Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-10-11

to have bsen esIrs TO reach peaDeful adjust
msnt Of our pr0sens difficulties and strife through the
medium Of couvocation Of the States They proposo
10 suspend hosities 70 what csn be DONE il any
thing, by negotiation Of This is one stepn
the right direction. To such convention of the atss
should have no objection as 8 peaceful conferences
and interchange OF between equal and sovereign
Just as the convention of 1857 called and
sembled. The properly constituted authorities at Wsh-
ington and Richmond, the duly authorized Representa-
tives OF the two Confederaoss OF States noH at var
with each other might give their assent to such =
proposition. Good might result from ii. /. would be
an appeal on both sides from the sword to reason and
justice Ali which do not result in the extinction
or exterminaton Of one eide or the other must be
ended sooner later by some sort of nego iaton.-
From the discussion or interchange Of views ia such
convention, the history we'll the true nature of
our institutions and the relation Of the States towards
each other aud towards the Federal ,sd would doubt
es be much letter understood generally than they now
are. But should favor such proposition only as a
peaceful conference as the convention Of 1887 wss
should be opposed TO leavngthe questions az issue to
the absolute decision o! such toy. Delegates might
be clothed with pOWers to consult ard agree if they
could upon some plan Of adjustment to be submitted
for subsequent ratification by the sovereign States
whom II affected before It should b. obligatory
or binding, and then binding only on such as
should Tatiy. /; becomes the people of the
South well the people of the North 60 be lite 90
wa'chlul and jealous Of their rights Their Common
ancestors were. The maintenance Of Liberty in all
agee, times and countries, when and where II bai
listed, has required not only constant vigilance aud
Jealousy, bu IL has often repaired the greatest priva-
tons and surngs and sscghces that people or States
ever sui jected Through such ordeal are
now passing. Through like and even severer ordeal
ancestors passed in their struggle for the prnei
PIES which IL has oevoVed upon to d2fehd and
maintain. But great as suffsrinss and sacrifices
hXve been aud 10 VIII you slluds they yet
far short OF the Ike sus'oss and sacrifices which our
Tiers here With pssnSe courage aid iortitn5s Ia the
sls that "uied Dsu'- sops their CAV. Tness
tIs virtues that srsaasa C. II tbsir hOaF Of nsec
Trsir ilIustrous ,pd aorGas eJempis dds not 10
d. innate tee pcceifss i,ACTts4os s4ey achieved
for % at sath e,ocs Of tfeuta sbJ blood. Great
ara tn, odes we src sirst slNg tssDa tbe3 are not
greater thkR tsase Assiist HEea they tsecessiuly
struggled
la 10 nj ofreysrss Or condition e noe 90 be oouS
rs'ea With hers. siould Mobile, sagsnnsh, CHARLES.
TN. Augusta, Macon, Montgomery, aud tv,n Peters
burg and Richmond fal our CONDITION would net then
be less hopeful than theirs WAS in thu darkest
hour that rested on heir fortunes. With wisdom On
the part of th0ge who control destiny in the cabinet
snd in the f.ld 10 outstanding and properly welding
our resources at their command snd in occurring the
hearts affections Of the people in ths great cause
OF Right aud Liberty for which We are struggling we
could suffer all these losses and caamiteJ and greater
even, and still triumph in the end. At present how
ever DO 10. see, stated In the outset that YOU
o. l. any number of peaors in chr position can 90
any hing towards inaugurA.ng any new movement
looking to peaceful solution of the present strife.
Ths war on our part is airly aud entirely defensive
IL its character. How long Ii will continue 10 be thus
w.ckedly and merCllessy wsgsd sgainst us, depends
upon the people Of tbs North Gsorgl, our own state
to whom We owe allegiance, has, with great uuauimi,y
proclaimed the principles upon which Just aad per-
manent peace ought to be sought and OBJ aimed. TIE
Congress OF the Confederate States has followed with
"a endorsement Of these principles. Ali yeu, and |
and others in our position, therefore, do on that
line at the tme to sustain the movement thus already
insug and TO the utmost of our ab lily 10 hold
up their principles the suress hope restoring sound
to the public mind Nots the baxen ger psut vas
held Up for the hsaliug Of Israel in the Wlidernees.
The chief aid and encouragement we can give the
Peace Party OF the North is to kop before them theee
great fundamental principles and truths which alone
will lead them and u to permanent and lasting peace
win the possession aud Enjoyment of Constitutional
Liberty. With these principles once recosnizs5, the
future would take care OF itselt There would be no
more war so long as they should be adhered 10. All
questions OF boundaries Confederaces end U5ion or
Uniors would naturally aud easily sdjust thsmselv q
according to the interests Of the parties and the Ell
senciss of The times. Herein les the true law Of The
balance Of power, and the harmony Of States
Yours, respectfully,
1LIxAEDER a. sTEPaFEs :