Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-12-03


thnti sey are to be the equals of the North
ern sssstes in rights, sovereignty and dig
nifty. Does any one believe that such
re.lTeion can be established and main
tal'fSe9ss-Siss the sword alore2 Should a
certain number of the States siIbiugate
and humiliate the others. when they
could not live together as equals and
friends, for the sub;ugated are always the
enemies Of the suLjugatoTs- When all the
States, therefore. resume their former re-
latiUns. or new relations of union ami
intercourse, it must be the act of all, If
The settlement Is 10 be complete AMI per
man.lt.
have heard a great deal about PATCH
ing up dishonOrable peace-about the
humiliation and disgrace To the North
involved in any and every proposition for
>ettlement-and there is nothing that i
said about the affairs of the country Tor
which | have less respect. Ii i even
held by some that he l. a disluv:ll citizen
who seeks 10 rc-establish the Union 6v
other means than the sword How ab-
sGri. The sword has been az work-its
agency has been tested, vigorously and
terribly tcsicd-and how stand the States
now HAT should be in harmony? The
sad response i, Where they were when
the war began. arraved in grim and re-
lentless hostility. Then why spurn other
agencies 70 aid in the good work? In
the words Of Alr. Lincoln, we cannot fight
always. ami we should not longer unless
we can DO - - a means oi ultimate
Union and permanent peace.
What then can be done and regret that
all that should bc done cannot be accom-
plislIei promptly. The States now in the
. lni0n should DC IN convention, OF have
delegates ready 10 60 into convention, in
order TO rcaiiirm the present constitu-
/ tional relations amongst the States. with
/ explanations on controverted poinst or
I to make such new relations as may be
iouJsl necessary to bring together ans; re-
tain all the States The State Lc.iSla-
: turc could petition Congress for such
/ convention. as provided by the Constitu-
/ ton, and Congress could make the neccs-
; sary provisions FOR ii before the close OF
the coming session. Such State lcGi-ia-
. lures - 10 not meet in the regular order
could be specially convened: and when
l.
. it Is obligatory on Congress to comply
The body thus constituted would BE- COM
natrnt to aiust and settle all the compli-
cations which now beset us. In the
ndst OF var. then, we should bc prcpar-
4 ed TO MAKE peace; whereas when the
time comes for settlement, in the absence
OF such a body, ii might be found that we
have no competent authority iii existence
TO do ;he things that may be necessary.
Neither Congress, nor the Executive, nor
the two together, have righttui authority
to change the old or to make new rcla-
tions amongst the STATES. Congress- may
submit amendments to the Constitution
ior the ratification of the States. and |
believe the present calamities Of the na-
ton could have been avcrted in that way
in The winter of 1861: but now the dis
orders OF the country are probably too com
plicated to bc reached in that form.
Meanwhile, the President and Congress
should prepare the way for settlement.
Indeed, by consulting the people through
the ballot box, they might make a settle
m.nt, to be ratified by the States there
after. Let the Prcsiden; propose an arm
ist;ce, for the purpose OF considering
some programe Of reunion and settlement.
in which the feelings and rights Of the
masses IN the South shall be duly appre-
ciatcd and provided for Invite them tC
come back on the conditions OF the Con
= stitution with explicit definitions on con.
troverted points, or on new conditions
with the fullest assurance of Justice an,
equality when they do come. Let hin
do this. and challenge the rebel author
ties to submit such propositions as may b,
, agreed upon to an unrestraincd vote Of tn
, Southren States. rs he viii, n the sam,
time, submit such propositions to vot,
Of those of the Northern States, with th,
understanding that if a majority of fre,
/, States accept the proposition, Its condi
tions should be binding until ratified o
: superseded by the States. Suppose tn
, Confederate authorities reject this, or an,
, similar proposition, no harm could ensu
TO the Northern cause. Such action
, would only leave them in worse Tgh
t before the world, and the government q
\ Washington in the better The prelm
? inaries for such n movement could b
readily arranged by commissioners select
:, ed for that purpose
h 1t may be said that we are CONSTANT
E inviting the southern people TO lay dow
!. their arms, and come back into the Union
G and this would seem to be conclusive
: but it must not be forgotten that they re
q billed, bocause, as they say, ihe par;