The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-20
The Now Peace alovemont.

jeff Davis closes his Message with q
TRADE against the people Of North for
refusing 10 listen 10 proposals for The
oalv peace possible peace which should
recognize the impossible gulf which d.
vides us, and leave the two peoples stpa
yasely TO recover from the injuries infic-
ted on both by the causeless war now
waged against u.s." Fernando Wood loses
no time to show his readiness for peace
overtures. lie presented resolution,
Yesterday, to send Commissioners 70
Richmond, to negotiate with the suthOri
ties for the termination of this "bloody,
destructive and inhumsn war" and the
restoration of the Union under the Con.
stitution. No less than my nine of the
OppOs ton members of The House voted
70 entertain that proposition.
Now, we have no wish to cast sus-
picion upon these men as traitors in spirit
But they propose TO treat for pesce with
a traitor who has just proclaimed to the
world that "no pesce is possible but in
separation" They cannot believe JEFF.
Davis used this language capriciously
and that be will be ready to fly from it
70. morrow. Whatever else may be
said of him, no intelligent man thinks
be Is not in dead earnest. Traitor as be
is, he wears no disguise. lie says what
be means, and holds TO what be says.
This trait of the man is notorious; and
Fernando Wood, with his knowledge Of
men, Just as well understands it, as
be understands his own habitual du-
plicity. The peace which JEFF. Davis
has Just declared to be the only pos
sible peace, involves disunion. When
fernando Wood undertakes to secure
negotiations HWith JEFF. Davis for
peace, Immediately after such declara-
ten, il is almost impossible TO avoid the
conclusion that he does it for the
furtherance Of disunion peace, and not,
as he processes, for the restoration of the
Union. And it is impossible TO forget
that those who voted with him have al
ways protested that the adoption, By
cur Government of certain policies
against Slavery would hopelessly alien
ate the South. These policies have been
adopted If those men are to be taken
ct their word, they already believe in
their hearts, with JEFF Davis, that there
is San impossible gulf between the two
peoples" and are prepared to negotiate
with him across that gulf for disunion
peace, in spite of what their resolution
saws for q Union peace. Their action
fal -ifies either their past or their present
language; and rs they have just been told
by JEFF. Davis himself that . Union
peace is impossible, it would seem not
uncharitAble to conclude that the bun
combe" lies in their present language and
not their other.
The real substance Of the resolution is
the appointment Of Commissioners to ne
gotiats. All the rest is but "leather and
prunelia" The special point 10 be gained
is the opening OF civil communication
with armed trsitora Hitherto not .
word of that kind has been allowed, for
the simple reason that we do not, and
cannot recognize the rebel au horitiss 10
have any civil status. The Government
that negOtates with treason, except on
military ground, puts itself on . level
with treason, and in the very act abdi
Gates its own sovereignty. II matters
not what the pretext is, the effect is sui
cidsl. If Queen Victoria or the Emperor
Napoleon should send Commissioners TO
Richmond TO negotiate for anything, no
matter what, we should treat 1t as q ma
tional wrong. Why? Because il would
be recognition Of q Confederate civil
power.
II such recognition would compromise
The neutral relations Of foreign powers
how much more would il vitiate our own
rightful authority. To send persons 10
negotiate with JEFF Davis would only be
% estOp as from cOmplaing OF q similar
act by other nations. IL that really the
purpose Of FeEnsndo Weed and his cOAd-
jutOIs in this movement Do they mean
20 insert thus indirectly the entering
wedge which finally Is 10 clesve the
Union In the face Of the absolute moral
certainty that the negotiation ter the
Union could not succeed, for what earth
" object can they want the negotiation
except 10 turn il in the end against the
Union
The people have already spoken in
thunder tones against all these peace
masbinations. These men are but en-
tAilipg upon themselves everlasting dis
hoaor By holding 10 projects about
which there is such an oder Of trsasOn.--
. N X 7fmsg,