Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-08-26
For the Journal.
CANDID TALK BETWEEN A UNION MAN
AND A COPPERHEAD.

4
CANDID TALK BETWEEN A UNION MAN
AND A COPPERHEAD.
Is Uk-M Youwant peacez @
eops Yes, ! do. There las beer enough Of
taxing the people, drafting themaway from home
and friends, and putting them into Lincoln's
abolition army, to die of disease, or be manned
or slaughtered on the field of battle enough Of
misery, weeping, and bloodshed. 1 am tired
and sick Of these and pray for peace.
U. N. My dear friend, I too pray for peace
and its blessings as earnestly as you. l am also
weary of the taxes, and heart sick at seeing the
increasing multitude of cripples, widows and
orphans this cruel war has produced of the
mourning habiliments with which flls, land is
darkened, and the wailings thatare daily sound
ing all around us. Therefore we are agreed on
one thing, we want peace; now how shall we
obtain it,
Cop. Why, it is very easy to have it. Stop
fighting, call the army of the Union back to
their homes, stack up your arms, spike your
cannon, throw your powder and balls into the
sea, show peaceful disposition, and then go
settle the quarrel without further bloodshed.
U NJ Are you so short-sighted as to sup
pose that would bring peace2 Let me tell you,
to begin with, that there are more than ten mill
ions of people, and this includes the army and
navy, with arms in their hands, who have do
termned and sworn that the Constitution and
law shall be obeyed, and enforced Add to this
four millions of the colored men who are pant
ing and praying for freedom. | tell you, fur
ther, that, neighbors as we are, friendly as we
have heen, will, if called upon by my govern-
ment to do SO, fight you right here, if you at
tempt to resist the lawful authority of the cOun-
try, and thus inaugurate rebellion here. AS a
neighbor, love and would gladly live in peace
with you, but when you becoIpe 50 insane, SO
devoted to party, and deaf to reason, that you
will assist by force a rebellion here then, rath-
er than see this Union torn asunder and the
Government crushed by your arm, would as a
sacred and holy duty strike off your arm, and
take your life ifit must be, rather than see YOU
succeed; and if | should perish, should die
we'll With these facts before you do you see
peace in this direction? Again, by withdraw
ing our armies we would enable the rebels to
dictate the terms of peace. Do you know what
those terms would be?
Cop. No! But they too, must be tired Of
fighting, and assLincoln and you Black, Repub-
licans made the war to free the niggers II sup
pose they would quit if we would give them
back their niggers and let them alone,
u H. How can we let them alone, and let
them have their own way, if they remain in the
Union? In that case must they not obey the
Constitution and the laws, and if they refuse to
do SO, as they have already, whatthepf What
do you mean by letting them alonez Doyou
mean to grant them their independence and a
separate government? If you have read what
they have published and declared over and over
again, you know that they declare they want no
peace unless their independence as a nation, is
acknowledged; and that the seceeding States,
including Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri,
and all the territories west of the States of Mis-
souri, and Kansas must be givenupto them and
veto pay their debt and give them half the ma
w and all the forts within the revolted domain.
This is what they claim.
Cop Well, Tswould rather give them all
these than have this war continued.
3 u. M. But let me tell you again, that the ar
my and a majority of the people Of the north
will fight to the death before submitting to these
terms. Now where is the peace you seek?-
Tell me honestly how you viii get.peace?
Cop. l cannot explain it as well an | ought,
but our leaders understand its. viii see some
OF them, and when we meet again twill tell
you. 1t is late, good night. We will meet
again next Friday, and talk further about
peace. l do want this war stopped.
u NJ So do l. Good night. -