The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-07
AN 1MPRACrIcABLE PLAN OF PEACE.

AN IMPRACrICABLE PLAN OF PEACE.
1t is not a little surprising that the gentle
men who composed the Democratic Conven-
ton at Chicago. should have proposed to make
peace with the Rebels by means that is not
only quite incapable of being put in execu-
tion, but which is not at all provided for by
the Federal Constitution. 1t is hardly worth
while to enter into an argument to show that
a convention of all the States, or of their
representatives, to discuss the terms of an adj
justment, would be found utterly impossible in
practice. 1t is easy to see that the attempt to
effect any such measure would be met at the
very threshold, with difficulties and disputes
between the National and the pretended Con-
federate Government, which could not be
overcome.
1t is sufficient to mention one instance of
the obstacles suggested, to convince any re-
fecting mind that convention of all the
States is totally impracticable. Since the war
commenced, Virginia has been divided; one
of the divisions has been admitted into the
Union as a free and sovereign State. The Rebel
authorities do not and will not acknowledge
either the right or the fact of this partition of
the original State Of Virginia, and would not
therefore, participate in any convention to
which "Western Virginia" would claim to
send its own delegates. This issue would GER
i tainly arise if convention we're called. How
could it be settled? Neither party to the
controversy would yield
There is but one mode in which this diff
J Guilty could possibly be avoided, and that is,
by an act Of Congress repeating the act recog-
, nizing and admitting Western Virginia into
/ the Union as a separate State, on the ground
of its unconstitutonality. This might be, and
} no doubt would be, done if the Democratic
1 party should have a sufficiently large majo-
} rity in both Houses of the next Congress to
4 pass such a repeating act. But, whatever
? changes may be made in the political charac-
' ter OF the House of Representatives at the
ensuing elections, It is certain that no adequate
modification can be made In that of the Senate
; to admit Of any such legislation as that just
I mentioned.
l A difficulty of like nature would occur in
t reference to the sending of delegates TO a
= general peace convention from Louisiana,
Q ! whose government has recently been reinsti-
: tuted or reorganized under the direct aus
1 pices and authority of the Washington Ad-
I ministration. JEFFERSON DAVIS and his
: cabinet certainly would not recognize the
o legitimacy of a proceeding which has restored
r to the Union a State which he claims as one
}, of the integral members of his bogus Con.
J, federation.
a But it is not necessary to say more, just
# now, about these insuparable bars to the very
" initiation of that preposterous scheme fol
negotiating peace, which has been so lately
J, proposed by the Democratic leaders at Chi
n cago. Another, but equally grave objection
to the project is, that the Federal Constitution
E for which the Democrats profess so mucl
!, devotion, expressly gives to the President thu
: power to make treaties Including, Of course
| those of peace) by and with the advice ant
| consent of the Senate, and this grant of powe
, to the Executive precludes its exercise, unde
the Constitution, either by the States sepa
, rately or collectively, or by the people Q
; all the States. Congress, 1t Is true, ha
f the right, whenever two-thirds OF bot
Il Houses shall deem 1t necessary, to pro
+ pose amendments to the Constitution, AM
n 1t may, on the application Of the Legis
" latures oftwo-thirds Of the States call 3 Con
ne yention for proposing amendments to tn