The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1866-10-24
The Hreat Desideratum.

to the whole Of the so-called United States,
and we do not hesitate to say that the
great desideratum, the one great desire OF
all honest men, is peace. BY peace, we
mean an eud to this everlasting squab
bling; this continued uncertainty and ex-
element. We mean that it is time the
ruling race on this continent-the ashstc--
should cease to act like children and de-
eide, in some way, all the vexed questions
now agitating the public mind, finally and
forever. 1t is folly to disguise the fact,
that war is talked Of. North and South,
and the dominant party North seem bent
on madly running the people into another
cruel and devastating struggle. The Pre-
sident has declared for peace. He made
terms with the Southern people, and they
have faithfully performed every obliga-
ton. no matter how obnoxious. Congress,
so called, repudiates these terms, and pro
poses another policy, and SO between the
two warning parties North, it seems there
is to be no end to our troubles.
Wiser heads than ours have failed to
solve this problem, but we do think there
ought to be common sense enough in the
United States to settle this question some
way, and give the country peace on hon
orable terms, and let it be all it should
and can be. But, if the Radical, domi-
nant party North, are mad-and as the
President can't give way-of one thing
we feel well assured, and that is, if the
people, By sections or otherwise, are forced
into another conflict, it will be such a
war as the world never saw, Or ought to
see.
Peace no more blood, no more hor-
rors! cries every true soldier-peace )!
cry the widows and orphans peace :!
cry sorely stricken peopIe-peace, rings
out from every desolated Southern and
Northern home. 1t is the cry Of millions,
white and colored, in this distracted coun-
try. Five hundred thousand graves say
peace, and, in every household, the earn
est prayer Of the pure and good, ascends
to God, praying pass this cup from me"
relieve all from this terrible uncertainty,
and give us peace.
Is there no way-has not this broad
continent d man with the heart and BRAIN;
a man that can, by the help Of a mercllul
God, SO control and direct this mighty
issue, that such a people may be saved!
it looks as though no one can rise equal to
the occasion. One or two OF those God-in-
spired men, whom the Supreme Governor
OF the Universe, places among us, centu-
ries apart, to exhibit to astonished ma
lions His master pieces, appeared during
the war-dashed upon ua-dazzled and
conlounded us-only to disappear. Since
the death Of StoneWall jackson, what
man on this continent has shown himself
equal to the task OF controlling circum-
stances and events ? Not one. And,
since he died, the leaders OF public opln-
ion and Of armies, have shown themselves
so mpotent-have shown SO little OF 9 the
mystery OF commanding, the art Napo-
| leon" that it makes one despair OF ever
seeing peace on this continent, until a
MerciIuI Father shall vuuchsaie to give
us a man with heart and hand capa-
be OF ruling this vast country-(ls An
drew johnson such d map lime VIII
show or give us new hearts, new ideas,
and Il return by all, North and South, to
the first principles OF the Fathers OF the
Constitution. '1ill then, we see no hope
OF peace-a peace that will bless ali alike,
white and black unless this people, We
mean the wAotc, wade through another sea
OF blood, compared with which the last was
but drop, to crush out all opponents OF
Tree, constitutional, peaceful enjoyment o.
our rights; privileges and inmunities, Us
.reeluen.
COUNTY CouRT-O October Ierm.-J Marshall
AIcCue, president-hve Justices present-met