Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-17

Ashort tifne prior to the election, it viii
betremembered that Mr.. Wv. Boyce, OF
South Carolina, a member Of the rebel Com
gress, and leading southern politician, pub
lished letters fayofing an effort on she part
Of the South to obtain peace. In them ne
alluded favorahly 20 che action of the ,Chica-
90 Convention and intimate6 hope that, by
the election of Mcclellan, way would be
opened for putting an end to the~Present
bloody war
These letters occasioned good deal OF ex-
element at the South and comment at the
North. The radical southern press denounced
their author as reconstructionist, and the
Copperheads quoted him as an evidence OF
he.existence-o of party, in the linsurreetiop-
ary States ready to join hands with the
Northern Democrats and restore the Union
upon the basis of the Chicago platform.
Since. the election, Mr.. Boyce has appeared
before his constituents andA made an elabo-
rate speech in defence of his course. In it
he defined his positions stating that his con-
duct in writing the letters was purely diplo-
matte, and designed to strengthen the Democratic
marta and digidsMs Norh ;lthat hesneyers IN
tended reconstruction of the Union upon
any basis and that in his last letter to JET
PERSON DAVIS he omitted mention Of Confederate
,i,dspendSacessimpts from strategic reasons, be-
cause it would be time enough for the North
to learn that the South would accept nothing
short of separationwhen it had been duped
into Convention.
Furthermore, he assures his constituents
that he hoped to help the election ofNMc-
CLELLAN, because it, in connection with the
Chicago Platform, would facilitate the pur-
poses of the South, that he had aimed at d.
viding the Northwestern from the Eastern
States, and that when this should be accom-
plished, he was in favor of offering induce
ments to the Northwest to enter the Confed-
crate alliance, and drive the New England
ers into Canadaior the ocean.
We extract from his speech, Mr.. BoYCEs
view of the Chicago platform:
What does that platform say? Il says
"negotiate," negotiate" and though 1t does
not give up the UNION, you tdhhOe NAPSSo
il to do more. That platform has been
carefully prepared, and Tie sentiments OF The
,ae,, aoio support are very aceH k'aol''s to as.
II is true Mcclellan has indicated that he
cannot consent o,peace unless based upon
the idea of reconstruction; but, doubtless Nc
Clelldn Oas playing for Uotes. w
He thus shows the consequence Of the
Democratic armistice:
"Now suppose that has taken place, what
is effected? The first thing is that the inde-
pendence and sovereignty of the States is ac-
knowledged, the great principle for which we
have contended = that principle, without
which, we could not carry on the war. Look
at this armistice: peace by land, peace by
water, and the blockade open! Who can
estimate the advantage of raising the block.
adel Why, gentlemen, time for as IS vieto'y'
1t is evident that Mr.. BoYcE is a very fl
man to cooperate with the Northern faction
that assumed the name of the Democratic
party in the late election. Fortunately, how
ever, the people of the North were as saga
cious in discovering the true intent and pur
pose of the Chicago platform as was Mr.
BoYCE, and so all his diplomatic plotting'
! vrara vaSfad sel - secs