The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-11-16

among men, deriving tnelr just powers
from tho consent of the governed. and
that whenever any fern of government
becomes destructive of those ends for
which it was formed, it is the right of the
people to alter or abolish it, and to iusti-
tute new government, laying its founda-
tions on such principles, and organizing
its powers in such form as to them may
seem most likely to effect their safety and
happiness.
It is needless here to state that by
"people," and governed, in this annun,
citation it meant communities and bodies
of men capable Of organizing and main
tanning Government, net individual
members of society. The consent Of the
governed refers to the will of the mass
Of the community or State in it's organ
lied form, and expressed through its le-
gitimate and properly constituted organs.
1t was upon this principle that the Colo
nists stood justified before the world in
effecting thsir separation from the mother
country. 1t was upsa this principle that
the original thirteen ce.equal and ce-
sovereign States formed the Federal COM
pact Of the old Union in 1887. 1t is on
the Same principle that the Southern
formed their new compact of
union.
The idea that the old Union or any
other Union between sovereign States,
consistently with this fundamental truth,
can be maintained by force is preposter-
ous. This war springs from the attempt
to do this prepesterous thing. Superior
power may compel Union of some sort,
but it would not be the Union Of the old
or of our new. 1t would be
that ssrt OF Union that results from des-
petism.
The subjugation Of the people of the
South by the people, Of the Nsrth would
involve the destruction of the
and the overthrow Of their
liberties as we'll az 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 its
bearings, before their efforts will result
in nuch practical good And peace grow
ing out Of union of States, established
BY force, will be as ruinous to them as
to US.
The action Of the Chicago Convention,
10 far as its platform of principles goes,
presents, as l have said ON another oeca-
sion, ray of light, which, under Provi-
ience, may prove the dawn Of the day to
this long and cherries night, the first
ray of light have seen from the North
since the war began. This cheers the
heart, and towards it l could almost ex-
claim, Hail, holy light, offspring of
Heaven, first born OF the eternal CO eter-
nal beam. May i express thee unbalanced
since God is light"
Indeed, I could have quite SO exelaim-
ID, but for the sad reflection that wheth-
er it shall bring healing in its beams or
be lost in dark and ominous eclipse ere
It's good work be done, depends SO much
upon the action of others, who may not
regard it and view it as | dc. So at best,
it is but ray, small and tremulous ray,
enough only to gladden. the heart and
quicken the hope.
The prominent and leading in that
seems to have had desire
to reach a peaceful adjustment of our
present difficulties and strife through the
medium of convscation of the States.
They propose to suspend hostilities, to
see what can be done, if anything, by
negotiations of some sert. This is one
step in the right direction. To such a
OF the States l should have
no objection, as a peaceful conference and
Of views between equal and
powers, just as the Convention
of 1887 was called and assembled.
The properly constituted authorities at
w ashiugton and Richmond, the duly au-
thorized representatives of the two Con-
fsderacies of States now at war with each
other, might give their assent to such a
Good might result from it.
1t would be an appeal on both sides from
the sword to reason and justice. All wars
which do not result in the extinction or
of enc side or the other
must be ended, sooner or later, by some
sort Of negotiation.
From the discussion or interchange Of
views in such Convention, the history,
as we'll as the true nature Of our institu-
tions, and the relation OF the States to-
ward each other and toward the Federal
head, would, doubtless, be much better
understood generally, than they now are;
but should favor such proposition only
as peaceful conference, as the Conven-
tion of 1887 was. l should be opposed
to leaving the question at issue to the abb
ssluts decision of such body.
Delegates might be clothed with pswsr,
to consult and agree, if they could, upon
some plan Of adjustment, to be submitted
for subsequent ratification by the sover'
eign States whom it affected, before il
shsuld be obligatory or binding, and ther
binding emily on such as should so ratify
it. 1t becomes the people of the South
as we'll as the people Of the North, to b.
quite as watchful and jealous of theil
rights as their common ancestors were.
The maintenance of liberty in all ages
times and countries. when and where i
has existed, has required not only cen
slant vigilance and Jealousy, but 1t ha
often required the greatest privations an,
sacrifices that people or States are eve
subjected to. Through such an ordsa
We are now passing. Through like, ant
even .sverer ordeal, our ancestors passet
in their struggle for the principles which
have devolved upon US thus to defend ant
maintain.