Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-10-26

principle The Colonists stWu lustineu De-
fore the world in eliecting their separation
from the mother country. 1t was upon
this principle that the original thirteen
co-eoual and co-soyere'gn States formed
the Federal compact OF the old Union in
l7S7. II is upon the same principle that
the c,-equal and co-sovereign States -four
Confederacy formed their new compact oi
union. ~
The idea that the old Union OF any I'm
ion between sovereign States, consistently
with this fundamental truth, can oe sus-
tanned by force is pteposierops. This war
springs troal an attempt to do this prepos-
ferrous thing. Superior power may com
pel n Union Of some sort, but it would not
be the Union of the old Constitution or OF
our new. Il wonld be that sort of Union
that results from dcspotlsm.
The .suhjngation of the people OF the
South ty the people OF the North would
necessarily involve the destruction OF the
Constitution, and the overthrow OF then
liberties as well as ours. The men or par
IA Mt the North, TO whom you refer, who
favor peace, mus, bo brought to full real
ization o! this truth in all its bearings, be-
fore their efforts will result IN much prac-
tical good Any peace growing out of a
union of States established 10y force will
be as ruinous to them as 10 US.
|, The action Of the Chicago Convention,
SO far as its plat form o. principles goes,
nresents,as have said On another occasion,
ray of light which, under Providence,
may prove the dawn of the day 10 this
long and cherries night; the first ray OF
light | have seen from the North since the
war began. TL.is cheers the heart, and TO-
wards it could almost eXclaim: Hail,
holy Light, offspring of Heaven, tirst-born
of the etc, ual co-eternal team. May
express thee nblamed, since God is light"
Indeed, coulh have quite so exclalm-
ed, but for the sad reflection that wheth-
er il shall bring healing in its beams, or
be lost in dark and ominous eclipse ere
its good work be done, depends so much
upon the action OF others who may not re-
gard it and view it as | do. So at best it
Is but ray, q small and tremulous ray,
enough only to gladden. the heart and
quicken the hope.
The prominent and leading idea Of that
} Convention seems to have been desire to
reach peaceful adjustment of our present
difficulties and strife, through the medium
. of Convention of the States They pro
pose TO suspend hostillties, TO see what
can be done, if anything, by negotiation oI
!, some sort. This is one step in the right
E direction. To such Convention OF the
:, States | should have no objection, rs q
pelceful conference and interchange oi
: views between equal and sovereign Pow
ers, lust as the Convention of 1857 wss
called an,l assembled.
o The properly constituted authorities at
, Washington aud Richmond, the duly au-
r thorised representatives OF the two Con
, federacies Of States now at war with
r each other, might give their assent to
, such prepoSiticn. Good might result
E from it, 1t would be an appeal on both
sides from the sword 10 reason and JUS
!, tice. All wars which do not result in The
:. extinction or determination of one sid,
or the other must be ended sooner or late
! Inv, soma sori, OF neGnt inn'; .,,..,i.,,,..
4 From the discussion or interchange o
@ views in such a Convention, the history a
Il we'll as the true nature of our institution
n and the relation OF the States towards eacl
n other and towards the Federal head
!. would doubtless be much better under
stood generally, than they are now; but
= should favor such proposition only as
p peaceful conference, as the Convention o
v 1877 was. should be opposed 10 Ieavni
the questions at issue TO the absolute dc
"a cision OF such a body.
, Delegates might be clsthed with power
r TO consult and agree, if they could, upoi
10 some plan Of adjustment, to be submitted
,s for subsequent ratification by the sogel
n eigu States " lom it effected, before
a should lJe obligatory or binding, and the
O. binding only on such as should so ratiiy i
r. 1t becomes the people of the SouIh, as we
/, AS The North, 10 be quite as watchful anC
jealous of their rights as their common al
n ceslors were. 80
Ct The maintenance Of liberty in al! age!
Il times and countries, when and where
o- has existed, has required not only cor
! slant vigilance and Jealousy, but it ha
Of often required the greatest privations an
:. sufferings and sacrifices that people O
States are over subjected to. Through sue
At an ordeal we are now passing. Through
es like and even severer ordeal our ancestor
s. passed in their struggle for The principle
h. which it has devolyed upon US 10 deien
of and maintain.
n. But great as our suffering and sacr
h. foes have been and are, to which you a
O. lude, they are not tet of the like sutie
I'd ings and sacr fees which our fathers boz
o. with patience, courage and fortitude IL
.is the crisis that tried mems souls, in the
ne day. These are thea irtues that sustaine
1t them in their hour of need. Their illu
It, trious and glorious example bids US nc
RI TO under estimate the priceless inner
tanco they achieved for US at such a COZ
IN OF treasure and blood.
r. Great as are the odds We are strugglin
10 against, they are not greater than thos
ID against which they successfully struggled
IT. In point Of reverses our condition is not
,i- be compared to theirs. Should Mobil,
Savannah. Charleston Augusta, Macor
n Montgomery, and even Petersburg an
nd Bichmond fall, our condition would n,
to then be worse rless hopeful than thei
n was in the darkest hour that rested c
pi- their fortunes. ..
in With wisdom ON the part of those WI
copIrn1 orr 1aoi;py IL, tho % binaI nu1