Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-02
THE ELEMENTS OF STRlFE-THE
HOPES on PEACE.

who love their country, or who even desire
quiet homes, to see old enmities removed and
all causes of dispute ended, it is lamentable
to see on every side. men buster stirring up
strife than at any period since the war
Angry words, not only in Congress, but
throughout the land, produce recriminaton;
new bitterness: and even threats; whilst it
seems to be the chief business of certain
presses down South to foster dissatisfaction
and every sentiment of contempt for the Gov
eminent and people Of the loyal States. One
day, the topic introduced will be the character
and chances of the negro, SOOTHING at all ideas
of his ever being of to himself or the
country; the next the character and actions OF
prominent loyaists at the North, no phrase of
angry contempt that can be thought Of being
omitted to induce irreconcilable hatred on the
part of the Southern people.
Now where this condition of things is to
stop, who can surmise? fit is the deliberate
purpose of the politicians and writer's of the
South to avenge their notifications and dis
asters upon the whole country. by making the
breach that still exists between the sections
as wide as possible, it must be confessed that
they are having fair share of success But
then, never were the fruits gained by such a
course, more promising of prolonged suffering
and evils untold, to the actors in the case
themselves than seem to be rife in this in
stance; no, not even when similar action re-
suited in desolatiOn by war of the homes OF
the South. Crushed at present by the NOR
tiicatons and losses, the bereavements and
desolations deliberately invited when they
invited war, the case appears all but as bad
now that peace is proclaimed; when a course
seems resolved upon to increase and pepetu-
ate the desolation which broods over and en-
velops almost the entire South.
With the war ended, and political virulcnce
for the time driven to its lairs abashcd and
terrified, the belief appeared universal that
since their old labor system had fallen before
the march of events. the people Of the South
would welcome amongst them the industry of
the whole outside world, in order thereby to
rebuild their homes. till once more abandoned
fields, and so recover their losses. And vet,
reluctant as are the friends of restored Mon
to believe it, to discern it, what is becoming
more plain, than that the anger and i'll feeling
cherished, are causing labor and enterprise
from abroad to shun them. and that as matters
are tending, suffering and every evil conse-
quent upon the reign of poverty will follow
them closer and closer, approximating-
the Government moves to the rescuc-utter
ruin.
No one who has watched the course of the
President closely of late, and the responses
made to his endeavors to benefit the South
but must have observed also, the eager at
tempts on all sides down there to take adyan-
tage of his cemency; the latest and most
slaIiII5 .aac Icing pclli"i,o dat OF the rvUyl
Governor Humphreys, of Mississippi, who by
proclamation recognizing the legal and consti-
tutional character of the Confederate govern.
ment and rebel Legislature, endeayors to
make good their action in the past, thereby
deliberately defying the Government and all
its requirements based upon the law para
mount. Can such audacity and folly be we'll
transcendcd? that is, supposing these men
care anything for reconstruction. peace and
prosperity in Mississippi?
But perhaps it is not so much a matter of
surprise after all, looking to the antecedents
of the State in question, the daring part taken
by its Governor and people in being amongst
the very first to provoke chastisement from
the Federal Government: yet. whilst its poll
ticians venture upon course like this, its
business men seek the capitalists of New York
and Boston to enable them to put under cult
walton anew their desolated plantations: and
unsuccessful, marvel perhaps at that lack of
faith in a peaceful future down there, they
take infinite pains to compromise in every
manner audacity and ingenuity can devise.
And now let it be observed by the people of
Maryland that whilst these troubles have been
more or less strongly apparent at the South,
they themselves have been-up to a very re-
cent period-in no wise compromised in the
view Of people abroad, by disputes and quar-
rels at home. And if those who regard most
deeply the welfare of the State have had any
hope more deeply cherished than another, it
has been that however the States south of us
might be torn and distracted by feuds destruc-
tive to their advancement, that our own might
escape.
Well, it seems that after all we are to be
disappointed in this. 1t seems that suddenly
elements have been evolved here, which
against every appeal for harmony and lorbcar-
ance, promise to plunge us also, as State
to troubles even more hopeless than those
which have been the bane to progress in other
States. With no compromise of our charac-
ter as Unionists amongst discerning people,
we ourselves have scarcely been permitted to
suggest, action looking to pacilication; to peace
in the State But is it possible that after all,
men can be found so mad, so careless Of see
ing the State achieve Il good future. as to en-
courage feuds which must ultimately be utter
ly destructive to our hopes of better future &?
May our neighbor, Pennsylvania, be exem pied
from troubles of this kind, whilst Maryland
must cherish no hopes of true peace?
Say what men will, do what they may, there
must come a time in the history of the State
when these differences must die out. We can
not live in a storm always. Let men find as
the direct cost of Incorporate opinions, of
fierce controversies, that the prosperity of the
State is being sacrificed; that men will not
bring their capital here to imperil it in new
conflicts and controversies, and the admo-
milton may be effective the State be saved
even if those States which in the past have
been more deeply implicated in the troubles
of the country are not.
For ourselves, we have, we believe, done
our duty, in insisting that a proclamation of
peace by the President should mean peace
indeed. And whatever the politicians may
say or do to the contrary, we are sure the
people want it. Let the movement of immi-
grants; the wholesale investment of capital,
stop if it must, with new complications, in
States further South but let these surge in
here, with the assurance of meeting quiet and
protection. The State has work enough for
all, business enough for all to keep out effec-
tually angry discussions, or permit men to
allow themselves for barren results to be the
slaves of party. Let every faction coalesce ;
let all who in the past FIVE years have been es-
tranged, join hands; and it will take every
man, woman and child in the State to repair
the damages of the past, and achieve what is
hoo FIJI tlo 6,