The Placer herald., 1863-07-18
The New York Peace Convention.


The following are the resolutions adopted
at the Peace Convention in New York on
the 10th Of June, and OF which the Herald
says it was one Of the largest asssmblages
ever convened in that city:
Resolved, That the electors and people OF
the State of New York who have hitherto
professed the name and held to the prirci-
Piles known as Democratic, desire to declare
their unaterable attachment rs we'll to
those truths as to the Constitution and the
amendments thereto, forming the supreme
law of the land; that they regard obedience
to the Constitution as alike duty Of citizen
and The magistrate, and regard such obedi
ence as the only means Of perpetuating the
Union, and by it the only hope Of restoring
the same.
Resolved, That the the sovereignty Of the
States and the sovereignty of the people, rs
laid down in the Virginia and Kentucky
resolutions, of which Jefferson and Madison
were the authors, are the fundamental prin-
ciples of the Democratic party; that they are
vital essence Of the Constitution, prevailing
every line and provision Of that instrument,
and to deny them would reduce our political
Fe'leralive system to anarchy or despo,ism
Resolved, That under the Constitution
there is no power in the Federal Govern.
nent TO coerce the States, or any number Of
them, by military force. If power of coer.
ciom exists at all, it is a legal power and not
military. That the Democratic party, if
true to its timehonored principles, cannot
sustain awar against sovereign States; that
we believe it to be the duty of the party to
| ,Iai,,, I~l Al. IL
people may feel that there is at least one
political organization which will deal honl
es,ly, independently aad trulhfuly with
them.
! Resolved, That the war in its inception
and further continuance being contrary 10
the Constitution, must necessarily fast con
sumo all the elements of the Union, and
hence that our duty as citizens our obligal
tions as men, and our relations to our com.
mon Father, demand that an end should be
put to what is repugnant to the law, abhor-
rent to the humanity and civilization of this
enlightened era, and inconsistent with the
benignant spirit Of morality and religion.
Resolved. That attempts to do away with
the provisions of the Constitution, which
point out the mode in which all crimes are
to be punished, are high-handed violations
Of the sworn duties Of our rulers, and ,ha.
the participants in such policy are guilty
of aiming parricidal blow at the very life
of the supreme law
Resolved, That the claim Of dictatorial
and unlimited power, under the pre,ext of
military necessity, and the trial Of citizens
not in the land or naval forces, or in the
militia in actual service, by court martial,
are monstrous in theory, and execrable in
praclice; that it is equivalent to an entire
abrogaton of the Constitution and the erec,
ton in its place of n military despotism.
Resolved, That the dogma Of unlimited
submission to the will ofthe Executive branch
of the Government, is unworthy of an
principles of constitutional liberty; that
such a concession is rather suited to the
dark and sulen era Of feuda despolism than
to time when the rights of man are re-.
garded even by monarchs, and we attribute
this exhibition of abject servility as dictated
10y spirit of fanatcsm bent on effecting its
object, even at the sacrifice Of personal
liberty.
Resolved. That we should be unworthy of
the name OF American citizens Of this free
and Independent State, claiming the first
rank among the sovereign components OF
the American Confederary, il we did not
protest against the cowardIy, despotic, in.
human and accursed act which has consgn.
ed to Punishment the noble tribune of the
people, the Hon. Clement L. Valandgham;
we protest against it in the name of liberty,
in the.n name Of humanity, and in the name
of Washington. We hope the people Of
Ohio will have the opportunity Of passing
condemnation Of this act by the election Of
Mr.. Valandigham as the next Governor Of
the State.
Resolved, That thus believing there can
be no reliable security to persons or proper
ty pending this war, and that by its continu-
ance the Government itself will be utterly
and irrevocaby subverted-- that the
South as we'll as the North must alike
crumbe into general ruin and devastation,
we recommend in the name of the people,
that there be a suspension of hostilties be.
tween the conending armies OF the divided
sections of our country, and that a Conven
ton of The Ststes composing the Confeder'
ate States and a separate Convention Of the
States still adhering to the Union, be held
to finally settle and determine in what man
ner and by what mode the contendng SEQ
tons shall be reconcled. and appealing to
the Ruler of all for the recttude of ou
intentions, we implore those in authority TO
listen TO the voice Of reason, Of patriotism,
and Of justice.
Resolved, That, to the end that our prin.
ciples, thus publicly avowed may be praci.
cslly carried out, and that's State authority
emanating directly from the people may
exist TO call any future conventions of the
Peace Democracy, if it shall become expe.
dlent or necessary, and disclaiming any
intention to distract the Democratic organi.
zation in this State so long as it shall reflect
the sentiments Of the masses, the following
named gentlemen, representing each Con.