The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-10-26
WflI the EIection 81 nc Cleua'
Brin9 Peace and Unton

Brin8 PEACE ana Union.
ghs joarhals md steton y tie intersstt
Of the Administration are making every efS
fort to divert tho minds of the people from
the true Issues TO be decided In November
next. We cannot be beaten before the
people, unless this Misrepresentation is sue.
cessfui. Leaving out all minor questions,
the people are called upon todecide, whsth-
er or not they will accept the Union, under
the Consultation, as the one condition Of
peace. Mr. Lincoln declares that he will not;
that as precedent either to peace or re-
union, he demands the abolition of slavery.
Met lellan demands the restoration OF the
Union, and asks nothing more. The former
is conditional unionist; the latter is for
the Union without conditions.
The leaders of the Democratic party do
not believe that the few men who have risk
ed all on the success of the rebellion will
submit to any terms which involve the pre-
servation of tho Union of the States, and the
supremacy Of our Constitution. But we do
hold that as soon as fair terms Of peace are
offered, the Southern peopleiwill be at once
divided, and the Confedsracy from the lack
of that unanimity which is essential to its
existence, will'fa int the parts Of which
it is composed, and that the several rebel
lious States will return to the Union. The
action taken by the Democratic party hai
already divided the South, and the rebel
President is called upon by the moat emf.
nent citizens Of that section to abandon the
position he has taken, in stating that the &C
acknowledgement of the independence of the
Confederacy must DO the sole condition o.
peace. Vice President Stephens letter hal
already been published; in that there is nc
pretence that the independence of the Con
federacy is that for which the South is con
lending. He demands recognition of the
sovereignty of the States, and favors con
vention of the several States that their PEG
pie may determine their future political re-
lations. We are not, perhaps, prepared t.
60 as far as this. Nor is JEFF Davis, but i
will be seen that party occupying middle
ground is growing up in the South, to tn
evident alarm of the men who have at hear
the success of the rebellion, which it ma,
be doubted if Stevens ever had. In Geor-
gia peace party has already been formed
its strength is in the belief existing in th'
South that the people of the North vii
give their confidence in November next, II
the political organization that holds out
! promise of peace to which both sides cal
agree with honor. The peace sentiment il
spreading in the South, and already make
it's appearance in South Carolina. MI
Boyce, South Oarolinian of great wealtl
and influence, formerly member of Con.
gress from that State has addressed lette
to the rebel President, in which he take
the ground that there is nothing to b.
hoped for on the part of the South for pro
longing conflict unless it be the destruc tior
of the liberties of both sections. He demand
that the President of the Confederacy shal
not demand the independence fthe Southern
States as the terms of peace, but "the pre-
servation of the free institutions of TIT
South" We can meet this party on thes,
terms. The great mass of the Northern
people do not want to see the Southern
white men either subjugated or enslaved
They are willing to guarantee to the Soutl
her free institutions-they are willing t.
agree with Mcclellan in demanding The
Union as the condition of peace. Mr.. Boyc.
says, addressing, let it be remembered, Jeff
Davis:
"By a satisfactory peace, l mean peace
consistent with the preservation of our free
institutions. By satisfactory peace, / dc
not mean that ces sation of hostilities which
might, after protracted contest. result
from exhaustion Of the beligerents, where
by the sword would fall from their nervsles,
hands, their hearts prey to the furies
Such peace as that would be but a hol.
low truce, in which each party would be
necessarily preparing for new, final and
decisive struggle The peace which mean
is peace which reconcies the interest and
the feelings of the beigerents; peace, in
short, which restores harmony. Unless we
can obtain such peace as this, our repub
lican institutions totter to their fall, and
we become the subjects of military des
potism. \ Indeed, if you were app
pointed Military Dictator, what greater
power could You exercise than you now do?
allude to these things not to complain Of
them, but to lament them. If you tell me
they are necessary, Ireply that it is pre-
cisely my argument. My argument assumes
and requires that necessity. 1t is plain
that our government exescses the power
of a central despotisnl. blame no one for
it. am sure those who are at the head Of
the government would gladly have it other
IruTN1 A..