The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-01-27
Peace {!

made to our readers some tlme aSo-HoI w
ve' intend now to impose upon them politl-
al article, but the time and the occasion IS
uch, that we feel constrained to discourse
hem for a moment on the Peace which we
nave to day!
Old Webster says that, Peace is harmony
state of reconciliation between
parties at characterization from internal
,ommotion or civil war, public tranquility
that quiet, order, and security which is grant
ed BY the laws x sand may we add-of
= Just and pure government, such as the Uni
ted States Government is not! Yes this is
Peace. We are quite sure that in taking
him as our guide we will not be far from the
right track, and it is surely.to be regretted
that his Interpretation does not exist in these
days and times, and in glancing at the Peace
of 1870, and this Peace of 1870, there is
such marked and painful difference, that
we are almost dishearteued before we have
regarded it in any light. We arc we'll aware
that We cannot realize any of the hopes which
were pictured to us, after our successes In
Maryland and Pennsylvania. We know full
we'll that we are never to have the peace which
we believed would be the final result of those
successes. We know to our regret, that the
quiet which we hoped for after the ''seven
days before Richmond" and the horrors Of
the 4scrater" has long since been taken from
us, and all of our castles have tumbled down
and are now knocking us with their unnatu-
raj smiles, but we had hoped that when in
good faith we had accepted the situation there
woald come to us that tranquility, that quiet,
that order, that harmony, and that security,
which is granted by the laws-of our just
government of which Mr.. Webster speaks
We had hoped that the time was not far dis
tant when there would be peace for our
country which would raise up and cheer
every heart, in every State, which have for
SO long time been manacled and bound
down to the earth and spit upon. We had
hoped the present session Of Congress would
be one which would be handed down in fu-
ture years filed with magnanimous actions
and marked by good deeds and resolutions
towards those who have SO long been op-
pressed. We had hoped that the re-admis
sion Of Virginia would be sign of peace
,.sfor which we have SO long prayed-but alas
there is little peace for us yet. We are told
that it was reported of two noble Lacedarmo
mans that being at mortal hatred, were met
by Arahidamus, their king, in the temple Of
Minerva; he requires them to put the mat
ter to an Indifferent umpire; they choose the
king himself, he makes them swear to abide
his order, which accordingly they do: Now
saith the king, l order that you shall not go
out of this temple until yoube friends. And
SO they parted friends (for an oath taken in
that temple was unlawful to be broken).-
Surely we have sent sufficient number of
umplres and arbitrators to treat with Con-
gress and with what result?
There can be but little doubt that Mr..
Sumner will merer be reconciled to the South
ern people, his hatred has grown and increas-
ed to such an extent, that time can scarcely ef-
feet change in his hardened heart. and until
chat time, hissway in Congress will promote
every thing else but peace, and our friends
need not expect any good ever from him
We have recently seen in an exchange,
. short paragraph describing a meeting which
took place@in Savannah, between Admiral
, Buchanan, Commodore Tadnall and General
Joseph E.. Johnston who had been comrades
together in the services of the United and
Confederate States and also on the sea-
The meeting was chance one, and is des-
cribed handsomely by the Savannah News.
Gould we have such hearts as theirs in Wash
ington, perhaps there might be some peace
for US. s.sr.-
j We had hoped before another session Of
Congress closed, to be able to chronicle in
our columns such work Of theirs, that VIC
could rely on that body as just and patriotic
set of men-liberal in all their views, but onr
experience thus far is of different Sort and
the peace that will come from them will only
be read to us through bars and sounded by
the tinkling Of our chains which each day
bind us closer and and closer.
Where, oh where is the peace that
comes to the widows heart this New Year ?
Where, oh, where is the peace for which she
prayed as the tide of battle drew near to her
mountain home, which alas has never been
seen by him who paid his quota to the war !?
Where is the peace that comes to her heart
as she remembers the vine covered Porch,
once hallowed with tender memories and now
pile Of blaekeued ruin, and laid low by the
hand of Hunters heroes !? o. Where is the
peace that comes to the gray hairs of him,
who has long since given his only son, and
now sadly gives out breath by breath the re-
naming life which was once blessed with the
comforts Of a smiling home? Where is the
peace that comes to the young men of our
land who toll day after day, and at the death
of each year, pay their last earnings to the
Revenue and State officers of the "best Gov
eminent the world ever saw" Is this peace
lis this the tranquility and rest which we