, 1864-08-26
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2e, 1854.
About the Chicago Convention.

If we may inter from the signs OF the times In
the East, anything in relation to what will be
the result of the Chicago Convention, which
will meet the 29th inst, it is, that the Conven-
ton will adopt the most available Peace Plat
form. The nominations, we judge, will be an
easier matter with the Convention, than har-
monizing the different factions so as to enable
them to adopt platform which will be accept
able to the Convention and the people they rep7a
resent. One year ago, the War Democrats were
in the majority, and had National Convention
been held at that time representing the entire
Democratic strength of the country, there can
be but little doubt that War Platform would
have been the result. But since that time great
changes have been wrought in the military sit
uation and in the councils of the nation, and a
corresponding change has taken place in the
democratic ranks, and we scarcely need mem
ton, what must be apparent to every one, that
this change has been from War to Peace De-
mocracy. The most prominent causes of this
result we max attribute to the radical legisla-
ton enadlsd b5 the recent Congress, giving out
to the world that the war was being prosecuted
for subjuga tionand conquest of the South, and
the coniscationbf III her property-for the over
throw of State institutions in the rebel States
and the centralizing of that political power to
he welded in the hands of the Federal Govern
mentor the elevation of the negroes to politi-
cal equality with the whites, and much other
radical legislation of a similar nature enacted
by Congress and with the sanction of the party
in power Legislation, too, exactly antagonis-
tic to that enacted by previous sessions, from
the commencement of the war. The President,
too, has kept pace with the radicalism of the
times, having finally put his foot down, debar-
ring any hope of a return of peace until the re-
bellious States abandon Slavery-an institution
local in its nature and clearly beyond the prov
ince of federal dictaton or interference. All
these things combined have discouraged the
hope, at least with many war democrats, that
the Union can be restored by war, in the face
of these facts. The military situation is no
more favorable now for the suppression of the
rebellion than it was one year ago, if, indeed,
it is as favorable, while the enormous public
debt-increasing at the rate of $4,000, 900 per
day, threatens to swallow up the entire wealth
of the country. The Draft, too, which will
soon be ordered in the States, is having its in
luence in favor of peace. In short, everything
is in favor of the Democratic Peace party while
there is no stimulant or incentive whatever to
arouse the War Democracy. In view of these
facts, taken together with the general tone of
the Democratic and Conservative journals, we
are impressed with the opinion that peace
platform will be adopted by the Chicago Con-
vention. By peace platform, we mean one
which proposes an armistice or cessation of hos
tilities for stated period of time, and also
-------.ion OF UeIegares representing all the
States, in the meantime to assemble f0r the ipp4-
pose of compromising the existing troubles and
again uniting the States and cementing the
Union upon the principles of the Federal Con-
stitution. Even this plan, if put into practice,
might not meet with any success. Still, we
cannot see that it would be productive of any
harm, while there would be left the privilege of
again resorting to arms, in the event of a fall
ure. The War Democracy have labored here
tofore increasingly with a view to change our
radical rulers and their destructive policy, for
conservative rulers and political policy which
would again unite the North in maintaining the
supremacy of the Constitution and laws and
by so doing weaken the strength of the rebel
lion. But the subjugating, 'exterminating pol
icy of the party in power has made the war
conducted upon any basis whatever, consti-
tutionaI or unconstitutional-so unpopular at
the North that it would be difficult to again
rally the people with anything like unanimity
to its support. We have abundant evidence
from all quarters that the war democracy view
the question in that light. They further take
to successful issue, with the Constitution and
the Union preserved, it must have the full sane
ton and cooperation of the masses of the peo-
pie in the free States, otherwise it must prove
abortive in the end. This view seems entirely
rational, taking the result of the past spring
and summers campaign in the field as basis
from which to draw deductions. For these
and many other reasons, which might be given
in a more extended article we infer that the
Peace Democracy will be the controlling ele-
ment in Chicago Convention, and hence peace
platform the result. In any event, the factions
of Democracy must harmonize in the Conven-
tion and unite upon some platform other, or
else forever afterwards hold their peace in re-
gard to their much cherished and boasted prin-
ciples of "conciliation" and compromise" for,
if War and Peace Democrats cannot unite
when assembled peacefully in Convention, and
at a time too when there is really so little diff
ference between them, they never can unite
their own parties, much less conciliate matters
with the rebels at the South.
PAST BE11EF.-A Correspondent, writing to
the "Golden Age' from. Fisherville, Kootenai
mines, says new mines have been discovered
on creek short distance from Fisherville
which for the distance of four or five miles pay
very well. One company took out eighty oun-
ces of gold in one day; and SO far, he says, as
prospected, the hills bid fair to pay even better
than the creek. Notwithstanding the Cores
pondent says that what he writes may be relied
upon as being "true and correct, eighty ounces
taken out of the creek by one Company in one
IL :. = IL III LII.