The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-15
4 M11ToN1c APosTRopHE.


CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ca, Sept. %, 1864. .--Gentlo-
mon ;-fou will uiease excuse me Tor not answering
your letter OF the i4ih have been absent
nearly week a visit TO my brother IN Sparta,
who has been quito out OF health Tor some timo.
1oar letter / found here on my return horne yost5r
day. The delay Of my reply thus occasionod regret
without further explanation or apology allow mo
now to say 70 you that person living can posably
feel ardent desire for end 10 be put to this
unnatural and moTeioss war upon honorable and
lust terms than do. But really do not see that
1t It in my power your1. that Of rny number Of
persons in our position, to nauEurae any movement
that will even tend 10 MD In bringing about a result
that we and so many more desire.
Tho movement by our Legislature AZ it, last sos
pion at the cugrosiion OF the Executive, this
subject, was by authority properly constituted for
such purpose.
That movement, in my Judgment, was timely, judi
eious and in the right direction. Nor has 1t been
without results. The ORGANIZATION of that party at
the n orth TO which you refer may justly be canned
Rs Part OF the fruits OF it. These, Il to be hoped
will be followed by others OF more marked char
hetcrf al in both scetons who sincerely desire peace
upon correct terms will give that movement thus in.
aueurated all the aid in their power.
The resolutions of the Georgia Legislature, at ts
last session, upon the subject OF peace, In my judg
ment, mbodied and eet forth very clearly those
principles upon which alone there can be permanent
peace between the different sections this extensive
once happy and prosperous, but now distracted
country.
Easy and perfect solutions to all present troubles
and those lar more Frlevous which loom in
prospect, and portentously threaten in the coming
future, is nothing more than tho simple rocogni-
ton OF the fundamental principle and truth upon
which all American constitutional lbertyis founded
and upon the maintenance of which alone it can be
preserVed-that is, the sovereignty, the ultimate
asbolute sovereignty of tho States. This doctrine
oar Legislature announced TO the people at the
North aud to tho world 1t Is the only keynote to
peaoe-permanebt, lasting consistent with
tho security OF the public liberty.
The old Confederation formed upon this prin-
oiple. The old Union was afterwards formed upon
this principle. No league can ever be formed
maintained between any State, North or South, &C.
curing public liberty, upon any other principle.
The whole framework of American institutions,
which in so short a time Ind won tine admiration OF
the world and TO which We were indebted for such
an unparalleled career OF prosperity and happiness
was formed upon this principle, All our present
troubles sprung rom q departure from this pTinci-
cipc, from violation of this essential law of our
political orgau izGtion.
In1776 ancestors and the ancestors of those who
are waging this unholy crusade against together
proclaimed tho great aud eternal truth Tor main
terance OF which they Jointly pledged their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor, that Co
vernments instituted amongst men, deriving their
Just powers from the consent OF the governed, and
that whenever any toIm OF government becomes de-
struetiye those ends for which it formed it is
the right OF the people alter abolish IL and in
stitute new Government, laying its foundations on
such principles, and organizing its powers In such
form TO them may seem most likely 10 edect their
safety and happiness.
Itis needless hore to state that by "people," and
governed in this annunciation. is meant communi-
ties and bodies OF capable OF organizing land
maintaining Government not individual members
Of society. The consent OF tho governed refers TO
the will of the OF the community State In its
OsRanized form and ovr-osssd tiun5i' IA Ia0iti-
matt properly constituted organs. IL was upon
this principle the Coonists stood justified before the
world IN e1eciing their separation from the mother
country. 1t upon this principle that the origi-
nal thirteen cOcqual and cO-sOyereRn States formed
the Federal compact of the old Union in 1857 It Is
upon the principle that ho present coequal and
cosoveTeign States OF our Conioderacy formed their
new compact OF union.
The idea that the old Union or any Union between
sovereign States, consistently with this tunda-
mental truth, be maintained by force is propos-
ferrous This war springs from an attempt to do this
prepOsterous thing. Superior power may compel
Union OF some sort, but II would not he the Union OF
the old Constitution or of our new. IL would be that
sort OF Union that resuts from deEpotism
The subjugation OF the people OF the South by the
people of the North would necessarily involve the
destruction OF the Constitution, aud the overthrow
of their literties wen as ours. The men party
at the North, TO whom ) ou refer who favor peace,
must be brought TO n ul realization OF tins truth in
ali lie bearings before their efforts viii result in
much practical Eood Any peace growing out of a
union oil States established by iorce VIII Dc as
Tuinous 70 them Rs 20 us. I.t
The action Of the Chicago Convention, so tar as
its platform OF principles goes, presents as have
said on another occasion ray OF light, which, un-
der Providence, may prove the dawn Of the day to
this long and cherries night the first ray OF hight
have seen from the North since the war began. This
cheers the heart, and towards 1t could almost ex.
claim, ~Hail, holy light offspring OF Heaven, first
born Of the eternal eooternal beam. May express
thee Unbalanced, aimee God is light"
Indeed, ] could nave quite so exclaimed, but for
the sad reflection that whether Il shall bring healing
In its beamsIor be lost q dark and ominOus eclipse
ere its good work 10 done, depends much upon
the action of others who mny not regard II and view
has do. So Rt best 1t Is but a ray, small and
remulous raw, enough only 10 giaddon the heart
and quicken the hope.
The prominent and leading idea of that Conven-
ton seems TO have been desire TO reach peaceful
adjustment OF our present difficulties and strife
through the medium OF oOEVOcatOn OF the States.
They propose TO suspend hostides, 10 see what can
b0 DONE II any thing, by negotiations OF sort.
This is one step In the right direction. 70 such
Convention or the States should have objection
Rs peAceini conference and Interchange OF Views
between equal and sovereign Powers just as the
Convention Of 17a was called and assembled.
The properly constituted authorities St Washing
ton and Richmond, the duly authorized representa-
tves of tho two confoderacies Of States now at
with each other might give their assent 70 such
proposition. Coed might result from It, II would
De an Appea on Dcth sides from the eWord 20 reason
and justice, An wars which dc not result in the
extinction or determination OF one side or the
other must be ended sooner or later by som0sO1 OF
negotiation.
From the discussion or interchange of views in
such Convention. the history as well a. tho true
nature OF our institutions and the relation Of the
States toward each other and towards the federal
head, would doubtless be much better undent0od,
generally than they now are; but 1 should favor
such proposition only peaceful conference as
tne Convention of lTS7 was. / should be opposed
70 leaving the questions at issue 60 the absolute do
ea.lon OF such body. lH.
delegates might be clothed with powers to CON
As Ano sgres, n they could, upon some plan of Rd.
S-ens, 70 Be submitted for subsequent ratification
Shons SoVefegn States whom IL affected, before II
onSv -, y obligatory or binding. and then binding
,,ecD,s - Soa S should 90 rAtily H. II becomes the
tsor.h ~ ee South. ss well "a the poople Of tho
~sht. AZ qolie ~ watehful ano Jealous of their
~ .'sN. I eoulnon ancestor were
-s.to- .-Sv Ss.Aev q liberty IN all are. tros. and
I. os, - ".In a 1Ao wnsreh nas er,stsN 80 -
qured not only constant viE,l.ns' mas re-
Il has often required the greatest Dut
ferins and sacrifices taAt poope or s.sss ana sui'
subjected to. Through such an oFaesi ~ sfe ever
passing. TbrouRh Ike and even sever,r os ~ now
ancestors passed in their struggle Tor ths rs our
which Il has deFolveo upon Us thus 20 def.na -