New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-31
II. sTEPHENs's MIssION-sTs
PURPOSE DEVELOPED.

We publish herewith q remarkable letter,
developing the objects OF Mr.. A. ii. Stephens .
recent purposed diplomatic visit TO Washing.
ton, along with the views and considerations
wbereon that mission was founded. 1t Will be
read with profound and general interest
We must premise that though dated Erich
mond, July l6," We have received 1t through
Baltimore Secession channel. and We have
no doubt that it received form and shape in
the Monumental City. That its statements
and representations, however, all emanate from
high Secession circles in Richmond, aud that
they embody and elucidate the views that i'm
PEELED the recent attempt of Nice-Pfc.ijent
Stephens to proceed on Confederate embassy
to Washington, We have ample reason to be-
l;o-o
The sum and substance Of the matter is
this: The COnttdsratts are alarmed and Indig-
nant at our arming Of negroes 10 fight hem
and desired TO send Mr.. SttPhens TO flashing
ton TO enter imposing remonaronee againa
il, and girs our Government fair notice that, i
ice did not gire up, they uould also embark
in it riM all their might, and ann ten negroes
to our one. This ia what Mr.. Stephens would
have imposDgly announced TO the President,
had he been permitted to proceed in bis gun
boat " Torpedo" to our capital, and been re-
ceived there as a Confederate Embnssador
President Lincoln did MT see it.
Mr.. Stephens is an able, shrewd, clever
man. Despite his weak and utterly ndefens.
BILE slump into Rebellion, after having unan.
swerably demonstrated its utter folly and wick
edness, there is not another Confederate living
who enjoys so much of the respect and good
will Of The loyal Millions as he does. We wish
he had untrammeled powers to argue all ques
tions respecting prisoners and parole with
Commissioner on our part; for We are con.
fdent that he would accede 10 whatever is
just, humane and reasonable; and that is all
we ask. II prisoners Of war shall be executed
on plea Of retaliation or otherwise, it will be
nakedly because the Csgfederates deny to Union.
lists immnniiiss that zoe freely eoneeds to Rebels.
And if executions shall thus be rendered neces-
sary, the precious blood 30 shed will weigh
heavily on the souls of the master.spirts Of
the Slaveholders' Rebellion.
But Mr.. Stephens wants to apprise our
Government most mposingy that bis concern
is displeased with our systematic arming and
employment of negroes to suppress the Rebel.
lion, and purposes effectively to countervail it.
Of the primary fact thus asserted there can
DO no reasonable doubt. We should believe it
on less conclusive testimony than his. 1t needs
no special embassy to Washington. whether
with or without g gunboat. to establish it.
But what of it
We do not Ike many things persistently done
or attempted by the COnfederates. We do not
like heir anticipatory seizure Of forts. arms,
munitions, vessels, money, &C., &C., belong
ing 10 the Uoion. We do not like the
treschery of the rauthern officers in the
Federal service, through Which the chief Union
army stationed in Texas by Floyd was osp
tured and paroled before Mr.. Lincoln's iuausn.
ration. We do MT like their offering their
Rebel army mainly with men educated and
trained at the cost Of the United States. We
do mt like their shooting and hanging Thousands
upon thousands Of Unionists throughout tho
South, but especially in East Tennessee, a.
traitors. We do MT like their conhscating all tho
property of Unionists they can roach,
including debts due to Northern NOR.
,hants, to replensh tho Rebel Treasury.
We don't like their coercng and bullying such
men - Mr.. Stephens out of loyalty into trea.
on. We don't uks thelg beating " in seys. |