The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-10-26
Alexander q. Stephens OF Peace.

The Rebels Of the South and the Peace
men Of the North are working together for
one common object-the defeat Of Abraham
Lincoln. It Is natural therefore, that they
should nv 10 belp each other, the success
Of each being a gain 10 the other.
The Peace men. as a help 10 the rebels,
proposed at Chicago a Convention Of al
the States. In response 70 this. the Vice
President Of the Confederacy has written
long letter. approving the project. but Civ
ing il a form and shape which shall retain
the COnfederacy intact, with additions 10 ii
while the union Of the Loyal States will be
totally Dissolved. The gist OF the whole let
Ter is shown by this brief extract:
To such a convention II the States |
should have no objection, a. q peaceful con-
ference AMI interchange OF views between
equal and S0rersigR POirsTS. Just a. the
convention Of l7S7 was called and assem-
blel. From the discussion, or in
+ terchange Of views in such a convention.
the history as We'll a the true nature Of OUT
institutions. and the relation Of the States
+ toward each other and toward the Fed
eral head. would doubtless be much better
understood generally than they are now
1 but | would favor such proposition only
a. a peaceful conference a. the convention
: of l7s7 was. / should be opposed TO leav
ing the question IL issue 10 the absolute de-
cision of such a body. Delegates might be
clothed with powers 10 consult and agree
~ Ney c0uld. upon some plan OF adjustment
10 be substituted for subsequent ratification
by the sovereign states whom II affected
before il would be obligatory or binding
and then binding only OH such as should $
raffy IL"
Here il viii be seen that he is Tor Con
yention Of states only III their capacity G
sovereign Powers He wants no othe
sind Of Convention. He wants q Conyen
ton 10 form ne1c Constitution. This Con
stitution. when formed is To be - bndin
only Oh such states a. should ratiiy it, c
course all the rebel states would agree o.
their present Constitution; it is just wha
+ they are fighting for; and they would coax
more il they could; but if Michigan an
New England. for instance, would not rat
! is the new Constitution, what then wOul
= happen. Why, they would all be left OF
3 in the cold. 10 take care of themselves Z
-hey pleased disorganized and broken u
as nation. while the Southern Confeder;
cy would be a compact. organized nation
? whose independence, according 10 the tern
! upon which We entered the convention
T. all the Loval states would be bound TO r.
-pect. Hence Mr.. Stephens thinks he se'
/ in such a convention "a rag or hope " f
-. the Confederacy. and would favor ii. Il
e concludes a. follows:
: The chief aid and encouragement lre ca
! gre he Peacs party OF me North, is
keep before them these great fundament
, principles which alone will lead them al
= us 10 Il permanent and lasting peace VII
i the enjoyment of constitutional liberty.
= With these principles once recognized. Il
future would take care Of itrelf The
would be no more war so long As th'
should be adhered 10. All questions
boundaries Coniederacies and Union
Unions would naturally and easily adju
ID. themselves. according 70 the interests
- the parties and the eXigencies Of the time
:. Herein lies the true law OF the balance
= power and the harmony Of the states.
This proposition may he 81 ated in a slug
Z sentence thus: Throw away the prese
Constitution and government Of the init
' states TO begin with; then let the Stat
make as many Confeieracies and Unions
Al they can agree upon, every one being fir
p to choose lis own road to happiness al
Il prosperity.
u Here We have the Southern reply to I
- Peace Convention at Chicago. This
If what the rebel States would advocate a
d. do If the Convention Of All the States We
~ held
.. Are We prepared to adopt such 4 rene
81 a. tlis for our national troubles,