Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-19
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"Love'S Labor BOst.''
Surely, never were faithful adherents of
bad cause more bIufFed and spit upon
than the Peace Democrats Of the North
who espouse the cause Of the rebellion. In
one respect tney are appreciated and their
services acknowledged. This is in dis
tracing the North and destroying the
unity which prevailed two years ago. But
50 far as making peace IS concerned, they
meet with only scOrnful refusal. The
New York Evening Post collects ONE
Of the offers of the copperheads and the re-
sponses which the rebels return, from
which we quote.
GCome back to our arms" cry the sympa-
thisers, with tears in their eyes and dirt
on their knees; Hname your terms; take
whstyou want; you are the superior race
you ought to rule over us; you shall rule;
we know we are ignorant, Heaven forgive
usl do return and enlighten u.s." And
from Richmond come back by return of
mail such replies as this in the Dispatch;
HIft North will allow US to write the
constitution ourselves and give US every
guaranty we would ask, we would sooner
be under the. government Of France or
England"
ave demand an armistee," cry the
peace men in Illinois, New Jersey and
elsewhere-and straightway Mr.. FOOte re-
plies in the rebel Congress:
HNor could the government of said Con-
federate States agree to negotiate at all in
regard to q suspension of hostilities, except
upon the basis Of formal and uDcondi-
tonaI recognition Of their Independence"
"Let Us hold 4 convention of all the
States at Louisville" demand western
peace men; but the Richmond Enquirer
answers, even before the proposition is
formally put on paper
- --~---
nav as well dismiss from their programme
the preposterous proposition for joint
convention with the South. The South
eaEnot, by any moral possibility, consent
TO a reunion"
eve VIII take the Northwestern States
into the Southern COnfederaoy," e1claim
certain traitoreus devotees Of slavery in
those States. But the Atlanta Intelligencer
meets them with these words
HFhe admission Of any free States into
our Union is not only repugnant to us,
but will only be a continuation Of that evil
which has brought on the war, and to get
I'D Of which we are now fighting"
Hstop fighting. Make an armistioe-nO
formal treaty. Withdraw your army from
the seeded States" cries Vallandigham in
COngress-and the Richmond Enquirer
eommends his proposition as
-Hthe means to final separation Of the
States, a total destruction of the Union,
and the triumphant recognition Of the In
dependence Of the Confederates."
Nor are the Northern lovers of slavery
treated even with common courtesy by
their "wayward sisters" The Richmond
Dispatch speaks of +" the party of which
Brooks and Vallandigham are represent
stives" with genuine Yirginian pOliteness,
as fools enough to believe" certain
things; it says they "loOk only to their
pockets when they preach reconciliation
and reconstruction. English colonization,
French vassalage, Russian serfdOm, all are
preferable to any association with the
Yankees"
ave would not re-unite with them if
they would, one and all, consent to occupy
the same position Of degradation which
they aimed to rivet on us. We would not
consent to hold the Northern States even
80 provinces. On this subject there is
haadly q ripple upon the surface Of South
orn sentiment"
says the Richmond Enquirer. And
sgsin:
EThs seeded States will never vOlun-
tarily submit to any terms Of reunion
which It is possible for the ingenuity Of
man to devise, or even to imagine. If the
whole Yankee race should fall down in
the dust tomorrow, and pray us to be
their masters, we would spurn them even
as slaves"
And that eminent Southern gentleman
Jefferson Davis, says;
"If the question was proposed to you
whether you would combine with hyenas ol
Yankees, l trust every Yirginisn would
say, sGive me the hyenas.'
We have quoted only few of the rebe
replies To Southern pesce propositions
but they are enough to show .that th'
Hwaywsrd sisters not only refuse to b.
eOneiliated, but cruelty spit upon th'
would-be eoneiliators. What then vii
these dO2 Will they persevere at theii
dirty work2 Will they still beseech tn
enemy for mercy; still make high bids +
himfor peace; still, in future, as in tn
past obstruet, by every device they ar
capable Of, the vigorous prosecution of th
war on our side embaIrass the Govern
ment confuse and divide the people, de
preoiste the currency and encourage th
easuy9 Il they do we shall then kno'
what 70 think Of them Their offers hay
been made and have been unonditiOnsll
rejected. Those who repeat them hereat
tar can do so with only one object; the
cannot hope for their acceptance by Il
rebels; they can only hope to disturb Il
legal part Of the nation. But that is
ast IN the interest not Of the country, b
o. the enemy.