Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-06-23
rsrnando WOOD 5 Ten Peace propositions.

Attic Pesce meeting in New York on
Wednesday evening, Fernando Wood laid
down the following ten proposition as ca
pable of satisfactory demonstrations. They
embody the views of the Peace Demo
cracy:
i. The war should cease, because it
should never have been commenced, mas
much as there is no coercive military pow
er in the Federal Government as against
the States, which are sovereign. and in
possession of all power not delegated. If
power of coercion exists at all it is legal,
and not military.
2. Because there was no necessity for it.
An amicable adjustment of the questions
in dispute could have been, and can be
still, procured on terms of fairness and
equality.
8. Because, however legal and just at
the commencement, it has been diverted
from its cstensible original purpose, and
made a war for the abolition of slavery
and the extinguishment of the Southern
States, as such, which of course, as con-
sequence, subvens the Government ITSELF
4. Because it is made pretext for the
most outrageous and dannable crimes
against the liberty of the citizen, the
rights Of property, aud even against the
form of government under which We have
lived.
5. Because it is creating a stupendous
public money debt, which must bear down
labor, destroy capital, and finally cause,
national bankruptcy and dishonor.
6. Because in the military it is estab-
fishing new and dangerous power, which
already oyer-rides the Courts and the Con-
stilution. and which history teaches when
once firmly established becomes perma-
ncnt, despotic and tyranical. When mill
tary law subverts the civil law, liberty de-
parts for ever.
Z. Because there is neither in the civil
nor in the military departments of Govern
ment any man or men Of sufficient mental
power to successfully prosecue the war
against the vastly superior statesmen and
generals of the South.
8. Because the commercial wealth OF
the country, derived from trade, and
largely enhanced by Southern products,
must gradually disappear if this war con
tinues. As Jet, artificial stimuldnts have
supplied the detection Of sound mercantile
resources; but time must despite them, and
then will follow reaction, terrible, over
whelming and annihilating
8. Because the popular enthusiasm, nee
essary to conduct the war and supply the
failing armies, has subsidized. Force, by a
draft, can not supply the indispensable re-
qusite. Republicans who have grown up
with the idea of personal freedom, and
right to political opiaions and action, can
not be so suddenly changed as to become
the willing instruments of power, and lie
used etfeclually against their own conyic-
tons of policy aud right.
10. And, finally, because experience
should admonish US that overriding power
of God is against US. We can not sue
coed in what we have undertaken. Hence,
every dollar expended is thrown away, ev-
ery life lost is little less than murder, eve
~ acre Of land laid waste is so much to-
ward national impoverish,nent, and every
day continuance of war, places an addi-
tional barrier between US and reunion,
and drives another nail in the coffin Of the
Republic.