Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-06-24
The New York Peace Convention.

1u6 IS0W ELOEh OdS0 SSASo SohGASAAs
s The New York Times Of the 4th-brings
us a full account Of the Peace Convention
held in that city the day before, which we
think Of sufficient Importance to justify
liberal extracts. Of the Convention, the
Times says, editorially:
"It was large gathering-one of the
largest recently held in the city, and its pro-
eeediugs we're marked By energy, directness
and 8 fair degree Of enthusiasm. Id one
important particular it surpassed all similar
meetings hitherto held-we meant the open,
Straightforward, ayowed sympathy with the
principles and the causeo Of the secessionists.
aFrom the address and resolutions, as
we'll as from the speech Of Mr.. Wood, it
will be seen that this Convention takes the
EXTREMIST ground Of States rights. assert
ing that allegiance is due to the State Gov
ernments, and not to the National Govern
ment; that the Government has no right
to defend its existence against rebellion by
force Of arms that the war is utterly un-
constitutional, not because it is a war a
gainst slavery, nor because Of any fault in
the manner in which it has been conducted,
but because the National Government has
no right to wage war, either offensive or
defensive, against the will and action Of
any State, and that on this account, and
without regard to consequences, the war
ought instantly to be stopped. The Con:
vention goes stilIfurther than this in its sym.
pathy with the rebellion. Il denounces our
armies, our Generals, our Government, in
contrast with those of the rebels--declares
that we are already defeated and conquered
aud insists on the policy and dutyof inme-
diate surrender. -. *:
stThese Peace Demecrats have drawn the
only clear, distinct line of division upon
the war which can be maintained. They
take ground against the war-not against
its incidents or the manner in which it is
conducted. If the nation has a right to
wage war to protect itself against rebellious
States, then these Peace men conclude that
it may wage it in any manner and by the
use of any means essential to success. If
the war is just, then the conscription, the
suspension of Habeas Corpus, and The q,
Emancipation of slaves are just also. They
sdsnounce, therefore, as insincere and hypo-
criticalthose Democrats Who oppose the lat.
ter, while pretending to support the3former.
For their own part, they oppose the war as
utterly unjust and unconstitutional, and
they make this hostility the corner stone of
their new organization.
s.To this complexion, beyond all doubt.
it must come at last. Sooner or later We
shall have but two parties-one, of those
who are for the war as the only means of
preserving the nations life-and the other,
of those who are for peace whether the ma.
tion lives or dies. The Peace Convention
declares for the latter. 1t is not for pre-.
serving the Union if it must be done by
war. 1t hopes we may still have Union,
but it insists that we shall not have war
The sooner the people accept this clear and
distinct issue, the SOONER will the war be
ended = s sz:.ss - 2 :
The Convention, according to the report.
ers of the Times, was held in and around
Cooper Institute. There were five. organ
lied gatherings and speaking at each. Be-
fore the speaking began the crowds occupied
themselves with cheers for Mcclellan, Val
laudigham, Wood, Brooks, &C., and groans
for Burnside, Lincoln and others.