Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-23
An Ar1nistice.

n u loA I'LL uIlhiSttCe ID ooiuctiHc'
heard. Let us stop fighting for sa
months, shouts some newspaper or orator
and call Convention. Of the North anc
South, and see if they haven't had enough
OF it, and on what conditions they vii
come back.
1t might be replied to this Suggestion
that the rebels began this work by firing
upon Fort Sumter, have maintained j,
ever since, and do not ask for an arms
tice. The Government is merely main.
tanning its existence, and is ready to stop
fighting the moment its enemies retire
from the contest. Can it honorably cX.
pose itself to the insults as we'll as to the
blows Of the rebels? To this it is an
swered that the question is too grave to
be settled upon points of etiquette, and
that the Government can postpone its dig
nifty until it ascertains whether the rebels
refuse offers Of conciiatiou.
But no Government can postpone its
dignity without fatal harm. If Con-
yention should be offered and spurned,
the result would not be the union Of the
North, as prophesied-it would be loyal
Indignation with the weakness Of the
Government, ard copperhead assertion
that it was the fault OF the Government
that the project failed. Whatever the
issue Of the proposition the Government
must lose. If it were refusal, the entire
responsibility would be thrown upon it by
its enemies. If it were accepted, who
would guarantee that the rebels would
abide by the-result of the Convention p
They believe absolutely in State rights !;
are they likely to relinquish that faith
upon cur summons, who have been fight
ing them upon that very point for three
years? If they say they will relinquish
it, does anybody propose to believe
them
Or again,are any better terms Of union
possible than the Constitution oil the Uni
ted States, which the rebels repudiate p
The rebellion is not now u new thing in
intention. They plead total incompati-
billy Of political conviction and social
principle with us. The whole generation
Of fighting men among them has been
carefully educated in that belief. They
think that the tendency of the country
under the Constitution is to the dcstruct-
ion of those convictions and principles
In the midst of war i'll which they yet
have great armies in the field, are they
likely to change their belief at the invi-
tation Of those whom they regard as enc
mics?
They would use armisticc to strengthen
their lines; their allies, tho eopperheada
among ourselves, would use it to distract
and divide the North and if the negoti-
atlons failed it would be found, as i: al
ways is, that the proposcr of the armis-
tce had lost all its advantages. The
rebels discuss these thn.s as we'll as we.
The Richmond Examiner warns the
Chicago Convention that the only chance
OF its party lies in proposing an armistice
aud upon what conditions ! These: ga
tomal remuneration Of all right and pre-.
tense to coercc these States and, OF
course, an entire withdrawal Of all land
and sea forces" Then, says the paper
the Northern States will be in condition
to propose Reconstruction and u conven.
tion to negotiate the terms.
What is this but asking us to concedc
that States have the right to secedc-that
the Union is dissolved, and that new
convention may decide upon new Con
stitution? The Examiner does not
promise Il favorable result Of such poll.
cy; but it will be observed that it doe,
not insist upon separation. Why should
it, since by the very terms precedent
separation is conceded? When we allow
that the old Union is gone, they proes:
their possible willingness to consider the
formation of new one. But if they
think it unadvisable to form new one
we shall have renounced the right to co
cree States.
This is the feast to which tan armis
tice" invites US ; and does any body seri
ously suppose the rebels will meet us il
convention while our armies and navie,
are upon the Southern coasts and in tn,
Southern centres This war will end il
one OF two ways; either the rebellion
will overthrow the Government, or the
Government will subdue the rebellion
Huper's Weekly.