Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-25
80. BoElEs LETTER.
v NNsBeRo' & n Sont 90

" TINS8oEo,, S. c., Sept. 80, 1864.
Has E%~!Ir'tey, jefferson. Dauis..
SIR: Inc Democratic party of the Unit
ed STATES, IN their recent Convention at
Chicago resolved that if thew attained
power they would agree to an ar,nistice
and a Convention of all the States to con.
slider tie subject of peace. I think that
actil hands favorable resnonsa from
our lment. 1ou are the only person
who AXE that response, because our
Cong does not meet until after the
tino -ointed for the Presidential cleo
ton. i our Congress met in time, I
shoU. propose the action desire taken to
thai body, and submit to its Judgment my
argument b"t ." lat opportunity does not
occur, ! NJ tentative bat to remain
siler :, Of aGd * lyself to you. l cannot
co 5tently, my ideas of duty, re-
man silent. l therefore address myself
TO yon. We are waging war to obtain a
satisfactory peace. By. satisfactory
Reace, Lraan a peace consistent with tile
BresefVaton OF our free institutions. By
satisfactory peace, | do hot mean that
cessation II hosthties which might, after
plntracted contest, result from the ex-
RuStion ii the bt.ligerents, whereby the
word would ialI from their nerveless
lands, their hearts prey to the furies.-
ouch peace as that would be but hol-
low truce, n which each party would be
necessarily preparing for d new, final anl
, DECISIVE st uggle. The peace which 1
ASean IS ! ACE which recr3.ciles the inte-
kts and tie feelings, ot the belligerents;
zee, in short, which restores harmony.
we can obtain such peace as this,
lean institutions -otter to their
Aeee9GGase, z.Iase- sal >.te CT mill
Ltism. Every Government must
mat Is the law Of its being. Ii it
licked by greater force it must bring a
5ortionately great force to its defence.
q its form is such as not to furnish military
strength 20 the full extent of its means, it
must disregard that form. The Republic
can form. especially the form O. Il Confed-
eracy of free States, is not the best adapt
ed for wa. In act it is a peace establish
ment I form best adapted to var is a
national Military despotisIn. The Republic
at war is gradually passing into military
despotism. As the war continues and tho
pressure # its enemy increases, this
transition IS accelerated. A Republic
forced to the wall by a powerful enemy
must end N despotism. If we turn orr
eyes to Europe we find only two nations
with free Institutions, Great Britain AMI
Switzerland. Why is thisl The reason
is obvious. The necessity of being con-
stantly in tie highest state of preparation
for war, compels every country to the Mt
most devel,rment Of its military stgenE11-.
Inf &c Of hot
state OF preparation. and therefore absolute
government j the ordinary condition. If
there were 70 other obstacle to France
being repu bic, the immense standing
armies she is compelled 10 keep constantly
under arms, would be conclusive. France
is compelled II keen 100000 men always
in arms. france is obliged therefore to
be what she is, a military despOtism.-
lake the case Of Prussia in the celebrated
seven years var. Suppose her institutions
had been liberal, what would have been
the result: Frederick the Great would
either have had to abandon the struggle,
or seize all power. Nothing but absolute
power in the hands Of Frederick enabled
MIN to c0me forth victorious from the con-
lest. lie sacrificed everything else in
Prussia TO the one idea of military strength.
AS Prussia had no natural defences, and
was greatly inferior in strength to the
other great bowers, it was necessary to
give exclusive development to the military
lhea; this Frederick did As Macauly
sad, he made Prussia "all sting" This
was logical i Ierick To save Prussia
II WAS necess give her the maximum
Of military :, t6-he did this. Pms
sia still Las ca On the man Init he
maue no eff"r ave liberty. Frederick
fonnd Prussia ohsol,to monarchy he
lett it at eatro- y n,,,n Liberty was
never Thought r i i,nrossibIc in her
"u,'"'' II / STA with her excellent
pl'2'a',oh Were vast distance from
where she ig. All ,otoctcd nv OCEANS and
'n"HnfaiHs, she , ~ Lo. roorITr. Int
.;,,,nt ',!G Is, II apostolic On the con-
t,,., Throne State can exist with
..,,,,,'a ''.'' "'i"n>. ..;4uae the form Of gov
,,ra,',e '' must he rch rs furnishes the
parhaS .%HH"2t military strength
cant na tI ,: ii may be Id tiat Switzerland
y.rIa' "G'S'' nav they. | reply that Swift
nf raa- % Il" +Ar"vi. NAL ease-a few nests
snrron people buried in remote vallies
,bev ara By inaccessible mountains;
the mn,r no! worth conquor;ng. Besides
their raai jealousy If tho great powers is
great s Uai safeguard. England is the only
'-N 'Fee power in Europe This is