The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-06-29
Compromise Rumors.

Comprom1se Rumorss
Dispatches from Washington to the
New York papers assert positively that
emissaries Of jeff Davia have been in
Washington and have laid before the cab
met propositions of peace and compromise
The Tribune despatch says:
The rebels have made two propositions
OF peace to the Administration. One con-
templates the complete recognition OF the
Southern Confederacy, with treaty OF
commerce and friendship, and perhaps an
annual subsidy of $5,ODO,O 900 for giving
protection against foreign and domestic
enemies. The other, which IS still under
consideration, consents to suspension OF
hostllities, laying down of arms, and the
extension of the line Of 5000 to the Pacific.
Perhaps the csnsorious may see some I'M
mediate connection between these facts
and the supineness of both armies on the
other side of the Potomac, and the indig-
nation manifested toward the rapid energy
of Gen. Lyon and Col Blair in Missouri.
1t is possible that the two houses Of Con-
gress will be so impairment a. to inquire
into the history of this tampering with
traitors in rebellion. 1t is undoubtedly
true that letters, provisions, &c, are con-
stantly going by night from Maryland to
Virginia, even under the nose of the Paw
nee
We have also as belonging to the same
branch Of this subject, the following in
the New York Herald, Tribune &c, Of June
25th.
We learn that Senator Hunter of Vir-
ginia, and Senator Bayard, Of Delaware, are
here inccg as emissaries from the rebel
government, upon a secaet mission to the
politicians, members of Congress and cap
italists, to Induce them to use their intiu-
once with the President and General Scott
to retard the advance of the grand army
upon Richmond till after the NEE ing OF
Congress on the 4th of July, when it is ex-
pected peace will be patched up in secret
session in that body, under the same cor
rupt influences, or that this country will
drift Into a war with one or more of the
powers of Europe. These agents of the
Confederate government are in New fork
at present; but there is reason to believe
that they are accredited to all the other
large cities of the North.
The Tribune adds:
Under the inspiration of these eminent
statesmen, petition l. alread been pre-
pared and secretly circulated for sigma
lures. praying Congress to make peace on
these terms the gentleman who gives US
this information estimates thai, when it
was offered to him for signature. it already
bore more than q thousand names.
The men who are expected to press
these compromise and peace propositions
in Congress are Crittenden, of KY, Ben.
Wood, of New York, and Clement Vallan-
bingham, of Ohio.
Per contra, despatch to the n. Y. Com
n,ercial, June 25th, says:
"There is the highest authority for con-
tradicting the stories about the rebels
having made peace propositions to the
government Though some persons and
journals have professed to give somewhat
minute details, there is no truth in them
whatever On the contrary, the admins
tration have received assurances that tho
rebels intend prosecuting the war with
the utmost vigor, and, if possible, will
overthrow the government and destroy
the Republic. even though they perish in
the ruins They feel that the two govern.
ments cannot exist in close proximity, or
even on the same continent.
We should be slow to believe that Mr.
Lincolns cabinet would have the tsmerity
to entertain any such proposition; yet
that there is no foundation of any sort fol
these rumors is not creditable. They
como simultaneously from too many
sources, and are given with too much mi
nuteness to be wholly groundlsss. 1t is
| barely possible. that it is one of JEFF
Davis taicks to distract and divide coun
sci in the North and particularly in the
approaching Congress. Nothing hitherto
mas SO mucn dIsmayed the rrafIors as the
unexpected unanimity of the North in
sustaining the government. If by some
scheme that unaniinity could to broken
in upon, the victory of the traitors would
be half won.
1t is needless to say, that SO far as the
great mass Of the Northern people ar
concerned, in our humble opinion, any
termination of this war, unpreceded by {
/ complete route and dispersal of the rebel
lious army in Virginia end Mississippi, el
an unconditional laying down Of arms OF
their part, will DO not only unsatisfactory
but will excite q storm of indignation thai
will utterly crush all who are engaged in
patching up such peace.
The time has come when the power O
this government to maintain its authority
| must be demonstrated Hitherto in al
contests between the rebsllious and thu
general government the latter has in thu
end succumbed The whiskey insurrec
ton ended in partial back down on the
part of the government. In the contest
with Georgia about the Creek Indians the
government, though clearly in the right
backed down; and in the notification
business In 1892, South Carolina main
| tanned that she made the Governmen
come to terms and repeal the odious tariff
| The insolence of rebellion again count
an victory by the Government quailini
before its hideous clustering front. Pei
:sh the thought! One thorough drubbini
OF the rebel forces in Virginia will en'
this war with less expenditure of bloot
and treason than any conceivable compro
mise or peace that Congress can patch ur
Give Davis one coed thrashin, and his re
bellious crew is utterly demoralized ant
overthrown. The government then, in
position to hang or pardon the traitors q
she may be graciously pleased to do, an
to grant the imaginary claims OF tn
south as a matter of grace and not com
pulsion, will be able to grant q peace tina
will prove permanent and durable, ant
this war, instead of turning out mer
sowing of dragons teeth to spring up il