,
Fhey will carry the war; if need be, TO any extre-
unity We do not say that any express renH lcia-
aton Of the right of secession will be demanded
Arom the South That is not necessary. We
Anade peace with England in 1914 without re-
tIuiring remuneration of the right of search. 1t
lYas enough that VIC had successfully vindiclted
lur own construction of the law of nations.
Just so, in this case il would be enough that
I've had successfully vindcated the true principle
II our constitutional Government. That sub
Ataniial vndcation, sealed by the sword-hilt,
gould be an infinitely better guarantee for all
Hme to come than any words on parchment. The
(outh has but simply 10 cease fighting, and
tHietly accept the Constitution. The people will
4brTow no trouble that its true meaning will ever
gain be perverted on this vital point of national,
Il superior to STATE sovereignty. With this point
aus settled, all other questions might be peace
Slly adjusted But if the South will not settle 1t
N thus relinquishing the war the North then
gust settle 1t by prosecuting the war, and with
tdoubled sternness and vigor.
&The North, after the rejection of such a liberal
fhnesty, would be prepared to make short work
the Rebellion. It would sustain the Govern
tnt in any measures, however severe, that
3uld promote that end. And if q law Of univer-
coDfscation of all Southern lands, with a
tOmise of homestead for every volunteer in
10 national armies, would help 20 swell those
Imles to magnitude that would crush the Re-
Nllion like an avalanche, there would be no
esiation, no misgivng, about adopting the
,sSasuTe.
Ahe Northern people will not consent much
XRer to subject themselves TO all these enor-
$ds burdens and sacrifices for the sake of
lring the Southern people from the visitation
ahe extreme powers of war. They have loaded
tmselyes sufficiently with debt, and what is
tnitely more import mt, they have poured out
Augh of their blood to be resolved now TO
4dge this war by the sternest resorts, in case
Southern people will not themselves make
9nd OF It By accepting liberal amnesty that
impose no degradation, and yet save the
VOnal life