Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Oct. 19, 1864, edition 1 / Page 1
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, "' . f If , ,, . .... . ivl'-rf ;.r?f ' ' ' "run - .- I- ' '. ' -i v. , ,l,v i'iiimii inimii j 'Jn I'l'mii mtiuuiuj J-Ll --V-' ' mi mm h , " ' ' ' ' ' i! . THE-CONSTITUTION flrrr' - - ljytlSIByiayffMfBff'BMFSWr WWTTtfTfFjffTilfilHnWBWt WTW III IIHLMJUJa lilt AND T 11 BljL A W S - T II E G V A ll D I A N S O POUR LIBERTY niLLSBOROlfGH, ;c;, OQTOBER l'i),:i864'.r.' :No..':2268. " Letter 'from Senator II. V. Jahnstbai;. i To Several Gentlemen in Mddlf Georgia ' Grove, near Bartow P. 0., G.,? I, .'. Sejember25, 1864. 5 Gekti-emfn Your; letter of the 14th in stant received several Uj8 ago. .1 have taken time to consider the object . 'which.it proposes the inauguration of a peace,' movement at the-South." I lung for peace as ardently ai the hart panti for the cooling water brook." I agree with you that " thi unnatural strife cannot be termi nated bj armt." The pen, not the aword, must at last soe ur difficulties, and the fioiier the controvertv can be transferred ifroi th'e lield tf battle toOie forum of ra tioaat aniJ honorable negotiation, the bet ter it will be for both goveromentf. I agree with you tliat the, peace movement at the Nvrtb'ahAutd be dulv encouraged at the m a a a woutn. io mis enu, we nuui lose no ccaIoo, nor omit any proper meant to convince the ISorth that we are still, ai we always have bn, willing; to adjust the lifficoltiei between ua upon lionnrable termfc. We have avowed our deaire for peace ad readiness lor negotiation from Ue my brsinni"?: of the war, in every .form in which organized communities can give expression to their wilt. Ve have vowed it m Executive messages, in Le- i t n - V Kitiauve resolves, aim congreastoaai mam letr. IVhat more can we do, in view of our kuuiiiua; uiauiy wouiu t us moie, ii n were possible. But I lo not brheve that it is. We can inaugurate 00 movement that would lead to the result so earnestly desired by everr frieod of humanity, ana so urgently demanded by the interests ot bo tli sections. Uur military situation would win to forbid even the attempt. The op tore of Atlanta and Richmond is re garded bv the authorities ol the United 2tata as all that is necessary for our ulti mate sibjujatiwn. Thev have captured Atlanta, and Gen. Grant savs the earlv rapture of Richmond is certain beyond a doubt. What, under the circusttabces, would be the prwbahle efi'ect of any peace movement at. the aoutu r Would it con ciliate the Nrth ? Would it inspire the gtvernment of the United States with a sense nf justice, orTorbearaoce, or mag- oaoimitvf So tar .from this, it would be construed into intimidation on our part ejod it would stimulate anJ intensify the war ppirit of (he North. It would be re gtrtled as our confession of overthrow, and the premonitory symptom .of our readiness to sue for inercv on tho beuded knees of Buconditiooal surrender. Io view of the avowed object of the war jn the part of the Northern Government, it U lery certain that there canoe no peace Tjpou"ny honorable terms, so long as its !rrsent rulers are in norar. The Iresi Uent ol the United States has proclaimed emancipation, and his determination to i enforce it by the sword. He basatmounc rd, in advance of any formal oITer of tirgo tiation on our part, that he will not treat ilb rebels (as he is pleased to call the people of the Confederate State,) except i pon the condition that we lay down, our iron, abandon slavery, anu return to the It nion. lie will then grant such terms as mar be compatible iU bis scnae ol jus tice, liberality and inaguauimity. Sulun;, tl.ere(.re, as its present rulers are in now cr, and this policy shall be adhered to, t tere can be no pesc between us and the t vernment of the United States, which w ill not bring tlpon us confiscation, social i1isorgaiii?,atton, poverty, degradation, and intolerable dishonor. What worse would lui tmr doom if subjugated by military puw tr? ubjueation is not worse than sub msion oflered to us at the only condition f peace. Jt would st least save to us our honor. lr the people of the United States will e'tange their rulers; if they will repudiate the avowed policy of subjugation ; if they r.ill rttun to a practical recognition of i . . .... . i i . i i!. .l . in iiiuwiiica wnicn nnucnie inc whele structure of Atuericia governments, o (anized tt secure and maintain coostitu .ibirty, the door w ill soon be open .lonorable and Uitiopeaci Peace upon any other terms involves the loss of liberty, because it, will be, the result 'of force not ol choice and compact between co-etjual and sovereign States. Peace uj? oo. any other, terms means desnntiiim. in. throned in empire not republicanism founded upon the conaeut nf the eovern ed" and organized "in, such lorm as to them shall be most likely to eflVct their safety and happiness.". This is the kind ot peace which , the UniU'l States propose to enforce upon the people, f the Coufede iavc siaics me peace oi (ueatn to consti tutional liberty the, stagnant peace of des potism the peace which chains and prison-bars impose. . . 1 look with anxiety to the approaching Presidential election in the United Spates. For although the Chicago platform falls be low the great occasiou, and the nomine Kill lower, et the triumph of the Demo cratic party of the North will certainly secure a temporary suspension of hostili ties s.nU an rtlort to make peace by sn ap peal to reason. Thev confess that four years of bloody war, as a means of restor ing the-Union, has proven a failure.. They declare that the true principles of Ameri can government have been disregarded and trampled under loot, by the present Exec utive of the United Slates. Their success will bring a change of administration, and with that a change of policy. It will do more, and w hat is of iiifiiiiiely greater im portance, it will bring the two contending parties face to face, in the arena of reason and consultation- Then and there can be discussed the history of all cur difficulties, the principles involved in the bloody issue aud the respective interests of both go vernments. Such is my conviction of the omnipotence of truth and right, that I feel ad abiding confidence that an honorable peace woold ultimately spring from such deliberations. In their long cherished devotion to tho Union of the States. a sentiment which challenges my respect, the people of the North, it setius to me, have fallen into two grave and capital errors. On the ons hand, thay attach an undue importance s the in ere" (act of lorm of Union, ignoring the principles and objects of the Union, and forgetting that 'Ureases to be valuable when it fails to secure that object, and maintain those principles. On the other hand, they think that tlit'States of the Con federacy have separated from the United States iu contempt l that Union, in a wan ton disposition to insult its flag and to de stroy the government of which it is the emblem. Both opinions are wrong. The old Union was an organizativn of States. But it was more; it was such an organiza tion, founded upon great principles, in or der to give the mot efficient security for the maintenance of those very same prin ciples. These principles are the aove reignty of the States ; the right of the people to govern themselves; the right of each State to rezulate its own domestic afl'airs, to establish its own municipal institutions, to organize its own system ol labor, dnd to pursue its own career of enterprise, sub ject to no restrictions except such as are expressed in the Federal Constitution. On these the Union was based, and contitut ed the solemn guarantee of all that each State should be protected iu their undi turbed enjoyment. When it failed to do thU or what is worse, when its govern ment passed iuto the administration of those whose avowed policy and measures must lead to the overthrow of those nriu- sigles, it was virtually at an end, aud in their opinion ceased to be vsloable to the people of the Confederate Stales. Hence, secession was not resorted to merely to throw oft' the Union. Our people loved the Union and houored its once glorious flag, for the rich memories that clustered around it They lelt it with a reluctance and regret to which history wilt scarcely do justice. They were, as they are nov, wedded to the principles on which the Union was founded; they separated from it, but to viodicats and maintain them. Whither they acted wisely or unwisely most bt left to the impartial arbitrament of time and coming events, uut no people 'i r ' i i S3 were eyer ; prompted to so momentous a 6ten bv loftier rievntinn tii runstiiniinnal ibertyV For this, we are denounced as rebels against the government .of. the Unit ed States, and threatened with the bloody uouui oi uanors; nur country is invaueu, our homes desolated, and our people slain byjiostile armies. VVe are told that we must be conquered or exterminated. The North is fighting us to maintain the mere fact or-forp of Union, byJWce. We are defending ourselves to preserve the great principles which lay at the foundation of the Union.- ., If we be rebels against the one, if dis posed to, bandy epithets,.-we might reply that they, who advocate and wage this war against us, are traitors to the other. If there is wrong on either or both sides, let inportial .history decide who are the great er sinners., This is the naked truth. When thus viewed. hw cruel and unnatural is this war! . Why should the .North fight us ? . Especially why should the thousands of professed constitutional men of the North lend their countenance and aid to our subjugation? We are struggling lor principles which should be as dear to them as they are tous. Do they not see that our overthrow will be the downfall of con stitutional liberty fatal to. their freedom as well as ours the inauguration of an ir responsible and unlimited despotism ? Cor rect ideas are slow in their progress of leavening the mass of mind ; truth rs.ever trampled upon, when passion gains sway. But the ultimate prevalence of the one, and, the ascendancy of the other, is only a question of time, and their end peace. The light already begins to. break in upon the thinking and better portion of the North ern peoffe. They , begin to see that this war is-not waged to restore the Union, in gaod faith the Union of the Constitu tion; but, cither to secure disunion, by avowing impossible and degrading terms of peace, or to convert it into a despotism by subjugating the South. Hence the Chica go movement. Hence the note of dis content that is being sounded by a portion of the press and statesmen of the North. God opened the light, that the people of i aoun may unuerstanu tae position which we occupy, and discern the volcaoo that threatens to engulf their liberty. Then they will consider negotiation net only po litically but absolutely necessary. Then peace will come, predicated upon those principles so essential to both governments, and all our strifes and difficulties solved in conformity to the best interest of the par ties. , In fiew of oar. position, permit me to repeat, I Uo not see how we can inaugu rate any movement likely to lead , to an honorable peace. We are the party as sailed. Peace movements must come from the assailing party. I would not be un derstood, however, as standing on any point of etiquette, as to who should take the initiativr-I have no such feclinz. All I mean to say is, that in view of the avow ed policy of the United States Govern inent, any advance on our part is already 'ejected, before made, and that we cannot make any upon the conditions announced by its President. I would not hesitate to take the initiative if there was the least hope of a favorable response or an honora ble result. , But if the Government ol the United States should pass into other hands, repudiate the policy of subjugation, aid indicate a desire for negotiation, I would, if need be, have our Government propose it certainly, accept the ITer of it, il ten tered by the Federal authorities. Such 1 be lieve tn be the spirit and temper of our peo ple. Such I am satisfied is the sentiment of the President of the Confederate States. He has avowed it on every occasion which required him to allude to the subject. Tho North can have peace at any moment. All that tbey need to do is to lit as alone- cease to fight us, or if they prefer, agrto to negotiate a peace on terms honorable to both partita. Wo are willing always have been willing, and shall continue to be wining, nut as long as mty ngnt is, tna war must continue. For what can wo d, bat defend?. We have no power to atop their fignting short of unconditional sub mission .to . the terms announced bv ' the President of the United States. . Are our people prepared for peace noon those terms? It is an insult to ask the question, unless indeed,, we, suppose, con trary to tne wnoie history ot our struggle, that .they did not count the cost in the be ginning, and have no just appreciation of me uiigjiiy principles involved, ine presi dent of the Confederate States never ut tered anything more true, than when he said to the unofficial messenger of Presi- dent.Lincoln, that " we are nut fighting for slavery, but lor the right of self-govern ment." . , . . i '.. r ,So long as the people will keep' this reat truth in view and obey the inspira tion which it should kindle in the breasts of freemen, they cannot be conquered. They may have their land desolated, their property destroyed, their towns and cities burned and sacked, but subjugated they never can be. We cannot have peace so long as the present rulers of the United States are in power. We may not, even if the Chicago movement should be success ful.,-Bat let us wait and hope, for the change and for peace. If it come not, then we must rely upon the omnipotence of truth and right, and the judicious economy and use ot the means, which God has given us. Patience, fortitude, courage, hope and faith are as much elements of heroic patri otism as tbey are of Christian perfection. It is as indispensable to cherish, them with untiring devotion as the only condition oa which liberty can be gained or preserved. Her christening from the beginning, was the baptism of blood. She requires her votaries to lock arms and shields around her altar, resolved to die freemen rather than live slaves. If this be the spirit of the people, ultimate success will be the reward tor their sufferings and sacrifices. For their encouragement, history is replete with examples, of which none is more striking or more inspiring than that of the revolution of ir."6. Then let there be no despondency no relaxation of effort and energy no Abatement of courage and he roic resolve. 1 am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, HERSGIIELV. JOHNSTON. MR. BOYCE'3 LETTER. Winnsborough, S. C, 8epU 29, 1864. ' Hit Excellency Jrjferaon Detht Sir : The Democratic party of the Unit ed States, in their recent Convention at Chicago, resolved that if they attained power they would agree to an armistice and a Convention of all the States, to con sider the 'subject of peace. I think that action demands a favorable response from our Government. You are the only person who can make that response, teeause our Congress does not meet until after the time appointed for the Presidential election. If our Congress met in time, I should prepeso the action I desire taken to that body, and submit to its judgment roy argument ; but as that opportunity does not occur, I have no alternative but to remain silent, or ad dress myself toyoa. 1 cannot consistent- -ly with my ideas of duty, remain ai!ct. I therefore address mysell to you. Wearc waging war to obtaia a satisfactory pcice. By satisfactory peace, I mean a peace consistent with ue preservation of cur free institutions. By a satisfactory puci, I do oot mean that cessation of hostilities which might,' after a protracted contest, result from the exhaustion of the belligerents, whereby the sword, would fait fxoai their nerveless hanJs, their hearts a prey to tha furies. Such a peace as that would bo but a hollow truce, in which each party wsidd be incessantly preparing for a ttn, cal and decisive struggle.. The peac- which I .mean is a peace which reconciles the inter ests and the fcelirgs of the belligerent: ; a peace, in ihcrt, which restores harwooy. Unless wo can obtain such a peace as this, our republican iwtitutiant totter to tlicir fall, and we become the subjects of a raili lary dtipstisra. Every Government must exist; that is the law of its being. If it is attacked by great force it must bring st t
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 19, 1864, edition 1
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