Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-06
THE REBELS NEGOTIATING.



Correspondence of the n Y Tribune
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Dr Barney, citi-
zen of Baltimore, was recently taken by the
rebel pickets near Centreville and forwarded
to Richmond. He has since stated that he
went in the way for the express purpose OF
being captured. While in Richmond, where
he has numerous acquaintance, he had fire.
quent interviews with the members of the con-
tederate cabinet, and was admitted into many
OF the secrets of the rebel programme. When
the time arrived for his departure north, he
was sent for by Judah =. Benjamin, who hand
ed him letters addressed TO Gov. Seymour of
New Iork, Fernando and Ben Wood Vallan-
dgham and Cox Of Ohio, Senator Bayard of
Delaware, Reverdy johnson of Maryland, and
number of other noted democratic leaders
in the north and in the border states. In the
verbal instructions given to DR.. Barney, no
terms were asked for. The southerners told
him they would consent to no terms; that if
not admitted into the Union again as equals,
they would not come in at all. What they
ask is the granting of an amnesty to all the
military and civil leaders of the rebellion, so
that an election for members of congress can
be made during the coming winter, and that
body be called together at least as early as
April. With the heavy democratic gains in
the late elections, the southerners see they
could control both the senate and house, and
they offer to let the terms of settlement be-
tween the two sections be made by that con-
gress. They say they will never consent to
any terms the republican party now in power
can offer. A settlement, however, in which
they will have controlling voice, in the next
congress, they are willing to abide by.
DR.. Barney had an interview with both Sec
Rotary Seward and president Lincoln as soon
as he returned Washington, and, accord
ing to his own story, these officials de-
clned to consider the matter in the shape in
which he presented it to them. He has since
that time visited New York for the purpose of
seeing and conversing with John Van Buren,,
the Woods, and Gov. Seymour. The plan
now is to bring the matter before the country
at as early period as possible, so as to create
pubic opinion In favor of the amnesty asked
Tor by the rebel leaders. 1t must be under
stood that tins whole matter has been engi-
neered from Richmond, and there is reason for
believing that the recent proposal for an ar
mlstce by the emperor Napoleon has rela-
ton to this rebel scheme, and was timed to act
with 1t so as to affect northern sentiment, and
force the president into the policy laid out be-
torehand by JEFF. Davis and his advisers.
This matter has been laid before the various
representatives of the foreign powers at
Washington, and they state-so DIR. Barney
says-that the refusal to grant an amnesty, so
as to bring about an eventual restoration of
the Union, would set the whole world against
MI Lincoln, and lead almost Immediately to
some action on the part of France, either to
recognize the south or break the blockade, or
both. DIR. Barney makes no secret of what
the rebels propose to do i'll the event of their
DpIuU rod 70 a.,
IN congress. They propose to consolidate the
northern and southern debts to give France
peremptory notice to quit Mexico; to seize
that country, making more slave states and
to adopt the line of sc deg. 30 min, below
which they say all future acquisitions must
come In as slave states. The recent remar-
kable articles in The Richmond Examiner of
the 9Th and 2lst of November, with regard to
the northern elections and the military power
OF the north and south united, were inspired
by the same persons in authority who gave DR..
Barney, and doubtless others, messages to
leading democrats in the north.
This matter has come to the knowledge of
leading republicans in Washington, who. of
course, scout at it as being entirely impracti-
cable. They have no notion, after all the
blood and treasure wasted in the present war,
OF allowing the rebels to gain a victory by di-
plomacy, which they have been unable to do
III the field. A reunion in the manner they
indicate, they contend, would mean not only
the perpetuation of slavery in this country,
but would practically place the free north at
the mercy OF the slaveholding SOUTH The
best republican authorities agree in believing
that the rebels have really no wish to come
back; that their object in this shrewd maneu-
yer is to divide the sentiment of the north, and
NJ In 4.