Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-31

'0"Oo Ou ti!e one slue has Oegot VlOiCpC
J. on the other, until, in the confusion q
s the horrid fray, itwould seem that we hav
1 forgotten every other umpirago but th
r sword.
We do not say that National Conver
, ton is practicable in the present aspect @
our political affairs. And if this aspec
could be changed, it might soon appes
that none was necessary for the purpos
OF bringing about practical rcstoratio,
OF the constitutional relation of al tb,
states to the National Government. Anc
, so lar as our own views extend in this di
rectlon, we should not care to see a resor
10 this expcdient until it should be de
monstra6ly clear that the great mass O
tho people OF the South are no less disaE
iected towards "the Constitution as it is
and the Union as it was" than We
know to be the case with the anti-slayery
party Of the North. In that event. with
such concurrence Of antagonism to the
odd Union" we should despair of its res
toration. But as we have recently seen q
great reaction Of public sentiment at the
North, we are not without hope that,
under auspices calculated to produce it,
there might be an equal reaction at tide
South-dispensing with the necessity of
calling National Convention. 1t could
be called only by the concurrent vo leo of
the Legislatures OF two thirds Of The
States uniting in this request at the hands
of Congress, and it would have to be pre-
ceded by an armistice for period long
enough TO permit its assemblage. But If
a National Convention is impossible" !"
what solution Of our complication can
commend itself to the claim of being "pos-
sible ?" President Lincoln and Gen. JEFF
ierson Davis have no right or power to
settle between themselves the terms on
which the nation shall have peace, except
as the former shall ask what the latter
shall agree to accept-tha is, a return Of
the seeded States to their allegiance
under the Constitution, with all the rights
and duties defined by that instru-
ment. But as the terms of Mr.. Lincoln
ignore the constitutional rights of the
seeded States, and as the terms of Gen,
Jefferson Davis ignore their constitutional
duties, it is plain that the negotiation be-
tween the President and the "rebel chief"
according to the idea of the Tribune. are
impossible"
We question whether in the present
stage OF the war there are many who be-
lieve that the policy Of "subjugation and
e9ntscation" is among the possibilities of
words, under the dolifiThf Ui'4ERd.t these
tional phrenzy, are fast coming TO speak
in more rational and sober dialect.
Like the Tribune. we do not disguise
from ourselves the difficulties of the crisis.
With it, We do not affirm that "an imme-
diate settlement of our national troubles
is perfectly feasible, but, as on a former
occasion we know it avowcd o readiness
to soc a National Convention called at the
close Of the war, it has occurred to us that
our contemporary, in whom we recognize
no less sincere than influential advocate
of peace, might bo willing to accept this
arbitrament for the purpose CT closing the
war itself. rs preliminary % such a confer
cacs Of the States il woUld Lc entirely proper
for President Lincoln (or his SucceSSOr) to open
negotiations WiM Gen. Jefferson Davis for an
armistics, based on the principle Of III pos
SidchS during the term Of its continuance,
and which should be concluded for
period long enough TO admit of such
conference for, as the President is Com
mander-iu-Chief of the Army and Navy Of
tho United States, and as Gen. Jefferson
Davis is "the authority which controls the
armies at war against the United States"
it would be entirely competent for them
to conclude an armistice with this end IN
view.
We shall moi be suspected Of wishing
to turn the thoughts Of any from the
things that make for peace when We say
that it is possible for the patrons Of this
boon to allow their zeal TO ontrun their
discretion. Itis easy to cry ''peace, peace"
when there is no peace for, as Napoleon
once, in substance, said, peace is word
the conditions of peace are everything"
When the fountains Of the great deep
have been broken up as they have been
in this distracted country, it would be
idle to expect an immediate and total
subsidcnoe of the surging waters. In the
davs of the Hebrew monarchy under King
David, the sacred historian records that
"tho children of Issachar were men that
hal understanding af the times 10 knolo whdt
Israel Ought to d." Our country is perish
ing for the want of men like the children
of Issachar-men who have understand
ing of the times TO know what the nation
should do.
GA THREATENING FINGER."-It seems
i -. az