Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-04-03
rHE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ExrosnD

Illuminating exposure of the designs of tine
corperhead democracy of New York to
bring about disgraceful peace at the
expense of the honor and glory OF the M
ton through foreign Intervention. A
more shameless attempt to disintegrate
the country for the purpose of obtaining
power and spoil than this secret effort Of
the copperhead democracy developes, has
no parallel in the history of political infa-
my in any part of the civilized world.
Lord Lyons, to whom the proposition
was made, thus officially relates the mat
ter in letter to Earl Russell -
Several Of the leaders of the Democrat
&c party sought interviews with me, both be-
lore and after the arrival Of the Intelligence
Of General McClellans dismissal. The sub.
iect uppermost in their minds while they
were speaking to me, was naturally that Of
foreign mediation between the North and
south. Many OF them seemed to think that
TINS mediation must come at last but they
appeared to be very much afraid of its com
ing too soon. 1t was evident that they APP
prehended that premature proposal of
foreign Intervention would afford the radical
party means of reviving the violent war
spirit, ald of thus defeating the peaceful
plans OF the conservatives. They appeared
to regard the present moment as peculiarly
uniavorable for such an offer, and, indeed,
TO hold that it would be essential to the sue
cess OF any proposal from abroad, that it
should be deferred until the control Of the
Executive Government should be in the
hands of the conservative party.
gave no opinion on the subject. | did
not say whether or not / myself thought
foreign Intervention probable or advisable :;
but listened with attention to the accounts
given me OF the plans and hopes, of the con-
Servatlve party. At the bottom | thought
perceived desire to put an end to the
war, even at the risk Of losing the Southern
States altogether but it was plain that il
was not thought prudent to avOw this desire
Indeed, some hints of it, dropped before the
elections, were so ill-received that strong
declarations in the contrary sense was
deemed necessary by the Democratic leaders,
" AT the present moment, therefore. the
chiefs OF the co 'servatiyo party cali loudly
Tor more vigorous prosecution of the war,
ana reproach the Government with slackness
US we'll as with want Of success in its mill
lary measures. But they repudiate all ideas
- tHtNAASiAuE WIN tHb luhlllullOlh oil the
l Southern people, or Of waging war of sub
ingation or determination. They maintain
that the object of the military operations
should be to place the North IN a position
TO demand an armistice with honor, and with
1 effect. The armistice should (they hold) be
followed by Convention, in which such
changes OF the Constitution should be pro.
S posed us would give the South ample secu.
rty on the subject of its slave property
and would enable the North and the souil
r TO reunite, and to live together in peace an,
= harmony. The conservatives profess Il
think that the South might be induced I,
take part in such Convention, and that
restoration Of the Union would be the re
@ sui. The more sagaciOus members of thu
= party must, however, look upon the propose
OF q Convention merely as q last experiment
D 10 test the possibility of reunion. The
are. no doubt well aware that the more prob
able consequence of an armistiee would h
G the establishment Of Southern indepen.
. dence; but tney perceive that if the Sout
is so utterly alienated that no possible con
u ccssions will induce it to return voluntaril
I TO the Union, 1t is wiser TO agree to senarA
n ton than TO prosecute a cruel and hopeles
war.
o 1t is with reference to such an armistic
!. as they desire to attain that the leaders o
the conservative party regard the question
> of foreign mediation. They think that III
1t offer of mediation, if made to radical AID
. ministration, would be rejected that
made at an unpropitious moment, it nigh
increase the viruence with which the wa
is prosecuted. If their own pa ty were H
power, or virtually controlled the Admins
j. tration. they would rather if possible, OBJ
!. tain an armistice without the aid of foreigt
, Governments; but they would be disposed
y to accept an offer of mediation ifit appeare,
3, to be the only means of putting stop t
hostilities. They would desire that the Ole
should come from the great Powers Of Eu
T. rope conformity and in particular that a
1T little prominence us possible be given t,
Great Britain"