Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-11
The Peaoe Convention--The Cues.
ton at Issue.

The Peaco Convention-The Cues
ton at Issue.
Ex.Msyor Wood Psacs Convention yes.
terday was, in many respects, q decided
success. II was large gathering--one Of
the largest recently held in the City, and
its proceedings were marked by energy, di.
rectness and fair degree Of enthusiasm. -
In one important particular it surpassed oil
similar meetings hitherto held, we mean
its open, straightforward, avowed sympathy
With the principles and the cause Of the
lSeccssionists.
From the address and resolutions, as well
as from the speech of<Mr. Wood, Il win be
seen that the Convention takes the ex.
tremest ground Of State asserting
that allegiance is due to the State Govern.
ments and not to the National Government;
that the Government has no right to de.
fend its existence against rebellion by force
OF arms, that the war is utterly unconsti.
tutional, not because it is war against
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 de.
fensive, against the will and action Of any
State, and that, on this account, and with
out regard to consequences, the war ought
'"S'"'R " W e'oPPou. ihe OonNehuoi
goes still further than this in its sympathy
with the rebellion. 1t denounces our ar.
mics, our Generals, our Government, in
that we are already defeated and conquer.
ed, aud insists on the policy and duty Of
immediate surrender.
1t is rather nortifying TO find the Demo.
cratic party, or anybody claiming the right
to speak in iks name, willing 10 take q tons
% humiliatiug as this. Whatever of cour-
age, Of devotion to the Union, of persever.
ing patriotism, and Of resolute determine.
tion to rescue the country from peril, these
men have ever had, must have thoroughly
evaporated. They speak like men who
have been whipped into abject submission.
Possibly their language may be an accurate
expression Of their own thoughts; but we
think they 90 deal too far VIXEN they ex-
pect to find it echoed by any considerable
portion Of tho American people, or even Of
the Democratic party. In this possibly we
are mistaken-time will show.
One thing, however, is clear. These
Peace Democrats have drawn the only clear,
distinct line Of division upon tho war which
can be maintained. They take ground
against the pdr-not against its incidents or
the manner in which it is conducted. If
the nation has right to wage war to pro.
tect itself against rebellious States, then
these Peace men concede that it may wage
it in any manner and by the use of any
means essential to success. If the war is
just, then tho Conscription, the suspension
OF Habeas Corpus, and the emancipation of
slaves are just, also. They denounce, there.
fore, as insincere and hypocritical those
Democrats who oppose the latter while pre-
tending to support the former. For their
own part, they oppose the war us utterly
unjust and unconstitutional, and they make
this hostility the corner stone of their new
organization.
To this complexion, beyond all doubt, 1t
must como at last. Sooner or later we shall
have but two parties--one, of those who
are for the soar as the only means of pre-.
serving the nations life--and the other, Of
those who are for peace whether the nation
lives or dies. The peace convention de.
clares for the latter. 1t is not for preserving
the Union If it must be done by war. It
hopes wo may still have Union, but it in.
slsts that we shall not have war The soon.
or the people accept this clear and distinct
issue. the sooner will the war be ended
IN. Y. Times.