Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-14
THE DAILY SPY.
The French Proposition.

The French Proposition.
The French minister's letter proposing me-
diation between our government and the rob
6s, and Mr.. Stewards admirable reply to it,
have very naturally attracted much attention.
The French government proposes a confer
ence between our government and the rebels I
through commissioners appointed for the pur- |
pose, who shall meet on neutral ground and
consider carefully whether the Union can be
restored, and, if not, what arrangement can
be made in regard to terms ofsepara!ion. The
French communication does not use these
terms but this is what it means. Mr.. Sew
ard refuses to entertain the proposition and
gives satisfactory reasons for doing so. He
will do nothing that contcmplates the triumph
of the rebels as possible, and points out that
the southern people are invited to come into
congress and discuss the subject and that by
means of congress the whole matter might be
brought before a national convention. The
rebel leaders, he is sure, will never consent
to this course, but the people Of the south may
yet be induced to adopt it, in defiance of
their opposition
To consent to such conference with the
rebels as that proposed by the French minis
ter would be to leave all constitutional meth
DDS of procedure and give the reasonable doc
trine of secession a practical Endorsement;
for it wouldbe consentng to make the triumph
of the rebel leaders possible. 1t would be
consenting beforehand that the negotiating
commissioners should he at liberty to report
an arrangement either for dissolving or restor-
ing the Union. The loyal people of the coun-
try will not consent to any negotiation OF this
character, until they are ready to give up the
Union and concede to the rebel leaders a
complete and permanent victory over the
government. They will consent to nothing
that begins by requiring of them such fatal
concession as that proposed by the French
minister.
If such- negotiation were admissible, it
might have one wholesome result. At pres
ent there are many people in the north who
really suppose that the rebel conspirators
would gladly return to the Union, if the dem
ocratic party were in power to receive them.
Democratic presses and politicians have so
diligently spread and fostered this notion, that
many of those accustomed to follow their
lead have accepted it as true, and it is made the
basis of most malignant and mischievous
agitation against the government. 1t is false
and inexcusable; and many of those who
tf5dgf It's Thofe tendency is to embarrass the
government and make the war a failure Let
commissioners appointed at Washington and
Richmond meet 'on neutral ground" attempt
to arrange the terms of peace, and then pub
fish a full report of their conference, and this
false and misehievous notion would be exposed
and rendered entirely harmless. The actual
spirit and purpose of the rebels would be so
fully revealed that mischevous politicians
could no longer deal successfully in nsrcp-
reservations in regard to them.
We would have our government appoint
commission consisting chiefly of "conserya-
tiyes' and democrats, not the Vallandighams
and WoOds,-but men of character and I'M
questioned loyalty, who have the confidence
OF well meaning men in their party, and who
would do their work honestly. The report of
such a commission would silence the mis-
chief makers, and make up an issue
against the rebels in which nine-tenths
of the people in the loyal states would Join
with an earnestness never before manifested.
The disloyal men in New York and else
where, who have been engaged in clandestine
correspondence with the traitors at Richmond
might produce such an effect by publishing a
Al,
They seem to have expected friendly re-
sponses; but they got instead arrogant decla-
rations that the rebel leaders will never re-
turn to the Union and that they make but lit
tie difference between Union democrats and
Union republicans. John Van Buren's talk
Of letting the ''wayward sisters 90 in peace"
was acceptable, but any proposition looking
to restoration Of the Union was treated with
intolerant scorn. The clandestne negotiators
are careful to conceal all this; but we see its
effect in their changed tone. If their over
lures had been received at Richmond as they
expected, how different would have been the
message Of Governor Seymour and the recent
speech of John Van Buren,
We cannot have peace with the traitors in
arms against the government, without allow
ing them to destroy the Union; and then peace
with them would be impossible. Wemust crush
them or they will destroy us. There is no
other alternative. Could the democratic par
ty elect president to morrow, the new pres
ident would find the necessity of stern war
against the rebels just as imperious as Mr..
Lincoln finds it. He could not escape from
this necessity. 1t is not question of party.
1t is question that involves the fate of the
country; and it is reasonable madness to
wage a malignant partizan warfare against
the existing administration, at time like
this Tor it weakens the government, plays
into the hands OF the rebels, and tends to
make restoration of the Union impossible.
ST VALENTINES DAFT the saint who
gave ms name to the l4th of February had
not been fool, be might have been oIira 1u.o