Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-09-30
THE REBEL HENRY s. FOoTE ON THE
CHICAGO PLATFORM, SO: .'

THE REBEL HENRY s. FooTE ON TIL
CHICAGO PLATFORM, go: IT,
The Richmond Wing of the 9th publishes
letter from Henry s. Foote, member Of the rebe
Congress from Tennessee, from which we extrac
the following:
The Chicago Convention has now nominated
It's candidates for the Presidency and Vic,
Presidency. and enpneiated a platform Of prIn
oiples. The action Of that body seems to have
been we'll nigh unanimous in regard to all i'm
portant questions. ] hold il to be most certain,
whatever opinion may be uttered in certain
quarters to the contrary, that this platform is
in distinct and irreconcilable opposition to the
further prosecution Of lhe war for any purpose
whatever; the second resolution Of said plat
form is of unmistakable import aud how any
man Of discerning mind can entertain dferen
view OF the matter, am at o loss to conceive
The resolution referred to, in the most emphat 10
manner, denounces the "experiment Of war;" as
means Of restoring the Union declares that
'Justice, humanity, liberty and the public well
fare, demand that immediate efforts be made for
q cessation of bostilties !" that though the most
earnest desire is expressed for the restoration
OF tho Uuion by peaceable means, there is not
the least hint OF intended constraint Of any kind
whatever. 1t is true that the same resolution
suggests the expedient of "COnyention OF all
that at the earliest practicable moment peace
may be restored on the basis of Federal Union
OF oil the States" Surely this ought not at all
70 alarm usi no coercive instrumentalties arc
TO be resortod to, to compel US to a reunion
there is plainly no reason TO be offended with the
members Of tie Convention, because c0ndemninR
this atrocious war, sympathizug with US in our
grievances under it's operation, and panied at
being, as even they must suppose, separated
from us forever by that very war, they yet
deplore that separation, and are sincerely desir-
GUS Cf getting into friendly and advantageous
association with us once more
Did our own rabid anti-peaoe men desire the
Chicago Convention to denounce the south, 10
declare u. unworthy to be connected with the
States represented in that body, and to exhibit
an inSinolble opposition TO the renewing of the |
former confraiernal ties In relation to the |
Convention Of States suggested, such a BODY |
could, Of course, be only consultative in It's |
characters could not be expected TO supetcede,
altogether, the two executive departments now
entrusted with the treaiy-makiug power, and
could only be expected, in tho first instance at
least, to remove all existing lnpediments to a
free and upobstruoted diplomatic intercourse
between those in power in Richmond and in
washington. ! cannot conceive how this could
possibly do our noble cause any detriment what
ever; it's intrinsic excellence is such that we
could not fail to derive great advantage from a
Tree and open discussion of all existing points of
Inference; and, however may feel on the sub.
jet should not be 10 the least afraid to allow
the august sovereign States which compose our
eontedeTacy, by delegates deliberately chosen by
them, to make known their views ami wishes in
regard to all matters which could legitimately
arise in such convention. In relation to the
danger OF our people being seduced by the cor
ventlonal expedent into reconstruction under
the Federal Constitution, those who ienr this
eau know but little Of the character aud settled
opiuions Of our people, and evince o dstrust of
their capacity for self government, which they
have done nothing to justify. As to tho nolni
nees at Chicago, shall say nothing but this;
McClellan's general availability as candidate
Is undoubted; his willingness to run upon a
genuine pence platform commits him fully as 10
his future action in the event of his election.
and his association with Mr.. Pendleton, OF Ohio
whose Outspoken peace proolivilies are 20 well
known, "make assurance douby sure" in regard
10 the course OF any administration at the head
9t which no might DO placed.
Should the Chicago nominee be defeated as
believe TO be scarcely possible, such a result
would be so clearly attributable to force, or
fraud on the part OF the unprinciplel faction
now in power, that it could not be reasonably
expected that the great body OF the States Rights
Democracy OF the north, now 30 fully and de-
l6erately committed to inhexible opposition to
the atrocious despotism organized in Washington
City, would be found willing 10 submit to that
dcspotism for four years more. | venture to
predict, therefore, that should Mcclellan and
Pendlclon be defeated, the States in which tho
hopubican Presidential ticket shall be found to
have failed, with view 10 securing themselves
from threatened enslavement, will themselves
promptly secede from the Federal Union that
one or more new confederacies, based on true
state Rights principles, will be Immediately
formed, which must naturally seek military
alliance with the confederate States, after which,
as is most manifest, this most unnatural aud
exhauSting war would be soon promptly brought
to an end.