Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1865-09-20

tfary operations should be to place the NOrtl
in position to demand an armistice with hon
or and effect. The armistice should, the,
hold, be followed by Convention, in which
such changes in the Constitution should b,
proposed as would give the South absolute Sc
curity in its slave property. and would ens
the North and the South to re-unite and tt
live together in peace and harmony. Tn,
! Conservatives profess to think that the Soutf
might be induced to take part in such Con
yention, and that restoration of the Union
would be the result. The most sagacious
members of the party must, however, look
Upon the proposal of a Convention mercy as
last experiment to test the possibility of re-
union. They are, no doubt, well aware that
the more probable consequence of an armis-
tice would be the establishment of Southern
independence, but they perceive that if the
South il so utterly alienated that no possible
concessions will induce i. to return yoluntari-
ly TO the Union, II is wiser to agree TO separa-
tion than tc prosecute cruel and hopeless
war.
'.lf their own party were in power, OF eir-
tially controlled the Administration, they
world rather, if possible, obtain an armistice
without the aid of foreign governments but
they would he disposed to accept an offer of
meditation, if it appeared to be the only
means cf putting a step TO hos.ilities.'
These humiliating negotiations with the
agent Of Foreign and unfriendly power
show that Mr. Reed had only been the
;nouth-piece of the secret councils of his
party. He, too, had urged an armistice as
a necessary preliminary to the contempla-
ted surrender
al would begin with cessation of ho,,ili-
ties and an armistice fer a fixed period, not
too short. If erIns were laid down for
a time, there iyould be repugnance to take
.h1m up again, which, of itself. would be ia
vcrableio satisfactory adjustment" '....,
Thus was inaugurated the policy of a
cessation Of hostiities" and a Conven-
ton, to which the Democratic party stead
ily adhered. At Chicago, two years later,
it formed the basis of the platform, and
II November, 1864, it was ihdighahtly re-
lected by the people. During those two
years it was constantly put forward that
the people mi ght become accustomed to
it, and no longer dread the fearful anar-
;hy &hich would be almost necessary re-
suit ..-. ELL. f..... ....,.,.... .... .
Thus, Mt the formal Inauguration of the
Fentocratic Central Club, of Philadelphia.
With which the pa..t celebrated the Sth
IF JANUARY, 1868, the orator of the day,
Mr.. Charles Ingersoll, made the proposed
Convention the subject Of his discourse.
md was prepared to adopt the most revo-
utionary mains of a'taihits tic object.
There is Hut one way of arriving at So
p,icn CT the question as TO whether we are to
a.e a speedy peace and Union, and tfat is
" conventio ms of the people. To effect this
$ not easy Of accomplishment There are
many states in possession of the Republicans.
jnder these circumstances, We should do what
Thai has Frequently been resorted to in Eng
ird-,ce shoHld refuse tie supplies. The speak
r advocated this measure at some length as a
leans Of instituting a State Convention
his would be followed by Conventions
throughout the Northern States We should
hen be in n position to offer cur terms and
ettle with the South this great question:
rr. Ingersoll concluded amid prolonged ap-
lause. q. -Ii-'
In march, Mr.. Iugcrsoll agaia urged
he subject in an address delivered before |
he same body, and on the 2Sth of the
anne month, Mr.. Reed also fecurred to it
n similar occasion, His remarks, !
housh somewhat obscure, arc fearfuIly !
...r co... ,..'. .-.dt ra
The path which desir. 10 pursue to take !
lie out of the nliseries and expressions upon
s is one which tsc Constitution prescribes--
popular Conv vention--National, if it can be.
not National q Stale Convention, But 1
,ok upon a Coneention as on end, not as
ledns for, as q means, Il is 10 siow. We shall
Iced to death before q Convention can be
SfHi, rs n good uLtinsdts resslt....
uch conventions emenating from and directly |
epresenting the people, would have adequate |
over. They would be as the Convention |
nat made the Constitution. They ,sould
h ange, modify, a6rogd!e.'h' Fai i.i -.6
We are thus prepared to understand
ie authorized exposition of Democratic
olicy, as published to the world at Chi
,go, and can appreciate what was meant
y the second resolution Of the platform,
here the war was explicitly declared to
, have been failure. .--
"Resolrsd hat this Convention does e1
icitly declare, as the sense of the American
,ople, that after four years Of failure to re-
ore the Union by the experiment of war,
stice. humanity, liberty, and the public well
re demand that immediate efforts be made
T q cessation Of hosi.ilitiss. with a view
an ultimate Convention of all the States, or
her peaccable means to the end that at the
rliest practicable moment peace may be re-
ored on the basis OF the Federal Uni in Of
e States" T -t.J1J .-f. .-.'.-.r -1t....
1t is no wonder that the rebels, in
leir terrible straits, hailed the the .sray1
light from Chicago" There is won.
,rfal similarity between the words of
.lexander IL. Stephens, when treating Of
ich Convention in his letter of Oct
), 1864, aud those which VIC have all