The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-28
Foii'Acal Movements I'm Washing ton.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 1863.
correspondence OF the st. Louis Republican
PEACE MOVEMENTS.
A belief strongly prevails among con-
servative men, that the Administration
now has an opportunity to elect peace and
submission on the part of the South or
prolongation of the war for years to come
All accounts from the interior of the 70.
bellious territory agree that the people of
the South are now ready to abandon their
attitude of armed hostility to the authori-
ty OF the Government, and resume their
allegiance, provided they can do it with
out suffering all the penalties threatened
them by the Abolitionists of the North.
They now despair OF succeeding in their
independence, and seeing nothing but
final subjugation in the future, they are
manifestly inclined to come back into the
Union upon compromise, but are deter
red from taking any step toward their own
salvation, by a knowledge that the con-
tiscation act and emancipation proclama-
ton hangs over them like sword sus-
pended by hair, which they may cut by
their submission. This is the argument
by which jeff. Davis and the other promi-
nent leaders of the rebellion now manage
to retain halfway support of the South
ern people, and the fact is the very best
reasons why the circumstances which give
it potency, should be abolished, or, at least,
modified in sweeping application.
The recent conference with the Presi-
dent of Messrs. Tod, Cowan and Harris,
representatives of the conservative ele-
ment of the Republican party, was the
result OF this view of the political situa-
ton. Governor Tod suggested the mill
tary necessity of reinforcing the army of
the Potomac by troops from Generals
ROsecrans and Grant, and the prosecution
OF an immediate campaign for the capture
OF Richmond; hence the report giving an
entire military aspect to the conference:
but, while Messrs. Harris and Cowan did
not assume the roles of military advisers,
all united in advising the President that
now was very prOpitious season to COM
bine the power Of the olive branch with
that of the sword, and urged him to adopt
cOnciiatory course towards the southern
people, in order to give all possible aid
to the causes now inclining them to peace
and submission. The propriety of issuing
a proclamation Of general amnesty, and
promising to recall the emancipation edict,
was discussed and urged upon him by
these gentlemen; and, though no definite
action was promised by the President it
was plain to be seen he agreed with the
views OF his conservative advisers. 1t is
whispered here in high quarters that such
a proclamation will shortly be made; but
those who are aware of the malign influ-
ences at work against the step, have but
little hopes of such cOnsummation.
THE CONSPIRACY OF THE RADICALS.
There can be no doubt the Abolition
spirits of the Republican party are get
ting terribly frightened at the prospect
of the war being finished without the COM
plete triumph of their programme ard it
is equally certain that the cOnclav3 to
come off here shortly is another "Altoona
Convention. They want to see the war
waged until our armies overrun the whole
South and set every slave free; hence
their disgust at the submissive attitude of
the Southern people, their alarm at the
conservative disposition of the loyal people
of the North, and their determination to
once more bring their power to bear upon
the President, and manipulate him to a
course of action leading to the success
of their policy. The desire to prolong
the war, if possible, by melting the South
to further resistance by the potent infiu-
ences of confiscation and emancipation,
or, if necessary, by so regulating the
military operations of the Government as
to afford them promising hope that they
can yet succeed in their rebellion by force
OF arms. Hence their hostility to the in
auguration of any conservative action by
the government, and their efforts to secure
the inactivity of the Union armies for
months to come-in hopes that the South
may gather together her shattered armies
and recruit her wasted resources for an
other period of bloody resistance.