, 1865-03-11

the President as be waa before the net Of Con-
Rrtbs and his appointment under It, and the
President nav aG .auv moment h15frate his
plans by orders Whch iie.at ne y oSlis9a ~ 70
dent OF this power over MI The generals IN the
Confederate service, including. the gangsal-in-
chief This power is conferred by the CousA-
fuficn. and cau only be taken away by an
amendment OF that instrument. These
cbapges may be made without tho e9ils of
futidh provides for its own ameudmsnt. The
remedy is perfectly peaceful. It declares that
upon The demand OF nny three States, legally
assembled in their several conventions, Con
g1ess shall summon convention oi ait the
States 10 take into consideration such amend
.nents to the Constitution as the Said States
shall concur In suggesting at the time when
said demand is made. Il Is perfectly legisi-
mate and proper ior three States to demand
such Convention, whenever, in the opinion Of
their people, pnb]ic good or the common SAFE
~ require it. In my opinion the best inter-
ests o1 the country rcqalre that such con-
vtntion meet with IS little delay as possible.
tioa rs will reform abuses by Settlfng dtspu-
ted points, and effect speedy and thorough
change of policy In conducting the war and
filling up and sustaining our armies. I am
not afraid to trust the. people in conTcution.
therefore recommend the call Of q convention
Of the people-of this State, for the purpose Of
proposing such amendments to the Consti-
tuition as wilt relieve the President Of ht5 re-
sponsibility as commander -in-chief Of the
armies, and viii provide for the appointment
of c0mmarder-lu chief In time oi war, and
to propose such other amendments md do
such o'1er acts as will correct abuses and
afford remedies for grievances here1nbefore
stated. also recommend that TINS ge4eFal
assembly appoint commissioners to esch Of
tho other States Of the Confedefacy, request,
Ing them to assemble in convention at an
carly DAY to demand of Congress the call Of
a convention Of all the States, for the pur-
poses above specified. The speedy adoption
Of this policy is, In my Judgment, indlspcns-
able to the achievement Of our Independence,
and the maintainanco Of the great principle
Of State sovereignty and constitutional llbe.-
ty Thtch5underlle The foundation OF our fed
erative aystcm Of government, gave being to
cur present confederation Of States, nnd are
absolutely necessary to the future prosperity
and happiness Of our people. Dy the CON
ton, as it now stands, By those who
administer the. Confederate government,
these great principles havc been disre-
eutded, and the sovereignty Of the Stat:s,
and rights Of the people, lost sight Of In the
great struggle furindcpendence. Tbs achieve
great end and only good aimed ct, By those
who Eicld the power at Richmond. We hare
been told from the halls OF Congress that
Comts must be closed and State lines oblise~
rated, if necessary, to accomplish this object.
Indeed, some persons N authority sem TO hare
to5got that ~ gre gAtnN ,g for a aAh'"a oas =;
rain, Jor 4re had Mat NTH the Old Golernnseat,
uAiM ,fas or Government, ,eonsecratfd oy tae
blood Of our ancestors. and traasnalfe3 from sire
to son. IFt aNre fndcpendfnt Of all other porers.
| But the people Of the Northern States got
] control OF that Government, and 30 admtnis'
tered it as 70 imperl not our independence,
| tncm,-and are fighting for our rights and our
| liberties; and as means of maintaining. and
securing those rights and liberties, ne de
c1ared our independence. Independence witt
| these is worth all the sacrifices which
We have made or can make. ous
our Independence. but ont. 1adcpend
| ence Is only necessary to protect our right
aud liberties. Russia Is independent Of al
| the would, SO is Turkey, willie the govern
ment Of each is despot!sm, an1 the people
have only the rights and liberties which the
eoyetcigns choose to permit them to exercise
II this is the sort Of independence for which
I we are fighting, our great sacrifices have
been made 10 but little purpose. The recos
milton By foreign powers Of the independence
| Of onr rulers and Of t!lcfe rf.hts to govurn u!
without the recognition Of our rights and lib
| critics By our rulers, Is not worth Tue Dl0od
the huuab1cst citizen. We must gain NOR
than tlis In the struggle, OF wc have made {
most unfortunate exchange. The farthe
pursuit. OF our present policy not only en-
dangers our rights and our liberties, but on
Independence also, By destroying the fnstitn
tions and breaking tie spirits Of our people
Let Us beware how We triae with the rights
the liberties, and happiness Of millions.
/ No one can be more virtually Interested
than myself in the success Of our cause.
have staked Life, liberty, and property, an
the liberties Of my posterisy, upon the Re
suit. The enemy have burned my dwell!ul
and other houses, destroyed my property
and shed, in rich profusion, the blood ct M
nearest relatives. lily destiny is linked witl
my country. live succeed, an free man
hut il, by the obstinacy, Weakness or mi:
guided Judgment Of our rulers We fail, th
same common rn}n awaits me which await
my countsJmen. It is no time to concea
idcos in courtly phrase. The night Is darl
tue tempest howls, the ship Is lashcd wit
turbulent wnves, the he1msmau Is steering t
the whirlpool, our remonstranccs are unheet
cd, and ne must restrain him, Or the Gre
must sink together submerged IN 31retTie7'
bic ruin. JOSEPH L. BRoWN-