The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-01-14
1ke Constitutional Re-TnfOn of
the States,

I -
ers helped to achieve and establish the Ill
dependence of the United Stats, and ou
ewn enterprise, treasure and Statesmen
hare helped to make the Nation one of tn,
greatest and most powerful on the globe
We have the same light to enjoy the pow
er and grandeur Of the Nation rs the pco
pic oi The North. Our States cut the Cor
dian knot. retired from the Union, a ,t
formed new government because, anG On
" because o,r rights IN. the Union. a:.c
under the Constitution we had helped t,
establish, were denied US. lfthe people O
the North would now cOnccde Cur right:
and .he Federal Government secure then
to US. the danger with which we were
threatened by remaining in the Union, and
the objection We had to II. would be remov
Cd. and we might with honor and adyant
age return 10 II.
! ne Federal Government has proceeded
so far with the war that these are the only
terms of peace 70 which we could reasona
tly expect il TO agree; and | regret 10 Say
that | have no expectations that such terms
viii be proposed, or would oe accepted by
that Government whic the Prcs'd. ntial
char is occupied by the present Abolition
incumbent. But if. fortunately, during
his administration. or within reasonable
time aitcrwar,, such terms should be Of
fercd am free to say that should pre-
!.r their .ceptance By our people to the
continuance Of the war, which must result
III the desolation OF our country, and the
RUN of both North and South 4 peace
on such terms would tie eminently honora-
be to both parties-neither could claim
thc victory the strength and yalor
each exhibited would command the respect
and admiration Of the ether
To this extent | am 4 ''re-con.truction-
ist" But it must not be understood that
would prefer reconstruction and peace
IN the terms indicated to speedy peace
rccogn zing our ndcpendence-if that
were possible; nor must it be understood
that doubt our ability 10 achieve our IN
dependence If the conflict is continued
But believe it would be better fer our
selves, for cur posterity. and for mankind,
hat we should accept peace with our
rights secured within the Union than to
continue he war many years, giving oceans
# blood, millions of tro.sure IL raining
eur country. for Independence Extroct
fr9m ReteA: Letter Of Z, Bat'er King, Of
Georyie.
The above extract. from late letter OF
the Hon T Butler King, Of Georgia. once
a distinguished member Of the Federal
Congress, is the first instance we have met
with, whore 4 leading southern statesmen
has iII:.oi;catcd 4 preference for the restofs-
tion Of the Union rather than continue any
longer this bloody and tootless war. We
say bcoaass. foY II settles nothing. and can
settle nothing. for fit continued twenty
years. or hundred years, i; must finally
end just where it began-the negro must
remain where God placed HMM domes-
tic Subordinaton--or be annihilated, aud
the old Union of The States will BE 7sstor-
cd. for mcn are not fools or. asses, and save
some reform in details. the wit Of man can
not contriyc anything better. These are
shouted in the ears Of the millions, North
and South, Fast and West, and every
American should know and feel in the
deepest depths Of his soul, that every life
sacrificed North or South, is murder COM
United. and will be thus universally rcgaT
Jed a few years hence 4 few brief facts
Will demonstrate this awful truth and
show not only that it is murder without
cause. but without result, as foolish as
wicked and Dootlcss as mons:rous and dev.
ilish.
lst-Thirteen sovereign States delega
ted certain powers to Federal or common
govcrsment in 1893, al of which power
are defined and limited III written Consti
tu;ion.
2d-This Constitution and this govern
ment of the United States included white
people only, for at that time the negro ele
mcnt of the population was in domestic
subordination eycrywherc-as it is NOW IL
Sou,h Carolina, save Massachusetts per
haps.
3d-For eighty years this government
of limited, defined and delegated power.
was administered For the common good o.
al the States and the whole American
eorle.
4th-In 1860 northern or sectional par
ty, combining together eighteen States o.
the Federation, ON principle Of deadl,
antagon;sm to the other States, elected :
President by a majority. of the elec;ora
vote. but against the popular will Of two
thirds of the whole American people.
5th--This party proposed the most as
founding revolution ever Witnessed in hu
mar aft rs--to establish | that some
day should abolish the distin, ons q
rice and amalgamate four millions of sub
ordinate negroes in our system, in short
proposed to use the government Of the