Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-10-26

iI4.S l'At'-Ni 'iN tAitNt t-AS VI
thirteen co-equal and co-sovereign States
formed the Federal compact OF the Union
In 1887. 1t is upon the same principle
hat the co-equal and co-sovereign States
Of our Contederacy formed their new COM
pact Of union.
The idea that the old Cnion or any
Union between sovereign States, consis-
tently with this fundamental truth, can
be sustained by force is preposterous
This war springs from an attempt 10 do
this preposterous thing. Superior power
may compel a Union of some sort, but it
would not be the Union of the old Con-
stitution or Of our new. 1t would be that
sort Of Union that results from despot-
ism.
The subiugation Of the people of The
South by the people of the North would
necessarily involve the destruction of the
Constitution, and the overthrow of their
liberties as well as ours. The men or
party at the North, to whom you refer,
who favor peace, must be brought to a
full realization Of thIs truth in all It's bear
iags, before their efforts wall result in
much practical good ANY peace grow-
ing out Of 4 union of States established
by force viii be as guiuCus 20 them rs TO
US.
TIE action Of the Chicago Convention,
50 far as its Platform Of principles goes,
presents, as l have said on another occa-
sion, . ray of light, which, under Proyi-
dcuc", may prove The dawn OF the day 10
this long and checrless night; the first
ray Of light have seen from the North
since the war began. This cheers the
heart, and towards !: | could almost ex-
claim - Hail, holy Limit, offspring Of
Heaven first born Of tie e.arnal, co-"targs!
beam May [ express thee uhJlamed,
since God is light"
Indeed, could have quite SO exclaim-
ed. bnt for the sad reflection tL.ut whether
j; shall bring heaiiug IN its beams or, BE-
lost in 4 dark and ominous eclipse ere lis
good work be done, depends SO much upon
the action OF others who may not regard
it and view it rs DO. 80 al least. So
at best It is but 2 ray, " small and trcmu
lous ray. enough only to gladden. the heart
and quicken the hope
The prominent and leading idea Of that
Convention seems to nave been q desire 10
reach Il peaceful adjustment Of oar pre-
sent difficulties and strife, through the
medium Of a Convention ot The States.
They propose TO suspend hosiiIi;ics,' t6 see
what can be done, If anything, by nego-
tation OF some sort This is one step in
the RIGHT direction. 70 such Conycu-
T 4. { .f,.,,l1 t..-. !
lection, rs peaceful conference and in
tcrchan@e OF views between equal and
sovereign Powers. just IS the Convention
of 1887 was called AMI assembled
The properly constituted authorizes at
Washington and Richmond, the duly au-
thorizda representatives Of the two Con-
federacies of States now at war with each
other, might give their assent to such a
proposition. Good might result from
it, 1t would be an appeal on both
sides from the sword to reason and ius-
tice. All wars which do not result in
the extinction or determination of one
side or the other must be ended sooner or
later by some sort OF negotiation.
From the discussion or Interchange Of
views in such a Convention, the history
as well as the the true nature Of our in
stitutions and the relation of the States
towards each other and towards the Fed
eral head, would doubtless be much better
understood generally, than they are now :;
but | should favor such proposition ONLY
as peaceful conference, as the Conven-
ton of 1887 was / should be opposed
to leaving the questions at issue to the
absolute decision OF such BODY.
Delegates might be clothed with pow
ers to consult and agree, if they could,
upon some plan of adjustment, to bo sub
mitted for subsequent ratification by the
sovereign States whom il affected before
it should be obligatory or binding. and
then binding only on such as should ratify
it. 1t becomes the people of the South,
as well as the North, to be quite
as watchful and jealous of their right as
their common ancestors were.
The maintenance of liberty in all ages,
times and countries, when and where it
| has existed, has required not only con-
slant vigilance and jealousy, but it has
often required the greatest privations and
sufferings and sacrifices that people OF
States are ever subjected to- Through
such an ordeal we are now passing.
Through a like and even severer ordea
our ancestors passed in their struggle fol
the principles which it has devolved upor
us to defend and maintain.
But great as eur suffering and sacrif
ces have been and are, to which you al
lude, they are not yet of the like suffer