In the only northern newspapers that he has seen that advocate peace, there are no platforms. Conjecturing them, it must either be a recognition of the Confederacy or a return of the seceded states to the Union. He supposes McMaster advocates the first method, but he does not believe northern sentiment will ever permit it, and it is clear from reading the Constitution that its authors meant the union to be perpetual. It is the duty of every patriotic citizen to do all he can to enforce the other alternative. Since McMaster has suffered for the cause of the South, he would be a great influence in bringing this about. The South did not give Lincoln a chance, but branded him Abolitionist and seceded. Many of the Federal soldiers and officers with whom he has spoken say that if the South had given Lincoln a trial and been refused, they would have taken up arms in the cause of the South. If the press and politicians of the North invite the South to return to the Union and concentrate on rebuilding what has been destroyed, they shall again have a great and united nation. Otherwise, he fears that there is much more destruction ahead. Lincoln recently said "that the interests of the present and future generations require of him to prosecute this war to a successful issue." Those in the South can appreciate that better than those in the North. It is a proud satisfaction for the Catholics to know that they have had no hand in the bloody work, as General Butler remarked to one of the priests in New Orleans. ` P.S. Since McMaster's paper is a religious one, he will be more or less influenced in his treatment of the issue by the manner in which it affects the Catholic Church. Archbishop John Hughes of New York says that the Congress of the United States has never passed a law in the least affecting the Church and therefore: "Let there be no innovation." If McMaster had lived in the South he would be more enlightened. Please give his regards to Mrs. _____ Cook. He met her nephew, Governor _____ Walker's son at General Nathaniel Banks' headquarters in Port Hudson and had an agreeable chat about freedom in the North. ` Private If McMaster thinks it proper, he can sign Scollard's name to this letter and he may add that the Catholics are all represented in all the departments of the 19th Army Corps, among them General _____ Stone and Colonel _____ Haly who was honored by the title of Count of the Roman Empire by the Pope for his bravery in defending his territorial dominions a few years ago. He agrees with McMaster in his rough handling of the Purcells who are deeper in the mire than McMaster is aware of. He would ask to have the Freeman Journal forwarded to him, but being outside the lines he could not always get it. If he publishes this letter, Scollard would like to have McMaster send him a copy to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.