The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-23
Longing for Peace.
From the Charleston Courier, Sept. 3. :

As minutes OF anguish seem longer than
hours of pleasure, so the interval of time
that stretches itself between the present
and the blissful days all bright and beau
tiful from the sweet and potent influences
of peace appears thrice the period it really
is. How often have those sufferers BY the
dreadful conflict groaned forth the inquiry
how much longer will the war oontinuea
Lifting their burdened hearts to Heaven,
they exclaim, How long, o Lord! How
long! When will the sword be satisfied
with human blooda When will the wrath
of God cease to burn with fierce flame?
Will the terrible contest 90 on till the
manhood of Southland has perished from
the land? Till every wife is widowed,
every child orphaned, and there is
corpse in every house?
How strong and sad the contrast be-
tween all those pleasant things that are
the fruits of peace, and the desolation,
gloom, grief, disorder, wickedness, silence
and wretchedness that are the direct effects
of war! That is rightly accounted the
heaviest of all judgments. 1t is well said
that that rod rOars with louder and more
terrible voice than any other with which
the Almighty chastises the people for their
transgressions. Homesteads that once re-
echoed with the sounds of mirth and Joy
are dark and silent, or, we behold in their
stead blackened ruins and ashes, rank
weeds have taken the place of beautiful
flowers; fields that once waved with gold
en- grain are now ghastly, bowling wastes
without gate or inclosure; our marts are
forsaken and silent as a graveyard, and
only an occasional foot treads the thor
oughfares once gay with splendid equip
ages, beautiful with forms of well-dressed
women, and lovely with the innocent faces
of girls and boys. Occupations that min
istered to the comforts and happiness of
all are altogether neglected, institutions of
learning are closed, desolation dwells in
the sanctuaries of the Most High, our
young men are buried by their gray haired
parents, or, with the blood of their deadly
wounds on their soldiers humble attire,
are buried in the field where they fell with
out psalm or service.
War contains in itself every woe and
calamity mortals groan under. With it
comes bereavement, poverty, disease,
death, rapine, devastation, extortion, mur-
der-crimes of every dye, woes of every
shape and size. May the God of peace
speedily lift up the light of His counte-
nance upon US and grant US peace.
"THE YANKEES SEEKING PEACE.
From the Charleston Mercury, Sept Is.
The emissaries of the Yankee Govern
ment profess to be seeking peace. The
way to peace is so easy, if they really de-
sire it, that, failing to pursue it, it might
be supposed impossible that they can, by
professions, deceive any one. Humanity
and peace! These are the holy purposes
which actuate them in seeking conference
with others. The real motive is to get
avowals which may defeat all efforts for
peace, and roll on the bloody tide of war.
Ii they propose suspension of hostilities,
1t will not be to end the war, but to unite
their people, and be the better prepared
to carry it on. So adroit and unscrupu-
lous are they in their mastery efficiency in
lying, that we frankly confess we fear all
propositions, all advances for settlement
of our differences. We doubt if they
ought to be admitted to any conference for
peace whilst they are in our country. They
will seek to extort terms, by the wrongful
possession of portions of our territory.
Get out of our country first, and then we
will listen to terms of accommodation.
This, it appears to US, should be the pre-
liminary to any treaty Of peace and the
reason is, that no reliance can be placed
on their professions or faith.
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