The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-03-30
ADDRESS or CONGRESS- no THE
PEOPLE OF THE TE
iSTd TIES
STATES.

Fello,o-citizens The result of the
"Peace Commissioners" is known to the
country. The hopes Of those who have
hitherto believed that AN honorable ter.
mination might be put to the war by
negotiation have been rudely disappoinf-
, ed. The enemy, after drawing us into
conference, abruptly terminated it by
insisting upon terms which they well
knew we could never accept. Our alb.
solute surrender and submission to the,
Will OF conquerer are the only condi.
tons vouchsafed by our arrogant foe.
We are told that if we viii Law down
our arms, and place our lives, liberty,
property and domestic institutions, at
the feet of President Lincoln, that he
will be mcrciful to us I Upon his Gle.
mency we must rely to save us from
Universal confscation and extermina.
toni Yesl these are the conditions
upon which the people of the soverei. II
States composing this Confederacy may
be allowed to do.-what?. TO, return
into the Union for which they solemn.
ly and deliberately withdrew themselves
because their interest and their honor
required it, and their repugnance to
which four years of remorseless anu cruel
war have served but to intensity! -
Thanks be to God, who coptrols and
Gyerrules the counsels ofmen, thehaugh-
ty insolence Of our enemies, which they
hoped would intimidate and break the
spirit of our people, is producing the
very contrary effect FROM every part
OF the country there comes up in res
ponse shout of mingled Indignation
and defiance
a noble enthusiasm re,animates our
gallant army wlro have been battling so
long for freedom and il.dependencel-- -
Let us all be united now. Let thereb be
no partiesor factions among us. Let
us rise to the height Of the great occa-
sion. Let us all be willing to spend
and be spent in the cause ofour country.
Let us contribute, freely, all that we
have, if need be, to carry on the war
until cur final triumph is seGurcd. Let
LIS take fraternal counsS. together and
calmly consider our condition and pros
pecrs. Such a survey, we believe, must
tend to rc'assme and encourage even
the least sanguine. We have, it is true,
recently met with serious disasters
Our fortitude is being severely tried.
We have suffered much, and must be
prepared to suffer more IN the cause for
which we are struggling? Isthe cause
worth the sacrifice? To answer correct
ly We must constantly keep in mind the
end for which we are eontending. -,
What is our object in this WARP The
establishment of onr independence,
through which alone are to be secured
the sovereignty of the States and the
right OF sclf.government. What is the
aternative.2 Our subjugation as peo,
ple2 Is it possible to ever estimate the
horrors of this terrible alternative p
Can the Imagination ever color the pic.
ture which would be presented in the
event of our failure2 If we fall. not
only political degradation, but sociarhu
initiation must be our wretchedlot. I'VE
would not. only be political vessels, but
serfs. Anepemy, that has shown him
self destitute dfthe ordinary sensibilities
of human nature, and whose worst pas
.sions are embittered, enaamed against us,
would assume the absolute control of
onr political and social destinies. In
vain would proud though yahquished
people look even for that mercy which
the conquered receive from o generous
foe. Those Estate Rights, (which we
have been taught to prize SO dearly
as the greatest bulwarks Of Constitu-
tional Liberty, and which, from the
earliest period -four history, I'VE have SO
jealousy guarded, would be annihilated.
The Confederate States would be held
as conquered provinces by the despotic
aGcgernment at Washington. They
would be kept in subjugation by the
stern hand Of military power, as Vene-
tia and Lombardy have been held by
Austria, Poland is held BY the Rus.
sian Car Not only would we be de.
prived Of every political franchise dear
e "a ~ /. u n a.