Year: 1863




President Of the United States any pow.
er to declare war, or conclude peace. He
could not, IT he would; he daie not if he
could. make a treaty of peace, which
would ALLEVIATE an acre of our territory OF
release State or citizen from the obliga.
tioL due to the Federal Goverdment.-
However disadvantageous war may be,
yet there is no authority to conclude a
peace. except in pursuance of the Con-
stitution. l. has been held that a SOW
ereign, when the State is re duced to any
calamitous exigency, may determine by
what sacrifices he will purchase peace;
but in this country, where the written
Constitution is the guide of duty, there
can be no exigency which would author
ize a breach of that fundamental law, up
on which repose all our interests Bet
ter had the President suffer the tortures
of Regulus than to susurp power to
make a peace. not in accordance with the
Constitution and the integrity and indi.
visibility of the Republic. From no
quarter and by no election, has there been
any expression, which looks to peace
based on the separation of this country
int two nations. No meditation or in
tervention from any foreign power, based
upon such suggestion, would be tolera-
ted for moment. If Europe interviewed
for such parpose the war would become
continental. Any meditation or inter-
vention would be spurned, which would
obstruct the relation of the Union-eith-
es by embarrassing our arms or our nego-
tiations.


But, gre we to be shut off in the future
from all hope of stopping the effusion of
blood I? The South would be content
with the Constitution faithfully admins
tered, as they have shown by adopting it
as the basis of their own establishment !;
and if they are only agrieved by alleged
and appIehended infractions of it, to the
detriment Of their local system, why may
we not hereafter come together, upon
that Constitution as the basis of an am
icable adjus ment. and by such an amend
ment of it, made in pursuance Of its own
provisions, as will assure to the South
perfect immunity from unjust utermed-
ding with their local rights, re-establish
the Government, while we reintegrate it's
territory ? The difficulty is in making
the advance to an accommodation, as
such an advance would be imputed to
weakness. Moreover. the war may be
persisted in from ambition, pride, and an
mostly; or, from desire to exterminate
slavery; and these may be obstacles to be
surmourted.


1t is an insult to history to expect that
Low Ill ,,n,tn Enroo
due the rebellion; but other means must
reconcile the people North and South.
Intercourse Of mmodities and mutual
courtesies, will not do it; for separate
nations, like France and England. have
these and yet would forever remain dis
tinct and hostile. Consanguinity alone
will not do it. Many races, as the Gaule,
Romans, Franks and Burgundians con
stitue France, and have became natural
lied into one. without the ties of kind
red Language will not do it; for Great
Britain is one, though the people sing
with Llewellyn in Welsh, and Burns in
Scotch, and Sheakspesr in English. The
unity of State by the principle of ma
tionality, results from the unforced and
spontaneous union of inclinations among
a people. "And Hamor and Sbecham
his son, communal with the men of the
city. saying These men are peaceable
with us, therefore, let them dwell in the
land and trade therein; fer the land, be-
hold, it is large enough for them; let us
take thrir daughters to MS for wives, and
let us give them our daughters; only here
in will the men consent unto us to dwell
with us, to be ONE PEOPLE"


A movement looking to this consent
ing of the affections, will restore the I'm
ion. The Eagle must use the Dove
The Sword must be garlsnded with the
Olive. The bayonet alone, said Mira
beau, will only establish the peace of Ter
ror-the silence Of Despotism.


In one way and in one way only, could
mediation be effective. by bringing to-
gether commissioners North and South,
not to arrange treaty OF peace, not to
agree upon compromise; but to inaugu
rate IN THE STATEs-in the States which
constituent elements of our Confedera-
ton, the original fountain of power from
which the Constitution derived its vital
ity, a movement looking to a National
Convention, where in conformity with
the requirements Of our Constitution,
there could be found our common Judge
on earth, the sovereign people of the again
United States do not now undsrtake
to say in detail, what such a convention
ought to do. 1t ought to compose all
our troubles in the spirit of amity; and,
unless we have degenerated beyond all
former generations, it ought to evoke the
spirit of 1887, and weave and plat anew,
that bond of Union, strong as the mighty
interests of this nation, which are to be
inbound by it forever In such a con-
vention OF States. rigid justice might not
be meted out to either party. Neither
party would be condemned to humilia-
ting sacrifices. inconsistent with the fu
ture dignity aud equality of the States.
All losses could not be reimbursed; for
who could call again to to life the thou
sands slain in the unhappy strife ?


But, in the part Of Christian brother
hood, all might be arranged, the Union
be started again upon career OF pro-
gresa under the Old Flag and with new
hope, amidst the shouts of free and
peaceful people, and all the States. side
by side, like the majesties of Olympus,
commune kindly through all the ages Of