Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-11
MR.. BOYCE'S LETTER.
WINN3BoRo', S. c., Sept. 90, Isl

W1NNsBoRo', S. c., Sept. 90, 1864
HIS EeceILsncy, Jefferson DaUis:
SIR: The Democratic party Of the Unit
cd 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
cur Government. You are the only person
who can make that response, because our
Congress does not meet until after the
Lime appointed for the Presidential cleo
ton. If 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. | cannot
consistently, with my ideas of duty, re-
main silent. | therefore address myself
10 you. We are waging war to obtain
satisfactory peace. BY a satisfactory
peace, | mean peace consistent with the
preservation of our free institutions. BY
:! satisfactory peace, [ do not mean that
cessation of ho<tilities which might, after
Il pr0tracted contest, result from the ex-
!austion Of the belligerents, whereby the
sword would fall from their nerveless
hands, their hearts a prey to the furies.-
such a peace az that would be but a hOl-
low truce, in which each party would be
necessarily preparing for new, final and
decisive struggle The peace which [
mean is q peace Which rec0ncles the inte-
rests and the feelings Of the belligerents;
! peace, in short, which restores harmony.
Jnlcss we can obtain such peace as this,
our republican institutions totter to their
fall. and we become the subjects ola mill
tary Gespotism. Every Government must
exist: that is the law Of its being. If it
is attacked by great force it must bring
proportionately great force to ITS defence.
lifts form is such rs not to furnish military
strength to the full extent of its means, 1t
,~aa disregard that form. The Republi-
,.on form, especially the form Of Confed-
,racv q free States, is not the best adapt
I'd f3r az. In fact it is peace establish
,nant NC form best adapted to war is
YatinnaI mil :t4ry despotism. The Republic
ut war is grad.Naily passing into military
desnotism. As ,'Ga war continues and the
nres.nre Of its ,netny increases, this
transition is acceh, -ated. A Republic
forced to the wall by = powerful enemy
must end in despotism. II we turn our
ewes to Europe we find Oh. two nations
with free institutions, Great britain and
Switzerland Why is this9 Ne reason
is obvious The necessity of be- g con-
stantly in the highest state of prepa, ~atloH
for war, compels every country to the w
most development of its military strengt.H
Absolute government is a part OF that
state of preparation, and therefore absolute
government is the ordinary condition If
there were no other obstacle to France
being a republic, the immense standing
armies she is compelled to keep constantly
under arms, would be conclusive. France
is compelled to keep 100000 men always
in arms. France is obliged therefore to
be what she is, military desp0tism:-
Take the case of Prussil in the celebrated
seven years war. Suppose her institutions
had been liberal, what would have been
the result? Frederick the Great would
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-
test. He sacrificed everything else in
Prussia to the one idea of military strength.
As Prussia had no natural defances, and
aas greatly inferior in strength to the
other great powers. it was necessary to
give exclusive development to the military
idea this Frederick did AS Macauly
aid, he made Prussia all sting" This
,as logical in Frederick TO save Prussia
It was necessary to give her the maximum
! military strength-he did this. Prus-
~ still has place on the map. but he
.:lade 40 effort to save liberty. Frederick