The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-01
Captain 4th Minnesota Voluntet
SPRINGFIELD, December Nth.
The South and the War.

A letter has lately been published, writ
ten by Hon. T. BUTLER KING in June last,
in refutatiOn of the rumOr that he was in
favor of reconstruction. Mr.. KING, in
this letter, "defnes his position" He
claims to have always maintained the right
OF State to secede from the Union, and
to have urged upon Georgia to exercise
that right upon the election of Mr.. LIN
colin. He says he regretted the necessity
for such an act, and even hoped after the
ordinance of secession had been adopted,
that the Federal Government would adopt
such measures as would permit their re-
turn. The war, however, put an end to
these expectations, and he has sustained
it to the utmost of his ability-having
given every male member of his family to
the field, and two who were most dear to
him, to soldiers grave. Mr. KING then
proceeds:
But war must end in peace; and sooner or
later both parties must agree to terms upon
which they will lay aside their arms. The
events of the past two years should be sufii-
clent to convince every reasonable man, both
North and South, that it is impossible for the
Federal Government to subjugate our people,
and statesmen of the South cannot fail to per-
ceive that the Federal Government cannot
abandon the war, except on a restoration of
the Union, without danger of the further dis
memberment of the nation.
Then unless both parties can be influenced
by the spirit of concession and compromise
when" in the language of one of our distn-
guished Senators, lis this struggle to end 2"
No man can answer as to the years; but he
may safely answer, not until both parties are
exhausted and ruined-nOt until the North is
reduced to condition worse than it would
have been if she had quietly acquieseed in our
separation, and not until the South is worse Oft
than she would have been by remaining in the
Union under an Abolition Administration
of the Government
These considerations would lead me to favor
any terms of peace that the South could, with
a proper regard for her interest and honor. &C.
cept
Ii the people of the North would
now concede our rights, and the Federal Gov
eminent secure them to us, the danger with
which we are threatened by remaining in
the Union, and the objection we had to it,
would be removed, and ace naiqht Nth honor and
advantage return to 1t.
The Federal Government has proceeded so
far with the war that these are the only terms
OF peace to which we can reasonably expect it
to agree; and l regret to say that 1 have no
expectation that such terms will be proposed,
or would be accepted by thai Government
while the presidential chair is occupied by the
present Abolition incumbent. But if, fortu-
nately, during his administration, or within a
reasonable time afterward, such terms should
be offered, am free to say that should prefer
their acceptance by our people to the continu-
ance OF the war, which must result in the desc
latlon OF our country, and the ruin of both
would be eminently honorable to both parties
neither could claim the victory-while the
strength and valor each has exhibited would
command the respect and admiration of the
other
To this extent l am "reconstructionist.
But it must not be understood that would
prefer reconstruction and peace on the terms
Indicated to speedy peace recognizing our in
dependence-if that were possible; nor must
1t be understood that l doubt our ability to
achieve our independence if the conflict is con-
tinued. But believe it would be better for
ourselves, for our posterty, and for mankind,
that we should accept peace with our rights
war many years. giving oceans of blood, mil
lions OF treasure, and running our country, for
independence.
And yet the North has manifested no inclin-
atlOn 10 make peace on any reasonable terms:
and until she evinces pacific disposition, and
hostllltles are suspended tor negotiation, moth
ing remains for us but to devote all our ener-
gles, skill and resources to the conflict.
This is the first intimation we have seen
from any influential quarter in the South
OF desire for peace on any terms short of
the concession Of Southern independence.
MIR. KING does not hesitate to say that he
would prefer peace within the Union to a
continuance of the war, if the rights of the
Southern States could be secured.