The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-25
The "Peace" Humbug.


They are holding peace conventions all
over the country,and stump-speakefs and
editors are harping loud and long on the
subject of peace-on the horrors Of the war,
the public debt, taxation, &c, invariably
winding up with the reiterated assertion
that the rebels are ready and willing to
make peace .and come back into the Union if
President Lincoln would only let them. All
the horrors of the war. are condensed into petit
tons for women to sign, praying the Presl-
dent to order an arm istice, aud give US peace
The burden of every copperhead speech
and editorial is, that we neaSt have change
of the administration that we may have
Peace, and it is freely threatened that, if such
change is not made through the ballot box
it will be by revolution, civil war and blood
shed within the northern States
It seems like work of supererrogation to
assure our readers and the people Of Keno
sha, of whatever political shade of opinion,
that this is all gammon-ail the trick of
demagogues, and hungry politicians, TO get
get themselves into office. President Lin
coin has no power to make peace any other
way than the way he is now doing it
conquering peace-by crushing the rebel
lion. by force of arms and compelling the
rebels to sue for peace. No loyal President
we care not what his politics may be could
do any more for peace than President Lin
coin is doing.
The rebels demand recognition of their boz
gus confederacy as condition precedent to
treating for peace. We have got to con-
sent to dissolution of the Union and re-
cognize those rebel states as an independent
nationality, before jeff Davia will consent to
treat for peace at all.
But says some of our discouraged and dis
heartened readers, how do you knoac the reb-
els are not disposed to treat sfor peace on a
basis of coming back into the Union,if they
can be assured that they will DE protected In
the enjoyment of their Institution of.Slavery?
We answer that we have the testimony OF
the rebels themselves, ever since this war
commenced. The leaders of the rebellion
have known all the time since they com
menced the war that they could have 9peace,
at any time, by merely laying down their
arms and returning to their allegiance to
the constitution and laws of the United
States In addition to this testimony, We
have the words of jeff Davis himself, to the
the same effect, spoken only few days
ago
1t is pretty generally known that two of
the loyal citizens of the United States, few
days ago, visited jeff. Davis at Richmond, with
the knowledge and appreciation of President
Liucoln, for the express purpose Of trying to
inaugurate negotiations for Peace. The re-
suit Of that peculiar mission is given in full,
in the atlantic Monthly for SEPTEMBER.
The parties on the Uniou side were ]. r.
Gilmore, better known under his literary non
du p}ame, Edmund Kirk, land Col Jaquess
We can only make extracts from this article,
to show that jeff Davis, who rules the so
called southern centederacy with a rod of
iron, is not now, and never has been willing
to treat for peace Oh any other ground than
disunion and recognized independence of
the southern confcdracy.
After giving an account Of their entrance
into Richmond and introduction to Jeff. Da-
Wis Mr.. Gilmore says:
THE SUBJECT OF PEACE INTRODUCED
Mr. Benjamin tells me you have asked to
see me, to-
Ana he paused as if desiring we should fin
ish the sentence. The Colonel replied:
Yes sir. We have asked this interview
in the hope that you may suggest some way
by which this war can be stopped. Our peo-
pie want peace your people do, and your
Congress has recently said that you do. We
have come to ask how it can be brought
about,
SIN very simple way Withdraw your
armies from our territory, and peace will
come Of itself. We do not seek to subiu-
gate you. We are not waging an offensive
war, except SO far as it is ofensive-defensi We
that is, so far as we are forced to invade
you to prevent your invading us. Let us
alone and peace will come at once"
''But we cannot let you alone so long as
you repudiatc the Union. That is the one
thing the Northern people will not surren-
DER
81 know. You would deny us what you
exact for worcestershire right of self-gov-
ernment."
No, SIR" / remarked, 1--WE would de-
ny you no natural right. But we think
Union essential to peace and, Mr.. Davis.
could two people, with the same language,
separated by only an imaginary line, live at
peace with each other ? Would not dis
putes constantly arise, and cause aluuost con-
slant war between them p
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS this generation. You
have sown such bitterness at the South, you
have put such au ocean,of blood between the
two sections, that l despair of seeing any
harmony in my time. sOur children may for
get this war but a0e cannot"
81 think the bitterness you speak of. sir. >"
said the Colonel, ''does not really exist
We must talk here as friends our soldiers
meet and fraternize with each other and I
feel sure that if the Union were restored. a
more friendly feeling would arise between us
than ever has existed The war has made
Us know and respect each other better than
Before. This is the view of very many
Southern men | have had it from many Of
then-your leading citizens,
They are mistaken. replied MIR. Davis.
They do not understand Southern senti-
meut. How can we feel anything but Bit
terness towards men who deny lis our rights?
If you enter my house and drive me out OF
1t, am l not your natural enemy ?"
You put the case too strongly But we
cannot fight forever; the war must end at
some time ; we must finally agree upon
something; cannot we agree now and stop
this frighttul carnage we are both Chris
tan men, Mr.. Davis. Can you' as a Chris
tan man leave untried any means that may
lead to yeace
INDEPENDENCE OR DIFFERENTIATION.