The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-04-15


did tsay whether or no myselfthought
foreign intervention probable or advisa-
BILE, but listened with attention to the
accounts given me of the plans and hopes
of the conservative party. At the bot
tom thought l perceived desire to put
an end to the war, even at the risk OF
losing the Southern States altogether: but
| it was plain that it was not thought pru-
dent to avow this desire. Indeed, some
hints of it dropped before the elections
were SO i'll received that strong declara-
ton in the contrary sense was deemed
necessary by the Democratic leaders.
AT the present moment, therefore, the
chiefs of the conservative party call loudly
for more vigorous prosecution of the
war, and reproach the Government with
slackne as we'll as with want of success
! in its military measures. But they repu-
diate all idea of interfering with the in
stitutions of the Southern ~people, or
waging war of subjugation or extermi-
nation. They maintain that the object of
the military operations should be to place
the North in position to demand an ar
mistice with honor and with effect. The
armistice should (they hold) be followed
by convention, in which such changes
of the Constitution should be proposed as
would give the South ample security On
the subject of its slave rr p.rty, and
would enable the North and the South to
reunite and to live together in peace and
harmony. The conservatives profess to
think the South might le induced to take
part in such convention, and that res
toraton of the Union would, be the result.
The more sagacious members OF the party
must however, look upon the proposal OF
a convention merely as last experiment
to test the possibility of reunion. They
are, no doubt, well aware that the more
probable consequence of an armistlce
would be the establishment of Southern
independence, but they perceive that if
the South is so utterly alienated that no
possible concessions will induce it to re-
turn voluntarily to the Union, it is wiser
to agree to separation than to prosecute
cruel and hopeless war.
1t is with reference to such an armls-
tice as they desire to attain that the lead
ers of the conservative party regard the
question OF foreign mediation. They
think that the offer of mediation. if made
to radical Administration, would be re-
jected; that if made at an unprop,tious
NON cut, it might increase thefvirulence
with which the war is prosecuted. If
their own party were in power, or virtually
controlled the Administration, they would
rather, if possible, obtain an arnaistice
without the aid of foreign Governments;
but they woald be disposed to accept an
offer of Mediatienyif it appeared to be the
only meaus of putting stop to hostilities
They would desire that the offer should
come from the gre It powers of Europe
conformity, aud in particular that,as little
prominence as possible should be given
to Great Britain.
At Washington / hare hal jesoer ofpor-
tunities than ] had at Ns,o York Of ascer-
tanning the present uiegs Of the chefs Of tht
political parties. At the interview had
with Mr. Seward the day after my arrival
he showed no disposition to enter upon
political matters He did not appear te
expect or to desire to receive from me any
special communication from Her Majesty
Government The President, when wait
ed upon him. talked to me only on ordinary
topics. 1, for my part, gladly shunnee
all allusion to foreign intervention, my
principal object being to avoid saying any
thing which IN ght embarrass me in car
rying out any instructions on the subjec
4 which may receive from your lordship
! All things considered, my own opinion
certainly is that the present moment is no
a Favorable one for making anoffer of med.
alton. 1t M light embarrass the peace par
i ty, and even o5lige hem, in order to main
/ tain their popularity, to make some publi
declaration against it, and this nigh
make it difficult for them to accept sim
liar offer at more propitious time.
would, II, all probability, DC rejected By til
i President, ,oho appears to haUe th,oao1
hfmself into the arms of the ectrense rodi
cal party. The views of that party ar
lclear and definite. They declare tina
there is no hope of reconciliation witt
the Southern people; that the war must b
pursued, per fus aut nefas, until the dis
loyal men of the south are ruined ant
isubjugated, if not exterminated; that no
an inch Of the old territory of the Rcpub
] lie must be given up; that foreign inter
vention, in any shape, must be rejecte
! and resented. This party would desire t
f turn an offer of mediation to account, 70
i the purpose Of infaming the war spiri
! and producing reaction against the con
: servatives.
i tits probable, too, that the Governmen
would urge, in answer to an offer of media
:. ton, that it has by no means alb ndone
the hope of putting down the rebellio
within reasonable time; that, at alleyent
: this is not moment at which it can rea
sonably be called upon to put stop t
! hostilities. 1t would observe that tn
armies of the United State are ever
5 where advancing, and that expedition
: are prepared against Texas, as well a
i against Charleston, Mobile and othe
, points on the coast It would point ot
9 that it had equipped a considerable mum
! Der of war vessels, iron-clad as we'll a
t others, at at vast expense; that the seaso
4 had just arrived when the autumn rain
would render the rivers navigable by arm
$ ed vessels, and when the Southern coas
f would be free from epidemic disease. ]
3 might even represent an advance of tn
/ EArmy of the Potomac to Richmond as