Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-08-27
SATURDAY MORNING. AUG. 81, 1864.
The Chicago democratic" Convention

The Chicago democratic" Convention
Meets at Chicago on Monday next, unless
the political wirs-workers, having failed to
cause any particular diversion in favor of
their rebel allies, shall again postpone it. with
the .ope that Grant will be compelled to
withdraw his. forces from the neighborhood Of
Richmond, and Sherman be driven out Of
Georgia. It will be remembered that the
Convention was originally called 10 meet on
the 4th of July. 1t was found in June. that
Grant was steadily driving Lee back OH his
defences at Richmond and Petersburg, and
that Sherman was rapidly advancing upon At
lanta. the very heart Of the Confederacy;
consequently, after consulting with their rebel
friends assembled in Canada, the Convention
was postponed until the 2o:h of August, to
give time for better maturing the conspiracy
then in progress under the leadership of VAL
landigham, who had just returned from exile.
In looking back upon what has transpired
during the past six weeks, it will be seen that
there has been most extraordinary effort
made on the pant of Gen. Lee, to obtain a
yictory over Grant and Sherman, and failing
in this he hazards the capture of Richmond
by detaching large force for the invasion OF
Maryland and Pennsylvania, aud to menace
Washington. Results have demonstrated
that this was done mainly for its effect upon
the public mind at the North, and by way Of
encouraging their friends 10 raise the standard
of rebellion, and set at open defiance the au-
thority of the Government. 1t must BE- evi.
dent to every intelligent mind that Gen. Lee
could have had no expectation of benefit from
the invasion sufficient to justify the imminent
risk he incurred of losing all, if he had not be-
lieved that thousands Of disaffectcd Demo-
Gratis would flock to his cause, and thus enable
him to obtain from the Administration at
Washington, at the point of the bayonet, the
terms Of settlement proposed by the Northern
democracy" and which the great majority
Of the people have so emphatically repudiated.
Events are transporting on this coast every
day which justify the conclusion that some
movement is confidently expected within the
next few weeks which will produce magic
change in the public sentiment Of the country,
and which will render certain the defeat Of
Mr.. Lincoln and the election of "Demo-
Graz" to DO Immediately followed by restor-
alton of "the Union as it was, under the Con.
stitution as it is'-thc plain English Of which
is, that " Democrat is to be elected Presi-
dent. on platform offering acceptable terms
Of settlement to the South, the main feat.res
Of which will be the perpetuation Of slavery,
and the assumption of the debt Of both Sec
tons or the population Of all. on the ground
that one is as just and equitable as the
other. The fact that leading democrats"
in our town have recently given expression to
these sentiments aud the opinion that we
would be compelled to offer more favorable
terms to the South than have yet been pro.
posed to save the Government from overthrow.
jusifes the belief that physical force is seri.
ously contemplated. 1t is certain that no
harm can result from wakeful vigilance by
the friends OF the Administration, for If its
power and authority is once successfully re-
sisted by force. the Government is at an end
and the North at he mercy of the slave arts
toeracy.
The charge is now boldly made BY the
Democratic" leaders that President Lincoln
is usurper; that he is prosecuting an uu.
righteous war upon the South in violation Of
the Constitution, and they threaten armed ~
sis:anee to his authority. ii net exercised in
accordance with ihsir views and opinions
II shi. is no. technically sresfon 10 the Gov
eminent. the eff-cs Of it is TO encourage the
Ssush to Persevese in their rebellion. We
think IL 10 giving substantial aid and comfort
to the enemy. and ~ell deserves the punish
men. due 10 treason.
We hope che line 1t demarkation between
the friesd. and the enemies Of the Govern.
n-ai vii he distinctly drawn q, Chicago. on
Monday next. II tl.is 10 fairly done. BY the
t,r'9n Of T aer platform. VIC shall have