induce the few electors who come to the poll to
throw State The truth is English observers persistently blunder as to votes for Mr. Lincoln, and the extreme Republicans who fear the place in which, in America, ultimate physical power, the that the President may be induced to accept terms less radi_ force which preserves governments and makes revolutions, cally hostile to slavery and the South. Both these sections really resides. It does not rest with the parties at all but denounce the proclamation though they differ as to the law, with the whole people, and in certain conjunctures with the and both declare that the vote of these States shall not be States. If the Peace Democrats can induce the nation, i. e., received in the election for President. a considerable majority of the whole people, to wish for peace- Hearing these things from Southern sources in an exag- they will elect a man pledged to secure that course, and the gerated and perverse form, the correspondent of the Times has war will end. That will happen some day, whether through conjured up a most extraordinary story. The South, he the agency of continued victory or irredeemable defeat, but declares, has agreed to a Convention,—which is possible, as as yet there is not a trace of evidence to prove that they can the South feels that neither courage nor strong social organi- do anything of the sort. The freeholders who govern the zation can permanently uphold a State which is bleeding from North are not prepared to admit that their dream of empire,— every pore, — and the Democratic party reunited by the wise or foolish, that we are not discussing,—must be given up, proposal will in November throw the heavier vote, its nominee and till they are prepared the nation as distinct from par- being most probably Mr. Dean Richmond. In the Electoral ties will continue the war. On the other hand, if the College, however, the Republican delegates of the Free States, Peace Democrats could move any individual States or groups if aided by those nominated by the " occupied " States, will of States, they could no doubt stop the war by beginning a. have a majority, and the Democrats thereupon are to do mar_ new secession. The success of Mr. Vallandigham's dream, a venous things. They are to reject the votes of these States Western Confederacy, would of course stop it at once, both by for Mr. Lincoln and seize them for Mr. Richmond, declare Mr. cutting off the supplies and by rendering the hope of a Richmond legal President and seat him in the White House restored and powerful union visibly futile. But where is the by force of arms after a bloody civil war. Mr. Lincoln is evidence that any group of States intends or can be induced denounced by anticipation for his iniquity in forcing on such to intend to do anything of the kind ? We frankly admit that a contest, the Democrats are promised a certain victory, and it is difficult for any of us whether Northern or Southern in the world is assured that the peace so often promised sympathy to understand precisely the complex and changeable so long delayed is at last at hand. For all this story opinion of the West. We quite admit that many Americans there is, we venture to affirm, beyond the fact of a certain of sound intelligence think that under certain circumstances discontent with the military governors in the occupied States and with a resolute leader a separatist party in Illinois, and no foundation whatever. • Ohio, and the vast region drained by the Northern Mississippi In the first place there is no proof of any kind that the might find many followers. We clearly remember the advice Democrat party in the Northern States is re-organized, or Pressed by his officers on GleneralFremontjust afterhis recall, and certain of its future leader, or ready to accede to a Convention the alarm which was expressed at Washington lest he should over all a certain capacity for rule,—these are not qualities called to arrange for peace, or able to throw a majority of often to be found in the same man. But lee certainly think votes on any " platform" whatever. There is strong reasoit more of them might be combined in our ecclesiastical rulers to believe that the split between the peace and the war than have been in Lord Palmerston's appointments. He Democrats is more irreconcileable than ever, General llIcClellan might find it difficult indeed to discover another Bishop Butler, having recently made a speech which has cost him the confi- of whom it might possibly be true and not a mere confusion of deuce of the former and more consistent section. There is thought to say that he may have mitigated the acerbities of still stronger reason to think that on the cardinal dogma of religious differences " both here and hereafter ;" (for how shall the Democrats, that the war if waged at all should be waged we be sure that our moral progress in the next world can at irrespective of slavery, the party is in a hopeless minority, once dispense with the deepest thought of this ?) but could that at least six in every ten adult males in the North have not Lord Palmerston find for us one true theologian whose made up their minds that black slavery and white freedom are- writings may not only deepen the faith of the Church, but do incompatible institutions, and that slavery therefore shall end. something to reach the common springs of faith in those who Not half of them are really interested perhaps in the fate of are outside it, whether Roman Catholic or Nonconformist ? the black, not a fifth are desirous of abolition as a matter of principle, but they are all convinced that if slaves exist the " PEACE, PEACE, AND THERE IS NO PEACE." owners of slaves will be the aristocracy of the country which WAR abroad, it has been said, has for Englishmen this corn- permits it, the true governing class, whose existence will in pensation, it interests them to such a degree that they the end always be fatal to the form of society Americans, learn to comprehend the people who are waging it, to break wish to triumph. If this calculation is correct the Republican through the mist of insular experience which so often blinds Party, supported by its own members, by many of the War their eyes. That, however, has hardly been the case in this Democrats, by the people who hate slavery as a principle, and American war, or so much importance would not be attached the people who are sick of it as an institution, is sure of to silly rumours of coming peace. We noticed one of the victory even in the North. Its vote may not be given to Mr. wildest of these stories a few weeks since, but another still Lincoln, who has to conlend with the personal hatreds excited wilder and more absurd has been recently set afloat, and has by every Government as well as the strong wish for change received an amount of credence which to those who have paid as change common among masses of men, but the nominee the smallest attention to American politics seems almost finallyselected, be he whom he may, will we believe be carried incredible. The facts of the case are these :—Congress has without the votes of the " occupied " States. Indeed the- under the constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court a Democrats think so too, for they propose not to annul those right to decide whether the Government of any special State votes, which would be intelligible, but to carry them is Republican enough to allow of the admission of its repre_ to their own credit, which is revolution under cover of sentatives. Whether the power applies. to a State after ad_ an electoral fiction. If the majority in the North is Re- mission or only before it is admitted is of course disputed, publican the whole portentous scheme falls through, for but Congress claims the power in both cases. Under this right even Peace Democrats will not begin civil war in order that a therefore the Houses recently passed a bill legalizing the re- majority may force a minority to give up the idea of using constitution of State Governments in the States held by mili- force ; but we will admit, for argument's sake, that it is not. tory force, provided the electors in such States banished the In that case the Democrats are to seat their nominee by force. leaders of the rebellion, abolished slavery for ever, imposed an Whose force ? That of the people ? It will be far too nearly oath on every voter, did not allow electors to vote for President, divided. That of the State militias ? They cannot be induced- repudiated the Confederate debt, and complied with certain other to move quickly even in face of an invasion. That of volun- requisitions. The President, agreeing with some provisions of the teer regiments raised for the occasion? They will hardly rush Bill, but doubtful of the legality of others, and indisposed as on the bayonets of an army numbering four hundred thousand he says to fix any absolute conditions for the re-entrance of the men. The writers who manufacture Democrat views for this revolted States, was unwilling either to veto or sign it, and country appear to forget that supposing Mr. Richmond elected so allowed it to remain before him over the legal time, and Mr. Lincoln is legally President till March, 1865, that the the Bill dropped. But at the same time he issued a pro_ framers of the constitution placed an interval of five months clamation directing the military governors of such States between election and power in order to avert the very cotes- appointed under the "war power," i. e., the right of the Pre- trophe which Democrats are now threatening. Are the people to sident to put down armed resistance by any means at his march on a legal President whose title for five months they disposal, to act in general conformity with the spirit of the do not dispute, defended by a vast army, by the whole popu- lapsed Bill. This proclamation has intensely irritated the lotion of some States, and half the population of the re- Democrats who think that the military governors are sure to mainder ? Or if not, what are they going to do ? accept it. But we are talking of the present, and we ask for the evidence which shows that the West has any intention of playing the Peace Democrats' game. Why, a third of its popu- lation is German, abolitionist to a man, discontented with Lincoln only because they think him not radical enough. The West might rebel for itself, but certainly not to give a triumph to men whose object is simply to preserve slavery, even though to do it they must give up the -Union. This talk of armed resistance to Mr. Lincoln and armed support of Mr. Richmond, turning voters into guerillas and defeated Con- servatives into rebels, is talk merely, designed to frighten timid Republicans into electing a nominee less clear and decided than the present occupant of the White House, and will disappear before the popular vote which, whether given for Mr. Lincoln or not, will still, we believe, be thrown de- cisively for war.
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