But, asks a timid Conservative,—­from whose patient button the fingers of an ardent apostle of peace have recently and most reluctantly parted,—­has not this war been shamefully mismanaged by the Administration? have not contractors grown rich while soldiers have suffered? have not incompetent generals been unjustly advanced, and skilful commanders been summarily shelved? have we gained any advantages at all commensurate with our loss of blood and our expenditure of money? would not a cessation of hostilities on any terms be better than such a war as we are now waging?  If we might venture to suggest a word of caution to our desponding friend, before attempting a reply to his broadside of questions, we would say:  Beware how you indulge in too much conversation with a certain class of our citizens, whose hearty loyalty has been more than doubted, and whose conversion to the beauties of peace and the horrors of war is so sudden as to be very suspicious.  Examine their antecedents, and you will find, that, when “border ruffians” in Kansas threatened with fire and sword the inoffensive emigrants from New England, these gentlemen saw nothing unusual in such proceedings, and answered all remonstrances with ridicule.  Put them to the question to-day, and it will appear, that, from the very beginning of the struggle, all their sympathies have been with the South.  They will tell you that Northern Abolitionists are alone responsible for the war; that the secession of the Southern States may have been unwise, but was not unreasonable; that they have always condemned coercion and advocated compromise; and that there is no safe and satisfactory way out of our existing difficulties but—­peace.  What do they mean by peace?  Such peace as the highwayman, armed to the teeth, offers to the belated traveller!  Such peace as Benedict Arnold sought to negotiate with the English general!  They know that the South will accept no terms but the acknowledgment of her independence, or the abject and unconditional submission of the Free States.  They reject the first alternative, because they dare not go before the North on such an issue.  Disguise it as they may, they are willing to adopt the second.  The party to which, without an exception, these men belong, is powerless without the cooperation of the South, and would consider no sacrifice of principle too great, and no humiliation of the North too degrading, if it promised the restoration of their political supremacy.  Avoid all such men.  Distrust their advice.  That way dishonor lies, and national disgrace.  If you are not “armed so strong in honesty” as to be proof against such treasonable talk, you will soon be aware of a softening of your backbone, and a lamentable loss of earnest, active patriotism.  Take counsel rather of your own common sense.  Looking at the question in its narrowest and most selfish bearings, you know that we can neither recede nor stand still.  Submission Is slavery.  Disunion paves the way for endless secession, and eternal warfare between rising and rival republics.