Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-22
Knoxville, Tenn, February p, 1865.
Peace -. Can we Have Peace?

IcUCt SIS VUu VIZ uUNC ICdCC
Much is said, and perhaps more thought on the
subject of peace. When men become involved in
runous enterprise, such as the leaders of the
present hopeless rebellion have looking them in the
face, they act more from the impulses Of insanity
pnd mental disorganizaton than from reflection and
sound reason. Hence we find men who once cxcr-
ciscd logic in argument and reason in discussion
demanding from the national authorities the rccog
hilton of the Confederate States as an Independent
government de jTc, Such recognition could not
have been asked, not to say expected, by men who,
with sound minds, had carefully weighed the evi-
Rence continually being made more clear and
forcible, that the Richmond dynasty cannot eItort
from the United States the humilisting confession
that the Union must perish by the hands of the
slavchoding assassins.
Nor is it within the range Of human p0sSibdty
pr the insurgents to achieve anything more with
rms than complete su!jugaton; and this is the re-
ut of the irresistible logic of events which are
laily transprng from the Potomac to the outlet of
the great father of waters.
And such, no doubt is the conclusion at which
he less deranged and more reasoning men Of the
South have long since arrived.
And, taking this view of the situationc can We pre-
ent any proposition to the Confederate authorities
IS new constituted, on which the people, North and
SOUTH may come together in unity rs in the past.
1t is questionable whether anything short Of indc-
bendence will satisfy Davis and that class of which
is the direct representative, But there is large
espcctabc and influential number of men, dispersed
lroughout the limits Of the so-called Southern
onfederacy, many of them occupying high posi-
ons, who ardently pray for this civil war to close
nd the rainbow of peace to again span the Amcri-
an Union To this party we are to look, if to any
Or terms of peace consistent with the honor and
ignity of the nation We should encourage them
With at least no opposition, while their more obdu-
ate "brethren," represented by Davis and Lee, are
onsoed by shot and she'll and left to negotiate with
rant Thomas, Sheridan and Sherman, and such
commissioners as they may dcpute to crush the re-
,llion. Many of those most disposed to peace
,precate foreign interference as SINGER ely ms do the
lends of the Union, and would favor what they
,l reconstruction rather than the triumph of a
reign and designing foe towards the rights and
berties of the entire American people And, as 1t
fair to infer that very many of the Southern
eople have not lost all respect, not to say devotion,
r our republican form of government, would they
ot-cncourage the idea of uniting the armies Of the
yo belligerents upon the Monroe Doctrine and
baking common cause against our ancient enemies,
resent over-bearng, domincering friends Of des-
otism-England and France7 These powers only
espect us because we are strong and would make
brmdable enemies and their only friendship to-
ards the South emanates from n desire to see us
eakened as a nation The South, or that portion
lot laboring under hallucination Of the BRAIN un-
erstand the sentiments that acuate these pretended
fiends of their cause and have abandoned all hope
any aid from that source which will make them
nything more than DEPENDENCY.
Then we, as great and magnanimous people,
loud shape our rocyso as to win the ear of those
sposed to return to their allegiance to the Union,
ather than transfer it to foreign state, with which
,e American people have no affinity.
As an inducement to the moderate men of the
|outh to return and embrace the old flag around
thch their memories still cluster, though its beauty
.ay have grown dim to them compared with the
a.t il would not be more than precedent could
,stify, to extend to all such full pardon and am
,sty and welcome them back to the altars of a
,rgiving country.
For Americans to make common cause in behalf
America would present to the world such sub
sne scene that patriots would weep tears of joy
Efficient in quantity to wash from existence the
tain of treason developed in this rebellion.
Imagine the great army of the Union reinforced :
lose now in rebellion having abandoned theirwickcd
lrposes and clothed themselves in blue, fred with
,e enthusiasm that now urged them on in a hope
IS cause, with that enthusiasm to be heightened by
|bminr in contact with true, elevated patriotism
armies of Grant and Lee united for a common
s,rro.e. with our Gcneral-in-Chief at their head
srike tents and move forward to participate in the
.reat battle between Rcpubcanism and Depotsm
nh tell. il he can tell, how supremely grand il
ould appear
Such an army was never conceived OF before
,ch yalor was never marshalled and such victories
rsver achieved nor recorded.
Then would the glory of this mighty republic
aegin to appear-the fundamental idea of our gov.
hrnment would be vindicated and none would b'
bold as to affirm that man could not govern him
IT, The tree of liberty planted by Washington
I'd his compcers, now being watcred by the BLOOD
patriots, would extend its branches in the trair
n this armys march, until the empires of the eartl
Iould rsposc in its shade, and the inhabitants o
,nsery cline pluck fruit from its bcughs.
y This idea is grand beyond expression. 1t is, in
Iseed, almost too great for imagination to fathom.-
dd;,ne feels great in its contemplation. Why cannc
pyery American rally to this sublime destiny, anc
Vi ........, H.,b, ,ndor tho Stare and Strpos