Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-12
MIR. DOYCE's LETTER.
W1SS:BoRo', S. c., Sept. 90, 1876
[Eodsnsith.

WINE.BoRo', 5. o., Sept. ~, 1861.
His Ecce!lency, jefferson Davis:
SIR: The Democratic party Of the Unit
ell States, in their recent Convention at
Chicago, resolved that if they attained
power they would agree to an armistice
and Convention of all the States, to con-
slider the subject of peace. think that
action demands favorable response from
our Government. You are the onl y person
who can make that response, because our
Congress does not meet until after the
time appointed for the Presidential cleo
ton Ii our Congress met in time, l
should propose the action desire taken to
that body, and submit to its Judgment my
argument; but as that opportunity does not
occur, | have no alternative but to remain
silent, or address myself to you. l cannot
consistently, with my ideas of duty, re-
main silent. I therefore address myself
to You. We are waging war to obtain a
satisfactory peace. By satisfactory
PEACE, | mean q peace consistent with the
preservation of our free institutions. BY
a satisfactory peace, | do not mean that
cessation of hostiities which might, after
a protracted contest, result from the OK
hallstion of the belligerents, whereby the
sword would fall from their nerveless
hands, their hearts prey to the furies.-
Such peace as that would be but hol-
low truce, in which>each party would be
. necessarily preparing for new, final and
decisive struggle. The peace which l
mean is il peace which reconcles the inte-
rests and the feelings of the belligerents;
Il peace, in short, which restores harmony.
Unless we can obtain such peace as this,
our republican institutions totter to their
fall, anil we become the subjects Of a mill
tary despo:ism. Every Government must
exist; that is the law of its being. Ii it
is attacked by great force it must bring
proportionately great force to its defence.
fits form is such as not to furnish military
strength to the full extent of it's means, it
must disregard that form. The Republi-
can form, especially the form of a Confed-
eracy If free States, is not the best adapt
ed for war. In fact it is a peace establish
Aent. The form best adapted to war is a
national military despotsm.!. The Republic
at war is gradually passing into military
despotism. AS the war continues and the
pressure of its enemy increases, this
transition is accelerated. A Republic
forced to the wall by powerful enemy
must end in despotism. If we turn our
eyes to Europe we find only two nations
with free institutions, Great Britain and
Switzerland. Why is thisl The reason
is obvious. The necessity of being con-
stantly in the highest state of preparation
for war, compels every country to the ut
most development of its military strength
Absolute government is part Of thai
state of preparation, and therefore absolute
government is the ordinary condition. Il
there were no. other obstacle to France
being republic, the immense standing
>9fm;es she is compelled TO keep constantly
z under arms, would be conclusive. France
2 is compelled TO keep 100000 men Away.
( in arms. France IL obliged therefore K
be what she is, military despo:isn.-
Take the case of Prussi in the celebrated
seven years war. Suppose her institutions
had been liberal, what would have beer
the RESULT Frederick the Great Womb
either have had to abandon the struggle
or seize all power. Nothing but absolute
power in the hands Of Frederick enabled
him to come forth victorious from the con
fest. lie sacrificed everything else II
Prussia to the one iLea ofmiliIary strength
AS Prussia had no natural defences, am
was greatly inferior i'll strength to til
other great pnwsrs. it was necessary t
give EXCLUSIVES development to the lnil'tar
idea; this + reseTie& did. As Macsul
said, he made Prussia "a!i sting" Th
was logical insErederick. To save .Prussi
it was necessary to give her the maximum
of military strcngth-he did this. Pru
STA still has a,placc op the map. but i
made no effort 10 SAFE liberty. Frederic