The Daily Dispatch: June 28, 1861., [Electronic resource]

---

---

The Northern desire for peace.
[from the N. Y. Daily News, June 18.]

Every day renders it more unquestionable that an immense reaction has taken place, within the last few weeks, in favor of peace. For a very little while after the iniquitous treachery consummated by the Administration at Fort Sumter, there was an apparent disposition, on the part of the majority of the citizens in the Western States, to tolerate the adoption of coercive anti-secession measures against the South. But even this was produced by false representations, and it is very doubtful whether the artificial war excitement of the moment ever reached the real heart of the people. Be that as it may, the industrial classes of the nation have become, by this time, fearfully aware that universal impoverishment and national ruin are staring them in the face; and by far the greater number of our thinking and intelligent merchants, tradesmen, manufacturers and mechanics — those, in fact, who have solid interests at stake, that are being jeoparded by the continuance of hostilities — heartily repudiate the despotic madness that has hurried the Republic to the verge of destruction. The panic created by the affair at Big Bethel shows with what anxiety and dread they look forward to the developments of each succeeding day, and the new phase of charlatanism and hypocrisy that has been assumed by the Republican journals indicates their perception of the necessity of deprecating public wrath, and turning indignation away from themselves into some other channel. Hence, day by day, the trick of sacrificing some pet diplomatist like Harvey, or General like Butler, is resorted to, in order to direct popular attention from the wickedness of measures to the inefficiency of the agents appointed to carry them into execution. Such flimsy devices, however, do not prevent the mask with which the Administration has concealed its purposes from being rapidly torn away, and we have no hesitation in saying that, if a mass meeting could be convened in this city to-morrow, of all who are really in favor of immediate peace, even at the cost of the acknowledgment of the independence of the Confederate States, it would outnumber the the monster Union manifestation of seven weeks ago, and be characterized by an earnestness and sincerity that were wanting on that occasion.

Not many days ago, resolutions were brought before the Legislature of Iowa, demanding from the Government a suspension of hostilities, and recommending the call of a National Convention. Similar resolutions were introduced last week into the Connecticut Legislature, of which three hundred copies were ordered to be printed. The preamble states that it is not only desirable, but indispensable to the security and welfare of the people of the U. States, that terms of conciliation should be arranged between the different parts of the country now in a state of war, ‘"before the bitterness of fraternal strife and bloodshed shall make arrangement impossible."’ The ‘"necessary consequence,"’ it continues, of such a struggle, will be ‘"the ruin of thousands of loyal citizens, who are in no way responsible for the fratricidal strife"’ that has commenced. It asserts the conviction, that ‘"calm patriotism and sober reason"’ are all that are needed to settle existing troubles, while civil war must terminate ‘"in an overwhelming indebtedness, public and private, without benefiting either of the parties to the unhappy controversy, and in a military despotism, under which the liberties of the people will be disregarded, and innocent individuals will be butchered."’ The first and second resolutions recommend Congress, therefore, to call together a National Convention, and ask that the unconstitutional army of Mr. Lincoln shall refrain from further acts of violence, ‘"until Congress shall have time to act in the premises."’ The third and fourth of the series, read as follows:

Resolved, That we are opposed to civil war, prosecuted for the subjugation or destruction of the seceded States, while it is possible amicably to settle the difficulties now existing.

Resolved, That we are opposed to the prosecution of a war against the seceded States, waged under any circumstances for the purpose of emancipating the slaves in the Southern slaveholding States.

Both Connecticut and Iowa are Republican States, and such strong language, issuing from the Legislatures of Commonwealths heretofore in the Abolition interest, shows how complete and entire the peace reaction must ere long become. The Journal of Commerce, of this city, which was frightened for a while into connivance with Mr. Lincoln's measures, has once more taken a stand in favor of peace, and such earnest advocates of brute force as the Philadelphia North American are compelled to admit that, although ‘"we have been for a month and a half preparing for war with an energy never known before, we are still in no condition to prosecute hostilities as required by the nature of the occasion."’ The Herald, the Times and the Tribune have found that the unconstitutional army is either insufficient in numbers, badly officered, or the Confederate force in Virginia too powerful to cope with, and they give a gloomy picture of the prospect before us. The North have 100,000 troops already in the field; and 200,000 more are believed to be indispensable for the accomplishment of the objects laid down in President Lincoln's proclamation of of the 15th of April. The expenses of Government are over $20,000,000 a month, and in three weeks they will be doubled. A national debt of several hundred millions, in face of an impoverished country, and a credit so impaired that money can only be obtained at the most ruinous sacrifices, is inevitable. Martial law has been unconstitutionally proclaimed in many places; the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus has been arbitrarily and tyrannically suspended; and there are strong probabilities of dangerous foreign complications. The Constitution has become a by-word, security of life and property are gone, and the task of ‘"restoring the unity of the Republic"’ has become nearly hopeless.