Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-29
A CONVENTION OF ALL THE STATES.


The Yankee papers are agog with this idea. The
matter is eeouay Sc. 4. rest by the Charleston Nsr
elry-thus
We think il perfectly plain that the Democratic, or
pace Party Of the United States, will lay down a. the
Cbo1go Convention of the psnGs in their Plat
ro,r the assembling Of the Confederate and the UIi
t,d s,1tes together in convention, 70 reconstruct
unon between them. Il lie, therefore, time for the
people Of the Confederate States 70 consider gaVey the
proposition.
! Our Yankee foes have made war upon Us on the
ground mat the Confederate States are not Sstes-
Tbey have not particle Of sovereignty; but are mere
districts or counties Of great consolidated nation,
olsd the United States OF course, they will see
recogpizs no independence in these States They will
act ss II they are still part OF their great cons lated
n,top: and proposing receive them into oonsnltaon,
they will take Il for granted that that rebelOss agency
at Richmond is quite competent to bring them H. II
they have read the Constitution OF the Confederate
Saes they will naturally infer that il cannot be
sered than their own Constitution of the United SAts
which is only piece Of dirty rotten paper respected
or observed by nobody. Hence they talk dppantlT Of
making treaty or agreement with the OInfederate
Government at Richmond by which all the Confederate
States are 10 be brought into convention with them
Now Il Is well for our nkee foes, as we'll as our
Government at Richmond to understand that the Con-
s.itu.oa of the Coned rate States confers no power
whatever on their agency at Richmond, to put any OF
them into convention With any foreign States WHAT
ever There If but one kind Of convention WbiJh it
ON convoke aud for but one pupo1e--and that Il,
O INVENTION Of the Confederate States to amend their
Constitution. The Constitution says: upon the de-
mand Of any three aes legally assembled in their sew
sral Conventions, the C1ngre shall SUMMON Con
ysnon Of all she aes to take into consideration such
amendments to the Constitution as the said States shall
concur in suggesting at the time the said demand lie
made, and should any OF the proposed amendments TO
the Constitution be agreed on BY said OOnyen ion
wiling nv ate-a16 the same be rat6 I'd BY the Legs
urss Of tWo-hi, ds Of the several Safes by Con-
yonons in two thirds heFeofas the one or The ether
mode Of ratification may be proposed By the General
Cluvoution-tbey shall thsnoslOrsard form part Of
O. q Constitution"
O institution the President has the poser, BY and
y th the sdyies and consent Of the Senate" 20 make
ale; aud ii the President makes treaty by and
Il the advice and consent OF the Senate, providing
that the Con'ederae S.atsi shall 90 into Convention
vi the States Of the United States to alter and amend
t1elr OOnstitu ion-srs not the Confederate States
bonud to 90 into the OonVention2 We answer, no
rhe Confederate States separate are soVereg ties
Fey agreed With each other that the Congress OF
t-e Lonfede ate States may summon them to 60 into
Correction with each other, fer purpoleand one
A.. They have sgeeed with each otasr, that their
ooup,ct OK Confederation between them snail be alte
81 or amended in enc way, aud in one way only. 20
eak this compac5 and cmps to alter or amend It,
any her way, is clear breach oil fai!h. TIE
Confederate Rgency may treat with foreign
na ions concerning sHy Of the powers the Con
situ.ion corners upon it. It can make a treay
with foreign nations regulating she mulerce between
them, stpulaug terms OF assistance for oheaee OF
defence sgainst 9th nations for he mutual rend
tion Of crimoss for abSisbing prVaesring On the
high seas. These are matters over Which, By the Con.
iutOn, has control Bl Il has no control ever the
action Of the sovereign Safes teyOud the limited grant
10 the Constitution; and can no more order them into
convention with foreign nation than It can kin
guish them as soFereiZntes. is Cnrusted with the
conduct OF our forega sl4r out has 10 power what
ever 10 ctnvoEe the 10 settle them by altering
their Constitution. This would be an usurpaton, not
relating 90 our foreign sss oniy, bat 70 our Internal
a rs Ia he vital natter OF altering the internal srue.
ture Of tss 6over1mens To saea an usuFpltOn OF
power there would Of course be bg course tOr the
Bates 10 puFsue=-repudiAte and reject H.