The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-12
What's in the Wind !

There are various indications-not distinct
or significant when taken separately, but of
sufficient consequence to set one thinking
when looked at together-that ideas of com
promise are getting entertainment in high
quarters. The organ Of the radical wing ut
tie republican party at Washicgton, the
Du.y Republican, objects to an advance t
E.rn,ideS army, and thinks ta4' ai II raa h.
!, 10 watch the enemy and defend W,,HnG
tnu. Prominent army officers ts.'l q 't'A
about the route to Kichmo'd b, va. Ed
crcAsbure IS impracticable. Tn Pr:..l'.
message contains no intimat N lh,i &c it-
Jt,,ioa IS to be suppressed by war, an IA I
seems TO aSslme throughout that there ms
be some sort ct adjustment or there can re-
e. be- peace. The report of the secretary Of
Yar is understood to assume the same thing
some influential administration papers have
fer some ,lme been .aborins TO produce the
Impression that We Shall be ob.ig d at las, t,
Y-rml the SECT SSion of the cotton and GL.i
.'a,es Thurloa Weed, fresh from ,cnfden-
'al intercourse with the powers that be at
Washington, wac closeted with Fernando
Wood in New York on Tuesday, and after
wards with several prominent Republican
politicians. Wood said lately, in one of his
cauc IS speeches, that 50 he had received in
formation, and mad communicated it to gov
eminent, that under certain circumstances the
South were ready to return, aye. from leading
statesmen Of the South. Men Of position
and Influence in the southern confederacy
had expressed a desire to return, under a
democratic rule the past to be forgotten, the
public debt on both sides to be provided for;
and they are willing to let by-gones be by
goues, if the North would, and the Union
once again be restored" There have been
ramors of democratic embassy to Richmond,
to negotiate for the initiative movements to-
wards peace by compromise. There are re-
ports Of oyertures of peace from the rebel
government. on the basis of the old Union
and Constitution, with the Crttenden resolu-
ton annexed, the assumption of the rebel
debt, and the expulsion of the French from
Mexico, and the annexation of that country,
10 he cut up into slave states. Many south
ern accounts represent the rebels as tired of
the war and ready for settlement, and it is
positively stated that MIR Randolph resigned
the office of confederate secretary of war be-
cause he despars of the success of the con-
tederacy, and that lie and Edmund Rufin of
Virginia say openly that the rebellion has
proved failure, and they will no longer par
,icipate actively in it.
Such are some of the hints and suggestions
float What may be the reality and purport
uf any or all of them time will soon make
clear. But the tone of the leading confed-
crate news apers is anything but pacific. The
Richmond Wing of November 80 has an ar
tcle upon the peace talk tina. prevails among
ac.rtain class of northern democrats, and l,
scouts Indignantly all idea of peace upon any
n.,r terms than the independence Of tnt
toatedcracy. 1t says the South vii fight &c
t.c .t>t man before it will listen TO i.ro: osai'
C.peace upon any other terms, Nd thft ~.
restoration OF the old Union is Il H5so.a''
lmqossIOiIity and all discussio.. q, a .> 3d..
ass. II such is the general s...a7f ''..
ia- the p3ly of compromise Ia .....s -
courageuent Tor proposing scii, .nas o.. SO
tem~nt. We canno. believe i tie posi-
lilly Of peace iii the rebels are ,horoogh.,
conquered, and We do not see how intellistn
P.:r.otlsm can desire it. But there seems t
be something Of the sort in the winl-w"a
sh?-SprirUield Republican.