The mountain Democrat., 1863-01-17

1
States and so hold them could subserve
n~.g~stsS e1sf - -4.l>.ss ssofi6s, 4s.s q, %,
way, that I can discover, advance the
welfare Of the North for so long as the
South was so held their hate of the
North would increase, and whilst the
North 20 held the South it could do but
little else meanwhile its material inter-
est must lAnguish and die. But in addi.
ton, such a work is utterly inconsistent
with the genius of our institutions. and
could scarcely fail to lead to their utter
perverSion and ultimate overthrow, add
ing to the calamites Of diSuni0n the sac.
ritice Of free government. Conquest and
empire, however magnificent conld not
compensate for such loss. -'-,' a.
To exterminate the inhabitants of the
South would be deliberate emasculation
Of the Union, rendering its reconstruction
at once impracticable and hopeless, and
involve work of barbaritv from which
the Northern people would shrink with
horror. The existence Of the Southern
States in some form, with their inhabi-
tantS, and on some terms of intercourse,
is highly essential, nay, will say indis
pensable, to the welfare of the North. l
am, therefore, against determination, and
against the policy Of holding the South
ern States as conquered provinces. This
ground can be so easily maintained on
purely selfish considerations for the
North, which will occur to all, that /
need not trouble you with their presenta-
tion on this occasion. am for re.estab-
fishing the Union as it was, or making
9 Union IS similar as practicable, the
States to be equals and to be sovereign
TO tine extent the States now are, each to
have and enjoy such domestic institu.
tons IS it may choose and, we're in
Congress, | should sustain that measure
Of war, and that only, that would clearly
tend 70 the accomplishment Of these
ends but no war Of suhjugation or ex-
termination.
know it may be said in reply to all
this: Then let the Southern people lay
down their arms and come back into the
Union, and all will be right again.
Would to God they could be induced SO
to do! There is no guarantee in reason
that l would not be willing TO grant
them. But do we see any indication of
such a reason and dutyt can see
none, so long as the sword is unaccom.
panied by agents for settlement and peace.
When our army went to Mexico it was
accompanied by q peace commission, in
order to embrace the earliest opportunity
for settlement. In Gods name, would
ask, should We do less when engaged in
war among ourselvesI 1t is idle and
worse than idle, to delude ourselves
about the nature Of the conflict in which
we arc engaged. We cannot make q
Union by force alone, though we may
triumph over the South in the field, and
we may as well look the complications
square in the face as not The frst q6es-
ton is, Do we intend, do we desire, to
have all the Southern States back into
the Union, on the terms Of the COnstitu.
ton? II VIC do, then it is seen ti,:t they
are to be the equals of the Northern
States in rights, sovereignty and dignity.
Does any one believe that such relation
can be established and maintained by the
sword alone Should certain number
of the States Subjugate and humiliate the
others, then they could not live together
as equals and (Tiends, for the subjugated
are always the enemies Of the subjuga.
tors. When oil States therefore resume
their former relations Of Union and inter-
course, it must be the act of all, if the
settlement is to be complete and perma-
nent.
have heard a great deal about patch.
ing up dishonorable peace about the
humiliation and disgrace of the North in.
VOlved in any and every proposition for
settlement; and there is nothing that is
said about the affairs of the country for
which have less respect. 1t is even
held by some that he is dislcyal citizen
who seeks to re-establish the Union by
other means than the sword! The sword
has been st work its agency has been
tested, vigorously and terribly tested;
and how stand the States now that should
be in harmony The sad response is,
Where they we're when the war began,
arrayed in grim and relentless hostility.
Then why Srurn other agencies in the
good work9 In the words Of Mr.. Lin.
coin, we cannot fight always, and we
should not fight longer unless We can do
so as a means Of ultimate Union aud per-
manent peace.
What then can be done? And re-
gret that all that should be done cannot
be accomplished promptly. The States
now in the Union shoV\ be in .conven-
ton, or have delegates ready to 60 into
convention, in order to reafirm-thc pres
ent constitutional relations among the
States. With explanations on contro-
vertcd points, or to make such new rela-
tions as may be found necessary to bring
together and retain all the States. The
State Legislatures could petition Congress
for such convention, rs provided by the
Constitution, and Congress could make
the necessary provisions for it before the
close of the coming session. Such
State Legislatures as do not meet in reg
ular order could be specially convened !;
and when the necessary number Of States
petition, it is obligatory on Congress to
comply. The body thus constituted
would be competent to adjust and settle
all the complications which now beset u.s.
In the midst of war, then, we should be
prepared to make peace whereas, when
the time comes for settlement, in the ab.
sence Of such body, it might be found
that We have no competent authority in
existence to do the things that may be ne.
cessary. Neither Congress, nor the Exec
utive, nor the two together, have a right
ful authority to change the old or to
make new relations among the States
Congress may submit amendments to the
Constitution for the ratification Of the
| Otakao and I hoIsawo A. ,,.o.~nk ~~1..ns