Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-08
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
Rebel OYerfures for Peace.
WAsHINeroN. Dee. 3. ls62.

WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 1862
The rebels have been brought to their knees
at last. They have actually. in an informal way
asked for an amnesty from President Lincoln.
The movement of our vast armies, the near APP
LrOach Of the LIST OF January. aud the panic and
WEAKNESS Of the Southern people, have fairly
compelled the foremost rebel leaders to offer to
come back to the Union. provided the Govern
ment will allow them to do so and resume their
old mastery in the councils of the reunited
nation.
have it from the most undoubted authority
that this matter has not only been brought to the
attention oil the Government, but has been can
vassed for upward of two weeks pIst by the lead
ing secession sympathizers and Democratic poll
ticans at the North. Fernando Wood, in his
speech in your city last Saturday evening, stated
What was really true. thai he had received CON-
munications from Richmond and had trans mitted
them to the Government here. have just learn
ed through what sources he received his commu-
nications, and what the precise state of the case
is between the Confederate and Union author
titles.
DR.. Barney, a citizen Of Baltimore, was recently
taken by the rebel pickets near Centeryille. 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 frequent
Cabinet. and was admitted into many of the
secrets OF the rebel programme. When the time
arrived for his departure North. he sent for
by Judah p. Benjamin, who handed him letters
addressed to Gov. Seymour, Of New York, Fer
nando and Ben. Wood, Vallandigham and Cox,
of Ohio, Senator Bayard, of Delaware, Reverdy
Johnsan, of Maryland, and number OF other
noted Democratic leaders in the North and in
the Border States. In the verbal instructions
he Qroa cleI 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 ut 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 April.
With the heavy Democratic gains in the late
elections the SUutherners see that they could
control both the Senate and House. and they
offer to let the terms of settlement between the
two sections be made by that Congress. They
say they will never consent to any terms that the
Republican Iarty, now in power, can offer A
settlement, however, in which they will have
controlling voice, in the next Congress, they are
willing 10 abide by.
Dr. Barney had an interview with both Secre-
tary Seward and President Lincoln he
returned to Washington, aud, according TO his
own story. these officials declined to consider the
matter in the shape in which he presented it to
them. He has since that time visited New IOrk
for the purpose of seeing and eOnversing with
John Van Buren,, the Woods and Gov .Sey mOur.
The plan now is to bring the matter before the
country at early period as possible, so as To
create public opinion in favor of the amnesty
asked for by the rebel leaders 1t must be un.
derstood that this whole matter has been engi-
neered from Richmond, and there is reason for
believing that the recent proposal for an armistice
asked for by the Emperor Napoleon has rela-
ton this rebel scheme and timed to act
with it so as to affect Northern sentiment, and
force the President into the policy laid out be-
forehand by jeff Davis and his advisers
This matter has been laid before the various
representatives of the foreign powers at Wash
ington, and they state - so DR.. Barney says
that the refusal to grant amnesty, as to
bring about an eventual restoration of the UuOn,
would set the whole world against Mr.. Lincoln,
and lead almost Immediately to some action on
the part of France either to recognise the South,
OF break the blockade, or both. DIR. Barney
makes no secret of what the rebels propose to do
in the event of their being permitted again to
control the majority 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 SO deg. 80 min. below
in as slave States. The recent remarkable ar
ticles in the Richmond Examiner of the 6th and
2lst of November, with regard to the Northern
elections and the military power of the North
and South united. were inspired 10y the same per-
sons 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 rs being entirely impracticnble
| They have no notion, after all the blood and
treasure wasted in the present war. of allowing
the rebels to gain victory by diplomacy. which
they have been unable to do in the field. A u
unicn ia the manner they indicate, they CONTEND
would mean not only the perpeIuation of slavery
in this country. but would practically place the
/ free North at the mercy of the slavehodng
South. The best Republican authorities agree
/ in believing that the rebels have really no wish
to come back; that their object in this shrewd
maneuver is To divide the sentiment of the North
and embarrass the action of the Administration.
! They think it would be II plausible story to come
before the country that the Sourh really wishes to
come back, and merely asks for a suspension Of
hOst.lities and an amnesty to allow it to hold an
election for members of Congress. the real effect
of which would be TO save them from the eman-
cipation proclamation, and the havoc armies
will soon create in the slaveholding States.