Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-07-01
Wisdom and Patriotism AlSke
Demand Rn Armistice,


known 70 military fame. In the Mexican war
he fought under General Taylor, and with |
General Scott participated 10 all the battles
from Vera Cruz to Chspultepec, at the storm.
ing Of which fort he was wounded and render.
ed unfit for service, and retired with the brevet
rank Of Brieadsr General
During the present war be was placed in
command Of Cumberland Gap, where, after
waiting for supplies until almostthe last ration
was consumed he blew mp the fort, and in
match Of near three weeks, sustaining his
troops on green corn, he forced his way 10 the
Ohio river, bis passage obstinately contested,
with scarce the loss Of a man. At the FIRST
attack on Yicksburg, he led one Of the corps
Of the army, and was noted for his bravery,
coolness and skill His suffering health, and
the conviction that the war was perverted,
caused him to resign Two Of his neiRbbors
writing TO him for bis opinion, General Nor
gan thus responds
MI YRRsoS, o., jane II, 1864.
GRSTLEXEN: Your note is before me, and
with pleasure comply with your request
There is always danger Of civil war among
free people, resulting in the overthrow OF
liberty; aud do not believe that mere force
can restere peace or preserve the Union. In
my humble Judgment, wisdom and patriotism
alike demand an armistice and believe that
a cessation OF hostilities would result in an
honorable and happy peace.
An armistice is an agreed suspension of
hostilities between beligerents for speci-
fed time, and for given purpose. In wars
between civilized nations, an armistice always
preeedes peace, though sometimes resorted 10
for other purposes. None but barbarian
lowers pursue hostilities to extermination;
and determination or complete ezhastion of
both contending parties would be the neces
sary result in all wars, did not the opposing
parties agree to suspend hostilities so that
the question in dispute might be submitted to
the arbitrRment Of reason, after brute force
had failed.
During an armistice the hostile armies
maintain their respective positions, and if
terms of adjustment are not agreed upon,
hostilities eau be recommended But as a
general and almost an invariable rule an
armistiee is followed by peace. The propo-
sition for an armistce generally comes from
the victor; and thus, sf er the battle of Sol
ferino gained by the French, the Emperor
Napoleon proposed au armistice to Francis
Joseph OF Austria, and peace was the result
Without magnanimity there can be no real
greatness, and the absence of it is the certain
| evidence of a want of selirespect The cause
Of the Union has been nobly vindicated on
more than a hundred bsttle6elds, and the
deeds of our soldiers have reflected immortal
| glory upon our arms But our enemy has
been equally brave and although we hate Sc
cession, we accord an honest admiration for
the herosm which has half redeemed a mis-.
taken cause
The world has never seen such battles, either
in point of numbers or dauntless intrepidity.
We have sent to the field more than two mil
lions of men and nearly, if not full one hall
of them have gone down to their graves -
More than one tenth Of the entire population
Of the loyal States have been actual combat
tants in this war Whole regions Of country
have been made desolate the busy hum o
workshops has been hushed as If palsied by
eternal death the plough has been left in the
furrowi and the father, the husband and the
son, have alike gone QUIT battle And yet
nsught, absolutely nsught has been gained to
ward the restoration Of that grand and noble
Union formed by our fathers l say, then,
for a time let the torrent of blood be stayed
let the olive branch supplant the sword, anG
hesvenborn reason take the place of force
Victory has crowned our banners on unnum
bered fields and magnanimity will add lustr,
TO our arms
Say TO our countrymen of the South "Lel
as reason together Your homes are dreped
in mourning, and so are ours. Many of YOU
noblest sons have perished on the Geld OF bat
tie, and such, alas is the case with US. We
are countrymen and we have been friends
and even now, amid the red storm of battle
/ we are proud OF each Others deeds We hon
or the names of Lee, Of Sidney Johnston, snC
of jackson and you respect those Of McClel
Ian, of Grant, and of Sedgwick. Let us tall
, together and call back the sacred memories o.
the past Washington was yours and ours
and Franklin and Madison sat side by side il
the convention which framed the great Con
stitution.
Reason is the attribute of the gods-car
mage is the festival Of 6ends. Then let III
, assemble around the council FIRE, and fol
once initiate our red brothers of the forest anC
smoke the calumet of peace"
In word, let the result at Richmond bI
what 1t may, let US declare in favor of ar
armistice Of sixty days We can make tbs
proposition with honor, because it would bt
dore on Southern soil We blockade all tht
. ports of the South not in our possession, anG
the great Father of Waters is ours from il
source to its mouth. But we want peace; VIZ
want Union we want cessation of tbs
+. carnage of war and these blessings can only
be obtained through an armistice.
In my letter to the State Central Committet
in September, 1863, demo lneed the policy O.
President Lincoln in refusing to receive Alex
ander Fl. Stevens as Confederate Commis
: sioner, and, since then, have frequently
urged the appointment of Commissioners OF
our part, to meet With others to be appointed
by the authorities at Richmond, and agar
respectfully advise what have so often rec
8 commended before.
With earnest hopes for the preservation o
the Upion aud the return of peace, remain
y gentlemen, your obliged fellow citizen,
GEoRaE W. MORGAN,
To Pokt Millas aod W. bnuon Zee