Year: 1863

Late events have turned public atten-
ton in the Northern States to some 9TH
er conclusion of this desolating war than
that which they hoped to gain by vaunts
menaces, and disproportionate levies of
troops. The word armistice" has late
ly been heard on the floors of Congress
and without its walls the practicability
of convention to be composed of dele
gates from all the States of the Union,
appointed by the authorities ofthe States,
!. to adopt some plan. of general pacifca-
ton Is now much discussed.


But the time for Peace Congresses is
past. So long as the States were compo.
nent parts of the same confederacy, it
was both lawful and proper that the rep
resentatives Of their sovereignties should
confer upon and discuss questions and
affairs affecting them all.


Nothing in the Constitution forbade
such conference, or deprived its re-
concentrations of responsibility and au-
thority But such convention is i'm
possible now. 1t is predicated upon the
idea that the late Union still exists; that
the men of Virginia, the Carolinas, Geor-
gia, &c, &c, are fellow-citizens of the
men inhabiting Massachusetts,, New York
and Pennsylvania. To admit the possi-
bility of such convention, ignores the
legitimate function of the Confederate
Government The States of the Confed-
eracy have delegated their authority
over their foreign affairs to a common
Executive and Legislature.


They cannot now take single step in
j. IL.
violating the solemn compact by which
they created that Government The
States of the Union are in precisely the
same attitude toward the Government of
the Union. They have no authority Or
power to treat with the Southern States
or any other foreign States Such acts
are distinctly the province of the FEEDER
al Government alone. No arrangement
of national character, no treaty or pre-
paration for a treaty of peace between
the two countries now at war is possible
OF lawful, except such as may be made
by the President and Senate of the Con-
federate States and the President and
Senate Of the United States


The people of the North who wish to
see the end of these hostiGties and trou-
bles must, first of all, agree to a recogni-
tion of the Confederate Government
Without that the war must go on forever
Even arIaiSticn supposns such recoo-
milton. Northern speculation upon a
general convention is, therefore, mere
moonshine, so long as the South remains
unconquered. If the armies of the
United States were to succeed in driving
the persons composing the Confederate
Government entirely beyond their terri
tory, and destroy all hope of the people
in the restoration of the Confederate
authority, a general convention of the
two nations, without regard to the con-
stituted authorities of either, free to form
any new relations which they thought fit,
might then become matter for consid
GRAFTON with the individual inhabitants
of the land


At present, the project of this conven
ton may be noticed only as a symptom
Of strong desire for peace among the
Northern people. Nothing will come ot
| it for some time. SO long as the present
| Executive and Congress remain in Office
their discretion has no check. They are
committed to the continuation of the wal
to the last extremity. Passion and inte
rest both blind them to it. They will un
doubtedly prosecute the war until new
! members Of Congress take their seat
next year, unless the vast army the,
have collected for their desperate under
taking succeeds in overpowering th,
South, or is itself destroyed before tha
period arrives.