The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMEs.—It is singularly difficult to speculate on
American politics or to forecast events from reports
of American opinion, but there is a certain character
about the recent proceedings at New York which
induces us to attach unusual importance to them.
It is not now for the first time that mention is made
of peace, or that a peace party has raised its voice
in the North-Eastern States. We recollect how the
Democrats commenced a manifestation of this kind
some few months ago, and how abortively it termi-
nated. We have been repeatedly assured that the
North-West was seething with disaffection, and
that it might be expected at any moment to make
peace on its own account, but all its agitations have
hitherto ended in quiescence. It is possible enough,
therefore, that the "Peace Convention" at New York
may prove as unproductive as the various movements
which have preceded it in the same direction ; but it
cannot be denied that the proceedings have an un-
wonted aspect, and that the whole report is full of
significance. Omitting, for the moment, the purport
and language of the resolutions adopted, and the
extraordinary boldness of the speakers, we observe
numerous incidents which express the confidence of
the meeting and the deference of the Government. It
was fully expected that military force would be em-
ployed, as on severalrecent occasions, to intimidate or
disperse the assembly ; but no such interference was
hazarded. The journals most active in the support
of the Government speak with tolerance, and even
approval, of this uncompromising demonstration.
They admit that " the people" may have peace if
they will, and that a peace party is just as lawful
a faction, and just as privileged a league, as a war
party. They still stigmatise the policy as " re-
creant and ruinous ;" but they no longer deny that
it may be constitutionally advocated by those who
believe in it. Finally, we find that Mr. Fernando
Wood, the boldest speaker and the guiding spirit cf
the whole assembly, instead of being sent to Fort
Warren, or escorted to the Confederate lines, is
quietly closeted with the President two days after
the meeting, and is allowed to reiterate in private
discourse his arguments against the continuance of
the war. W hen we remember that such opinions
would have been prosecuted as treasonable a few
weeks ago, we may well conclude that a change is
at last coming over the opinions of the American
people. Nothing except speeches of the Southerners
themselves could be mere opposed to Northern
policy than the speeches at this Northern meeting.
The war was denounced with all the particularity
of a solemn excommunication. It was cursed in
its origin, its principles, its conduct, and its end.
It was execrated in its design, its progress, its pros-
pects, and its fruits. It was condemned as a crime,
a folly, and a failure. There were no words too
hard tor it; and one of the resolutions demanded
that "an end should be put to it," as "repugnant
to the law, abhorrent to the humanity and civilisa-
tion of this enlightened era, and inconsistent with
the benignant spirit of morality and religion." But
then arose the question of the alternative. Grant
the condition of Union, and all Americans would be
peacemakers together; it is when the independence
of the South is contemplated that the test of peace
politics come. Mr. Seward said with perfect truth,
when the Emperor of the French suggested media-
tion, that mediation could never mean anything but
the recognition of the Confederate States. It was
evident then, and has become still more so since,
that the Southern people would listen to no terms
but such as included their own independence, and
mat there was no chance of coercing them. With
the North, to parley is to surrender, and those
who sincerely advocate peace must necessarily
be prepared for disunion ? Did the Con-
vention go as far as this ? The reader shall
judge for himself. Mr. Fernando Wood, the chief
of the party, did retain the decorous veil with
which the Democrats have hitherto disguised their
speculations, and spoke of peace" as the only pos-
sible hope of the restoration of the American Union;'
but the resolution formallyproposed,and deliberately
adopted by the assembly, was in the following
'words :—" We recommend, in the name of the
people, that there be a suspension of hostilities be•
tween the contending armies of the divided sections
of our country, and that a Convention of the States
composing the Confederate States, and a sepa-
rate Convention of the States still adhering
to the Union be held, to finally settle and de-
termine in what manner and by what mode
the contending sections shall be reconciled." Short
of immediate recognition of Southern independence
we hardly see how language could go further than
this in the interests of the South. There is no talk
of rebellion or insurrection ; none of that pretence
by which Mr. Seward affects to be blind to a rival
Government and a nation conterminous with his
own. The separation is acknowledged, and the co
equality of the two divisions admitted ; and though
it is just possible to argue that the projected Con-
vections might advise a restoration of the Union, it
is perfectly obvious that a treaty of peace between
two independent Powers is the result really antici•
pated. When we reflect that this resolution, with
others of a similar character, was enthusiastically
adopted by a meeting of some 30,000 citizens in the
powerful but hitherto quiescent city of New York,
we shall surely find reason for thinking that the
Civil War may be touching its close. Yet it is a
' doubtful question. All this boldness and good apse
may evaporate in another week, and leavewterhge:
just where they were. It remains to be
ebled by the
seen
Mr. Wood will be supported,
d v
sympathies of his countrymen taonTe mhodriefy
itehesptrooling
cy
of Mr. Lincoln's Government.
ground for such an exp
ecet
ration. We know that the
, and there is an ante-
Democratic party
isjpowful
ec ef dt t
he Northern
reor bt
ha
ebri
el ita in
peopletli the
are statement
desirousthat o
of
pleaarcgee,
if tclasseshe
dared but speak their minds. War visits them
with heavy taxation, and with the loss of all those
liberties of which they were so justly proud. It
does not bring them in return even the excitement
of victory or the intoxication of military suc-
cess. It has not provided them with a single
hero, or a soldier whom they could idolize for
an hour. Their greatest achievement has been
to save their own capital from e Apt ure, an exploit
which they may, petelpinve, be unable to repeat. It
trey were to win a battle, it would do them little
goad, but they cannot ob
tain even this temporary
gratification. Of all the hard words used at tie
r-
New York meeting,the hardest of all must have
been those which r ieed the war as a dead
failure. From that truth there was no escaping.
Whatever might be said for the struggle in other
respects—whether it was constitutional or unlawful,
patriotic or factious, necessary or gratuitous—this,
at least, could not be denied, that up to the present
moment it had proved utterly hopeless. " While
our men," said Mr. Wood, " have fought as men
never fought before, yet we have only gained defeat,
humiliating to our sectional pride, destructive to all
our material interests, and annihilating to every
spirit of liberty. Candour should compel us to ad-
mit before the civilised world that we have been