Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-09-30
That ultimate Convention.

| AaASS NOnNeMtAOns
The Chicago Convention resolved tina
" liberty and the public welfare demant
that immediate efforts be made for /,
cessation of hostilities with view t,
an ultimate convention of the States.
Suppose that Gen. Grant should agree
to an armistice for three months. Wha
then? Our troops are on the soil of bel
ligerents and must be withdrawn. Ou
fleets now blockading Charleston, viii
mington, Mobile, and other seaports
must be withdrawn. Our gunbOat.
must be withdrawn from the rivers
Think you the South will consent t.
any armistice not governed by the laws
of war? After an armistice, wha
then? The Democracy say an 'ulti
mate convention Of the States" Wha
States? Is Mississippi State? Where
is its government, where its people
Will you have a convention in which
South Carolina shall be represented by
men black with treason and reekine
with the blood of our Union defenders
and stand upon an equality with the re-
presentatives from Iowa? Has any
portion of the people in rebellion asked
for convention? Not man. How
| then do we know they will meet us
They cannot be forced into conven-
ton if we agree to an armistice. Is a
convention of the States tbeirue metho(
for negotiating terms of peace between
government and its insurgents? There
| is no clause in our Constitution which
would authorize such convention
Under our Constitution, if foreign pow
ers or belligerents wish to treat fol
peace they must treat with the Presi
dent. BY that instrument "he has
power by and with the advice and con,
sent of the Senate to make treaties, pro-
vided two thirds of the Senate present
concur. If the rebels, therefore, desire
peace, they have but to cease hostilities
and negotiate with the treaty-na1ing G
power. If the President can make
| terms with them and the Senate shall
ratify those terms, there is an end to
| the whole subject. A convention such
as the Democratic platform proposes
| is unwarranted by our Constitution.
What does the Democratic party eX-
pect to accomplish in such convention
Suppose it is harmonious and the dele
gates from all the States have agreed.
Their action will not bind the States
= ic MT q
national bond and compact. In what
manner shall these terms be binding
upon the nation ?3d You respond, make
them a part Of bur Constitution. But
that instrument authorizes no such
method for amendments The Consti-
tuition provides THAT whenever two
thirds of both houses shall deem it ne
cessary, The, Congress shall propose
amendments, or ON the application of
the Legislatures Of two-thirds of the
several States shall call convention for
proposing amendments, which shall be
Valid" &c. These are the only methods
amended. The Democratic Convention
is, therefore, a farce. But, say they, the
convention We propose is just what is
contemplated in that clause Of the Con-
stitution just quoted. Give us Con-
gress and we will then endeavor to Sc
cure an application for a convention
from two-thirds of the several States.
What States do you include in this pro-
position Do pou propose to let these
rebels lay down their arms long enough
to vote on such an application and then
return to their fighting? Do you pro-
pose to give the rebel States equal
rights and privileges under an arinis-
tice. 1t can never be done with the
consent of the people. When the rebel
armies are dispersed and disbanded,
when the States in rebellion renew their
vows to this Government, they can have
all the peace they want. But if they
will fight, that man is coward, and
disgraces the American name, who
talks of an ultimate convention with
traitors in arms.