Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-08
The RAFTsMAn's JOURNAL,

their own party were in power, or virtually
er. if possible, obtain an armistice without the
aid of foreign governments; but they would
| be disposed TO accept al. offer of mediation if
it appeared to be the orly means of putting a
stop TO hostilities. They would desire that
the offer should come from the great Powers
of Europe conjointiy, and in particular that as
little prominence possible should be gwen
to Great Britain.
i AT Washington have had fewer opportuni
ties than had New York of ascertaining
the present views OF the chiefs of the poli,i-
c,l parties. At the intervi.w which 1 had
with Mr.. Seward the day after my arrival, he
showed no disposition to enter upon political
matters. He did not appear to expect or TO
desire to receive from me any special commu
nication from her Majesty's government. The
| President, when | waited upon him, talked to
! me only on ordinary topics. /, for my part,
/ gladly stunned all allusion to foreign inter
vention. my principal object being to avoid
saying anything which might embarrass me in
! carrying out any instructions on the subject
which may receive fiom your lordship.
/ All things cons idered. my own opinion GER
! tainiy is that the presAn. moment is not IA
vorable one for making an offer of mediation.
! II might embarrass the peace party. and even
obiige them in order to maintain their popu-
| larity, to make some public declarations a.
| ganst it. and this might make il difficult for
them to accept similar offer at a more pro-
pitions time. 1t would in all probability be
rejected by the President, who appears to
have thrown himself into the arms of the cx-
| treme radical party. The views of that party
are clear and definite. They declare that
there is no hope of reconciliation with the
southern people that the war must be pur-
sued, per fos aut nefas until the disloyal men
OF the South are ruined and subjugated, if not
exterminated that not an inch OF the old ter
ritory of the republic must be given up; that
foreign intervention, in any shape, must be
rejected and resented. This party would de-
sire 10 turn an offer of mediation TO account
tor the purpose of iuflaming the war spirit and
producing reaction against the conservatives.
1t is probable, too, that the government
would urge, in answer to an offer of media
| tiou, that it has by no means abandoned the
reasonable time that at all events, this is
not moment at which it Can reasonably be
called upon TO put stop to hostiliiies. 1t
would observe that the armies of the United
States are everywhere advancing, and that ex-
peditions are prepared against Texas well
as against Charleston, Mobile and other points
on the coast. 1t would point out that it had
7 enu n ned 1ar har ofyp
sells, ron-clad as well as others, at a vast ex-
pense that the season had just arrived when
the autumn rains would render the rivers nav
igable by armed vessels, and when the south
ern coast would be free from epidemic dis
ease. 1t might even represent IN advance of
the Army of the Potomac 10 Richmond as a
probable event. The experience of the past
is certainly not calculated to inspire any great
confidence in the results of these warlike prep
arations but the political interests OF the
party now in power render n continuance of
the war necessity to it. Its only chance OF
regaining its lost popularity lies in successful
M ilitary operations. Unless ii can obtain
much higher place in public estimation than
it now occupies. not only will fits tenure OF
power become extremely precarious. but some
of IFS leading members may be called to se->
we're account for their extra legal proceedings.
During the session of Congress which begins
next month the present administration has in
deed reason to expect uncompromisiDg
support from majority of both Houses of
Congress- But on the 4th of March next the
existing House of Representatives is dssolv-
ed by the terms of the constitution, aud al
the same time several of the present Senators
go out of office The majority of the mem
bers chosen at the recent elections for the new
House Of Representatives are of the Demo.
cratic or conservative party, and in some
States Senators of that party will be returned
in the room of those whose terms of office ex-
pire next March. The new Congress is in fact
likely to be hostile to the administration and
10 the radical party and although it will not,
in the ordinary course of things assemble uu-
til the last month of next year, the President
will hardly be able to persist in his present
policy and in his assumption of extraordinary
powers unless he can, in virtue of military
success, obtain reputation with the people
which will sustain him in a contest with the
legislature.
1t would seem, then, to be vain to make an
offer of mediation TO the present Government,
in their present mood, with any notion that
it would be accepted. A change of mood
may, however. take place after the 4th OF
March, ii no great military success occur in
the interval. Such change may possibly be
produced sooner by military reverses A pro.
posal, however, to mediate, made even under
I