Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-14
PEACE PROPOSITIONS.

1t has been recently represented by several
Democratic politicians that few months ago over
lures of peace, with restoration of the Union rs
one Of the accepted conditions, were made to the
President by responsible agents speaking for the
leaders in the Southern insurrectionary movement
We gave little heed to these representations at the
time because we gave little credenoe to the state
ments made in the premises, nor have we yet seen
any reason to doubt the justice Of Incredibly
In the absence of any substantial evidence corrobo-
rative of these representations have rather been
surprised, that they should continue to be made
by one class Of politicians or oontradicted by an
other. We do not doubt that the editor of the
New York Tribune is quite right when he con-
cudes that no such propositions made, for the
SUFFICIENT reason that there is now no sentiment at
the South, among the leaders of the revolt, out Of
which such overtures could spring. To this pur-
port the Tribune Of Monday last says:
"Eary lsst winter approached by parties ia
bic to peace and enreaed to contribute ts attain
Havirg slways been most anxious for the earliest
possible peace consistent with fidelity to those hopes for
humaoity which bound up the life OF the American
toward the achievement Of toerable peace.
To that end Iabored faithfully long any hope Of
sttan IL remained, willing ~ brave the anger aena
ton OF valued frents IL might at whatever personal
cost coUtrbu to early conclusion Of ths desoating
= tt A
And we, after weeks Of earnest pursuit Of some endI-
give up without having In sight any rebel propo-
ston at an. Ard thus justified 10 couvcrou
That there concaory project authorized by
the tbel chiefs that they chose submit 60 the judgment
even OF the ardent champions II peace 10 the
Aiates WeSdo not wsh ~ believe that M.ssrs Valnn-
disbam, Wood, and Brooks conscious wilful de-
criver in what they say this subjects but we do say
that their preteuce Of acceptable prefer Of peace last
fa or winter from the rebel government has substan-
tisl basis ard ia in effect fraud
Without taking any part in the polemical issue
made by the Tribune on this point, We incline to
Think view correct the temper and purpose of
the men who control the secession movement. We
believe it is equally correct when it asoribes to
President Lincoln pacific and concilia,ory spirit
as his predominant animating purpose throughout
the different stages Of this most deplorable war
To this effect our contemporary says:
Every message every uttersnce Of President Lincoln
los asted his anxiety for the earliest possible
of sace. The brutal and bloody manifestoes Of JEFF
Davis Intended to excite eternal hatred between the peo
ole of the Socben and tbose If the Northern States have
awakened echo from him. Neither hours Of success
and ssou in sessons Of depression and disaster
one hitter or tanning expression aimed at the rebes e.
cared his lips Not o the begerent measures which
have been condemned A severe, il unjustif able has
originated with him. End he has braved the imputation III
weakness lenishcy ~ opposing sturdy
apce 10 All such Even the act ccn6scating the slaves
rebels whom their masters permit to be used 10 aid Of
military operations hostile to the Union was signed by
him with reluctance and after much hestatiop In all this
land no other man has evnced much and such
Overriding anxiety that the rebellion should be suppressed
in such ~ permit the speedy and complete
storsn of iraerna feeling between the North and the
South as hes Abraham l. ncon. And no message Of
pesceno overture ustyng hope that any other than
dsunion was attannbIehss ever been pelled By
him, or has fsled to secure his warmest welcome.