Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-03-09

shall be found rebel in arms against the
Government I; and we ignore all party
names, lines aud issues, and recognize but
two parties in this war-patriots and trait.
ors."
The motive of such strange conduct is
obvious. The Republican party was found
ed to destroy slavery and the equality of the
States, and Lincoln was selected as the in.
strument to accomplish this object. The
Union was barrier to the consutmation of
this policy, because the Constitution, which
was its bond, recognized and protected sla-
very and the slavery of the States. The
Union must, therefore, be sacrificed, and to
insure its destruction, war was determined
on.
The mass of the Northern people were
not privy to and sympathized in no such de-
sign. They loved the Union and wished to
preserve it. To rally the people to the sup.
port of the war; its object was proclaimed
to be tta restoration of the UDion," as if
that which implied voluntary assent, of
which agreement was an indispensable ele-
ment and condition, could be preserved by
coercion. 1t is absurd to pretend that
Government, really desirous of restoring
the Union, would adopt such measures as
the confscation Of private property, the
emancipation Of slaves, systematic efforts to
invite them to insurrection, forcible abduc.
ton from their homes and compulsory en-
listment in the army, the division Of SOY.
ereign State without its consent, and proc.
lamation that one-tenth of the population
Of State, and that tenth under military
rule, should control the will of the remain
ing nine.tenths. The only relation possible
between the two sections, under such q pol.
icy, is that of conqueror and conquered,
superior and dependent. Rest assured, fel-
low.citizens, that although restoration may
still be used as war cry by, the Northern
Government, it is only to delude and betray.
Fauaticism has summoned to its aid cupid.
ity and vengeance; and nothing short Of
your utter subjugation, the destruction of
your State Governments, the overthrow of
your social and political fabric, your person.
al and public degradation and ruin, will
satisfy the demands of the North. Can
there be a man so vile, so debased, 50 un-
worthy Of liberty, as to accept peace on
such hrmiliating terms ?
1t would hardly be fair to assert that all
the Northern people participate in these
designs. Onthe contrary; there exists a
powerful political party, which openly con-
demns them. The Administration has,
however, been able thus far, by its enor-
nous patronage and its lavish expenditures,
to seduce, or bysits legions Of "Hessian"
mercenaries to oyerawe the masses, to con-
troll the elections and to establish an arbi-
trary despotism. 1t cannot be possible that
this state of things can continue. The
people of the United States, accustomed to
freedom, cannot consent to be ruined and
enslaved, in order to ruin and enslave US.
Moral, like physical, epidemics, have their
allotted. periods, and must sooner OF, later
be exhausted and disappear. Whenreason
returns, our enemies will probably reflect
that people like ours, who have exhibit
ed such capabilities and extemporized such
resources, can never be subdued that q
vast expanse of territory, with such a
population, cannot be governed as an ODE.
dient colony. Victory would. not be con-
quest. Theinextinguishable quarrel would
be Transmitted s'from bleeding sire to son, "
and the struggle would be renewed between
generations yet unborn. To impoverish ns
would only be to dry upsome Of the springs
of Northern prosperity-to destroy South.
eru wealth is to reduce Northern profits,
while the restoration of peace would neces.
sarily re.establish some commercial inter.
course. 1t may not be amiss, in this con-
nection, to say that at one time it was the
wish and expectation of many at the South
to form treaty of amity and friendship
with the Northern States, by which both
people might derive the benefits Of com.
mercial intercourse and move on side by
side, in the arts of peace and civilization.
History has confirmed the lesson taught by
Divine authority, that each nation, as we'll
as each individual, should seek their hap
piness in the prosperity of others, and not
in the injury or ruin of neighbor. The
general welfare of all is the highest dictate
of moral duty and economic policy, while
heritage of triumphant wrong is the great
est curse that can befall a nation.
Until some evidence is given of change
of policy on the part of the Government and
some assurance is received, that efforts al
negotiation will not be spurned, the Con-
gress are of opinion, that any direct over
lures for peace would compromise our self
respect, be fruitless of good, and interpret
ed by the enemy as an indication of weak
ness We can only repeat the desire OF the
people for peace, and our readiness to accep
terms, consistent with the honor and integ
rity and independence of the States, ano
compatible with the safety of our domestic
institutions.
Not content with rejecting all proposals
for peaceful settlement of the controvers.
cruel war of invasion was commenced
which, in its progress, has been marked b.
brutality and disregard to the rules o
civilized warfare, as stand out in unexam
pied barbarity in the history of moder1
: wars. Accomplished by every act of cruel
; ty and rapine, the conduct of the enem
has been destitute Of that forbearahce an