Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-02-26
Mr. FILLMORE ON THE WAR.

AT the opening or the steao o0n'.s 80
Manipulated by the Christian COMMISSION at
St. James Hall, Buffalo, Monday evening, Mr.
Fillmore spoke as follows:
Three years of civil war have oeso1ated the
fairest portion Of our land; loaded me country
with an enormous debt that the sweat OF lnli,
lions vel unborn must be taxed TO pay arTayed
brother against bro. her, and father against son
in mortal combat; deluged our country with
fraternaI blood, Whitened oar battle tle!ds with
the homes Of the slain, and larkened the SKY
with the pail Of mourning. Yer these apall-
INC mities-wIlich as yet have touched our
CITY more lightly than am other IN the land
have imposed upon us new duties which must
be promptly met and generously discharges
and new burdens which must be patiently and
cheerfully borne. We cannot, IN our humble
capacity, control the events OF this desosatlng
war. We hear it's thunders and mark the
track Of desolatlon, and We must meet the
emergency as best we can, but never despair OF
the republic. 1t is no time now to inquire
whether it might have been avoided. Let
those who seek lighto1 this subject read Wash
ington's Farewell Address, Nor are we now
to criticise the conduct Of those who control It,
awarding praise here and bestowing censure
there, The impartial historian will do this
when the passions engendered by the strife
have called and partisan prejudice, petty jea!-
BUSINESS, malignant envy, and intriguing selfish
ambition shall be laid in the dust, and, It IS
hoped, buried in oblivion. And much less are
we called upon to predict when or how this war
will end. Let those who seek light on the sub
iect read General Jackson's Farewell address.
But let as hope that an all wise and mercltul
Providence will incline the hearts OF the peo-
pie, North and Suuth, 10 peace to tasting
Deace with a restored Union, cemented by fra
ternal affection, under our well-tred and glo-
rjous Constitution. Nor is this the time or
place TO express an opinion as to the policy
that should be pursued to reach SO desirable an
end. But one thing is clear, that much must
be forgiven, If not forgotten, on both sides,
before this Union can ever be restored; and
therefore it is to be hoped that al unnecessary
acts Of cruelty, or Wanton destruction or private
property, or insult, or lnsolence IN triumphant
over fallen foe should be avoided; Tor all
such acts only fire the heart or our adversary
| with resentment and revenge, and thus pro-
tract the war, increase It's horrors, and leave
sting which will render reunion more d11out,
| if not impossible. But it must be apparent to
al that the first step toward bringing this
wal to close is to conquer the rebel army
ANY negotiations for peace before this IS done
would prove abortive; and any professed Glenn
eocy to those in arms who DEFY our power,
would be mockery which would be treated
with ridicule ana contempt But when we
have Conquered their armies, and disposed OF
their leaders, then let Us show our nlagnanml-
ty and generosity by winning back the dcIuded
multitude who have been seduced or coerced
into this rebellion, by extending to them every
act Of cle,nency and Kindness in our power, AND
! by restoring them to all their hts under the
Constitution This | conceive to be Christian
forgiveness and the best policy and the only
one which can ever restore this Union.
Jacob Gideon, an old and highly respected