The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-03-01

erned as an .obedient colony. Victory would not
be conquest. The inextinguishable quarrel would
be transmitted "from bleeding sire to son, and
the struggle would be renewed between genera
lions vet unborn. To impoverish us would only
be to dry up some of the springs of Northern pros
perity-to destroy Southern wealth is to reduce
Northern profits, while the restoration OF peace
would necessarily re-establish some commercial In
tercourse 1t may not be amlss In this connexlen,
to saw that at one time it was the wish and ezpec-
tation of many al the South, to form treaty OF
amity and friendship with the Northern States, by
which both peoples might derive the benefits of
commercial intercourse ard move on side by side,
in the arts of peace and civilization History has
confirmed the lesson taught by Divine authority,
that each nation, as well each individual, should
seek their happiness in the prosperity OF others,
and not in the injury or ruin of neighbor. The
general welfare of all is the highest dictate OF
moral duty and economic policy, while heritage
of triumphant wrong is the greatest curse that can
befall nation.
Until some evidence is given of change of pol
icy on the part Of the government and some assu'
rance is received that efforts at negotIation will
not be spurned the Congress of opinion that
any direct oversures for peace would compromise
our elfrespec, be huitless of good, and enterpre
ted by the enemy as an Indication Of weakness.
We can only repeat the desire of the people for
peace and our readiness to accept terms consistent
with the honor and integrity and independence OF
the States, and compatible with the safety of our
domestic Institutions.
Not content with rejecting all proposals for a
peaceful settlement of the controversy, cruel war
of invasion was commenced, which, in its progress,
has been marked by brutality and disregafd OF
the rules of civilized warfare, as stand out IN un-
horh itu tha
Accompanied by every act of cruelty and rapne,
the conduct Of the enemy has been destitute OF
that forbearance and magnanmty, which civlllsa-
ton and Christianity have introduced to mitlgaje
the asperites of war. The atrocities too IL
credible for narration. Instead Of regular WAL
our resistance of the unhoy efforts to crush out
national existance is treated rebellion and
the settled international rules between bellgerent
are ignored. Instead OF conducting the as be
twxt two military and political organizations, it il
war against the whole population. Houses a1e
pillaged and burned. Churches are deface..
Towns are ransacked. Clothing Of women ard
children are stripped from their persons. Jewety
and mementoes of the dead are stolen. Mills AID
implements of agriculture are destroyed. Private
salt-works are broken up. The introduction Of
medicines is forbidden. Means Of subsistence are
wantony wasted to produce beggary. Prisones
are returned with contagious diseases. The lat
morsel of food has been taken from families, wlo
we're not allowed to carry on trade or branc Oh #
industry. n rigid and offensive espionage has
been introduced to ferHt out "disloyalty." Pc
sous have been forced to choose between starvation
of helpless children and taking the oath of alesi
ance to Il hated Government. The cartel for ez-
change of prisoners has been suspended and otr
unfortunate soldiers subjected to the grossest In
dignites The wounded at Gettysburg.were de
prved of their and inhumanly left to perish
on the field. Hell pless women have been exposed
to the most cruel eutrages and to that dishonor
which is infinitely worse than death. Citizens
have been murdered by the Buffers and McNeils
and Allroys, who are favorite generals of our enc
mics. Refined and delicate ladies have been seiz-
cd, bound with cords, imprisoned, guarded by ne
sroes, and held as hostages for the return Of re-
captured slaves. UnofendnS none-combatants
have been banished or dragged from their quiet
homes to be immured in filthy jails. Preaching
the gospel has been refused except on condition
of taking tie oath of allegiance. Parents have
been forbidden to their children in honor of
"rebcl' chiefs. Property has been confscated.
Military governors have been appointed for States,
satraps for provinces, and Haynaus for cities.
These cruclties aud atrocities of the enemy have
been exceeded by their malicious and blood thirs-
ty purposes and machinatous in reference to the
slaves. Early in this war, President Lincoln
averred his constitutional inability aud personal
unwilIingness to interfere with the domestic inst-
tutions of The States and the relation between
ter and servant. Presidential considerations may
have been yelled under conscientious scruples, for
Seward, in confidential instruction to Mr. Adams
the Minister Great Britain, on 10th March,
1862, said: "lf the Government of the United
States should precipitutety decree the abolition of
slavery, 1t would reinyigor the declining insur-
rection in every part of the South" Subsequent
reverses aud the refractory RIGHTEOUSNESS Of the
ceded States caused change of policy, and Mr.
Lincoln issued his celebrated proclamation, a mere
brutene tulnsen, iberatng the slaves III the din
districts" On the 9th June, 1776,
one OF the reasons assigned by Pennsylvania for
her separation from the mother country was that,
IN her sister colonies the .Ikins had excited the
negroes to revolt" and to Undue their hands in
the blood of their masters, in manner unpractis-
ed by civilized natiens." This, probably, had re-
ference to the proclamation Of Duamorc, the last
royal Governor Of Virginia, in 1775, declaring
freedom to all servants or negroes, if they would
join 'tor the reducing the colony to proper sense
OF Its duty. The invitation to the slaves to rise
against their masters, the suggested iGsurrection
caused, says Bancroft, "a thrill of Indignation to
run through Virginia, efacing all differences of
party, and rousing one strong, i'm FASHIONED pur-
pose to drive away the insolent power by which it
had been put FORTH cotempolary annalist, ad
vertlng to thc'samc proclamation said ''it was re-
ceived with the greatest horror in all the colonies ,,
his notes Wheaton, of aning the slaves against the
masters not pursued during the of the Revou
ton; and when negroes taken by the English thew
were not considered otherwise than property and plum