Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-18
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
From The Washington cAronele of yesterday, dug letA)
THE ROAD TO LASTING PEACE.

and restoration of the American Union. Whatever may
be said other subjects this there is extraordinary
harmony That there party leaders who would pur-
chase peace by separation, successfully deny
but they must perceive that the cheapest to
the war is to restore the old condition of things with
the exception of reensavng the people made forever free
BY Congress and by three of the Southern States
And this last fact patent and clear that the rebels
Themselves must later confess and surrender be-
fore it.
We think there is not statesman in the Slave States
from Jefferson Davis down. who does not realize the utter
impossbllty of the South existing Confede-
at the end of the assuming peace the basis Of
separation to be among the possibilities That the North
with its oyershadowing antsavery element and its in
creasng intelligence, and its ten thousand arguments for
unity would hold together 20 mind iodspu-
table that the day follows the light and the night the
day But in the South there hereafter be rest and
peace the generous and forging bosom Of the
Union God, ia His providence, to have ordained
that that which to end this and to give endless
peace The profound love of people for the Union,
and the manifest impossbilty OF establishing any other
Government this part of the American Continent but
that is based upon the principles that comprise
existing system. II.
Assuming it, therefore, fact admitted that there
be dissolution of the American Union, either
condition incident Of peace uhy then shall not
hare peace And it is this inquiry that propose to
meet. Every body is anxous-nay eager-hat this war
should The only question is how to begin the
sideration of the momentous problem
The first, if not the only obstacle is that of slavery
And here meet tho earnest opposition from the rebels
but not from the Southern people They have long ago
real zed that but for slavery there would have been
and that the slave made free again DO put
in chains. More than this. They finally brought to
contemplate the supendous truth that the coored
will work better, if paid by his employer than If whipped
or INDUCED by his These propositions still
contested and doubted but clear of solution that very
few years will fix and asten them among the facts Of
history.
But the question remains What is to be done with sav-
cry what left slavery for must be forgotten
that many of very best patriots turhy contend that
Mr.. Lncoln's proclamation of emancipation has not set
free all the slaves of the South 1t Congress that did
the great work here in the District aud the people that
did il n West Virginia, Missouri and Maryland. 1t was
the army in its conquerng advance that did it in other
quarters by attracting to it's support by being forced
to maintain thousands Of human beings deserted by their
flying masters aud it that further policy of the Gov
eminent by which the negroes and formally in
ved TO enter the service Of the Republic that hosts
made free the principle that he who fights for his
try shall not go unrewarded unorgotten But these
several do not the objections that live in the
minds of Of wiset Union statesmen eanst the
proclamation Of emancipation which the Of the
President alone. And here will the conflict between
opposing theorists and thinkers Surprising the national
authority to be reestabshed and the national unity be-
reassumed may not this complication be safely entrusted
to the people and the national courts Nay the Uery
| last must 1t notg go here7
We have to deal with facts aud not with sophsms.
In the forefront of mighty peril menacng individual
prosperity and national existence, of the most che
rshed convictions may have to be changed surrendered
When Mr.. Lincoln elected President he enuncated
his willingness to do any thing consistent with nationsi
honor to recall the insurgents and to spread peace over
the land AT this moment his inaugural address is the
best index Of peace that any party could desre unless
indeed it may be those who regarded it at first inn
pedment to Never shall forget how Judge
Douglas construed that inaugural He hailed mea-
sure of eminent Cancellation; and such in fact the
reading of it by all the who desired see the
impending couct spread, that disunon might be con-
summated Nearly every word since uttered printed
by Mr. Lincoln has been 10 with this original
declaration 1t is tne events have suggested changes
to policies aud Every body has amended his
opinions and his actions since the inaugural of President
Lincoln when thswas essential to the public good except
only the rebels aud their sympsthizsrs
All despots consistent ia one thng-the assertion
and enforcement of their own will. Bot in this country
he who resolves that the Union restored cannot
stand the idea Of making that obligation subor.
dinate any other thing. The moment he does so he
to b patriot He falsely pesupposes that there
may be better condition in the event of separation
Woe be TO country if the statesmen who adhere to
what are called records" or platforms" in this
dread hour sell to make mans former pledges to the
Republican the Democratic party the memorable guide
OF the action Of representatives in Congress the
Executive Departments Woe, add, unuterable woe
if such teachers to educats people for the future
or 10 dictate to armies administrations
And that msy not be misunderstood in these words
say that find almost much danger in the exactng
demands Of those who call themselves ultra Republicans az
in those who call themselves ultra Democrats We would
not insult Senator Wade Of Ohio, Henry Winter Davis
Of Maryland by comparing contrasting them with the
Vsl-ndigbams Woods but with their grave relations 10
th Union party and their close connections with it,
deliberate and sorrowfu Judgment that their late
ieso has done astng injury among the only consoh
dated friends Of the Government than twenty of the pro-
nuncamenos from the escaped refugees n Canada the
remorseless prince Of dscord 10 the House. Now that
slavery is absolutely gone would sacrifice al other
things but the Union to the Union We would see
Mr. Lincoln himself out Of the canvass with all our attach
to his person. and high OF his prescence
which many did not three years ago who now so
readily recognise it, if by such surrender We could save
the country from the election Of represe ative of dis
k.n tha ka.,. or