The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-21

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upon the state OF the country and the settle
ment of our difficulties that he would give
the Governor passport through the lines with
an escort, if desired to 90 and return at such
time as might be agreeable to him that he
General Shermen recognized him Governor
Brown as the Governor of the whole State,
and as over one hundred miles Of the territory
of the State is now behind his lines, he (Gener-
al Sherman) would allow the Governor to go
and visit his people in the rear if he desired to
look after their condition, and return at his
pleasure-that he would receive him and all
other distinguished Georgans at his headquar-
tiers and treat them with the respect and con-
sideratiOn due their positions during the con-
ference which he invted-that he did not wish
to be compelled to overrun and desol;tte more
of the territory of the State, etc.
GOV. BROWNS RKPLy.
After hearing the statement of \
king, the Governor replied:
Please make to Gen Sherman my acknowl-
edgment of my obligation for the personal
courteses which you say he proposes to ex-
tend to me- But as he is only general CON-
handing an army in the field, and the Gov
ernOr Of a State, neither the constitution of
his country nor of my own cOnfers upon us
any power to negotiate treaty of peace. We
probably hold but few sentiments in common
II,
would have power to bind no one by any COM
pact we might make. As our interview could,
therefore, result in nothing practical, l must
decline the invitation. While the portion of
the State now in the rear of General Sherman's
army is held by him, and the execution of the
laws of the State suspended by armed force,
know of no service which | could render to
the people of that section by a personal visit.
If | could better their condition or mitigate
their sutfcrings, l would, on their account,
cheerfully go at the expense of any incOnve-
nience or personal sacrifice which the trip
might cost me.
To the remark that Gen. Sherman does not
wish to be compelled to overrun and desolatc
more of the territory of Georgia, reply that
no compulsion rests upon him to attempt this,
unless it be the cruel orders of his government.
If he makes the effort, he will find much
greater difficulties in the way of his advance
for the next hundred miles than those en-
cOuntered during the march from Dalton to
Atlanta. Georgia may possibly be overrun,
but can never be subjugated, and her people
will never treat with cOnquerOr upon her
soil AS a sovereign State she had the I'M
doubted right to dissolve her connection with
the government Of the United States when the
compact had been violated by the other States
of the Confederacy. and to form new COM
pact, which she has done. She is as sOyer-
eign to-day as she was the day she seeded
llOul tuC Olu CulOu, Luu las Vic StbllC DOWCi.
by convention of ther people, which she
then had TO resume all delegated powers and
all the attributes OF sovereignty, and then to de-
clare war, negotiate treaties of peace and do
all other acts which a sovereign State may do.
While this power rests in her people, who are
the original source of all sovereignty, her
constitution, formed by them, has conferred no
such power upon her Governor.
The fact must not be overlooked, however,
that while Georgia possesses the sovereign
power to act separately, her faith, which new
er has, and | trust never will be violated, is
pledged by strong implication, to her southern
sisters, that she will not exercise this power
without concent on their part and concert of
| action with them. In league with her south
ern sister States, she entered into this contest
with full knowledge of all responsibilities
which attached to the act; and come veal or
woe, she will never withdraw from il in dishOn-
or. However unequal may be the proportion
of suffering or sacrifice which her people may
have to endure, she will never make separate
terms with the enemy which may free her ter
ritOry from invasion and leave her cOnfedcr-
ates in the lurcl. Whatever may be the opin-
ion of her people as to the justice done her by
the Confederate administration. She will tr-
| umph with her Confederate sisters, or she will
sink with them in common ruin. The intel
ligent people of Georgia already understand
and our enemy will soon learn that the indie
ChpTcSSlOU vi Ol LnC aU-
mnstratiOn is one thing, and dislOyaltv to our
sacred cause is another and quite a different
thing. While the people of Georgia think for
thcnls elves, and will not blindly applaud the
niSmanagement of their rulers, they will new
cr violate principle for cypediency, nor accept
dishOnOr for reward
The foundation of our government and the
liberties OF the people rest upon the sovereign
ty of the States as their chief corner stone.
Destroy the sovereignty of the States and the
whole fabric falls to the ground, and central
lied power with military despOtism takes the
place of constitutional liberty.
When the passions of the people North and
South have sufficiently subsidized, we may
make peace by negotiation, but never 10y the
sword.
If Mr.. Lincoln would have peace and pros
perity re-establishcd on firm basis, let him
stop the war; and planting himself upon the
principles of the Declaration of Independence
of 1916, let him recognize the sovereignty of
the States, and agree to leave each sovereign
State to determine for herself, by a convention
OF her people, whose delegates shall be fairly
chosen 10y the legal voters OF the State, with
out military interference or Intimidation
whether she will remain in, or, if out, return
to the old Union, or adhere to her present
league.
There may be doubts whether Kentucky
Missouri, and probably other States desire to
continue their connection with the United
States or to cast their lot with the COnfeder-
ate States; The only just mode of solving
these doubts is the one above indicated. II
these or any other of the southern States should
in solemn convention decide to 90 with the
United States ueithcr the Confederate govern
ment nor the other States can object. We
cannot govern Kentucky, for instance. against
her will unless we can subjugate her This
we have no power to do with the northern
States at her back and if we had the powcr.
we have no right to coerce a sovereign State
into connection which is not of her own
choice. If this were Gone we must in the fin.
turc, govern her people by the bayonct, which
would convert our rcplblicansm into the
worst species OF despotism. So it must be in
the North if Mr.. Lincoln should succeed in his
policy oic0nqucling Us.
II We were oyer.un, and for g time subIued,