, 1863-01-09
Rebel Greeting to Northern
Peace Men.

[From the Richmond E1amincr, Jan. sd1
Late events have turned public attention in
the Northern etates to SOME other conclusion
of this desolatlng war than that which they
p0rtionate lcyics Of troops. The word "ar1n-
istice' has latcly been beard Oh the floor Of
Congress !; and without its wills the practical
bilIty Of q Convention, to be composed of
delegates from all the States Of the late Union,
appointed b; the authorities Of the States, to
adopt some plan OF general pacitlcation, isn now
But the time for Peace Congresses is past.
So long as the States we're component parts
fthc came CoDfadcracy, it war; both lawful
and proper. that the representatives Of their
should confer upon and discuss
questions and affairs affecting them all.
Nothing In the constitution forbade such #
conference, OF deprived its Recommendations
Of rcspectability and authority. But sucl
convention is impossible now. It is predica-
ted upon the idea that the late Union still cx-
lists: that the Southern Contederacy does not
exist; that the men Of Virginia, the Carolinas,
Georgia, etc, are fellow~citizens Of the men
vino Inhabited Massachusetts, New York, and
Pennsylvania. To admit the possibility Of
such i Convention ignores tic legitimate
function of the Confederate government. The
States Of the Contederacy have delegated their
authority over their foreign atfairs 10 a COM
mon executive and legislature.
They cannot now take single atep In a1y
dGlling with foreign nations without violating
the solemn compact By which they created
that government. The States Of the Union
are in precisely the same attitude toward tile
government of the Union. They hare no au-
thority or power to treat with the Southern
arc distinctly province Of the Federal govern
ernmcnt alone. No arrangement Of a national
character. no treaty or preparation for a
treaty, of peace between the two countries
now at war, is possible Or lawful, except such
as may be made by the President and Senate
Of tho Confederate Slutes and tic President
and Senate Of tie United Suites.
The People Of the North, who wish to see
the end of these hostilitie5 and troubles,
must, first Of all, agree to i recognition Of the
Confederate government. Without that, the
war must go Oil forever. Even au armisticc
ulation upon u general convention of States
is, therefore, mere 'noonshinc, 50 long as the
South reulains-u unconquesel- If the
armies :; Of. the United States were
to succecd: in = driving the per
eons composing the Confederate Government
MI hope in the people Of the restoration Of
the Confederate authorities, general conven-
tion Of the two nations, without regard to
the constituted authorities of either, free to
form any new relations which they thought
tit, might then become matter for consider
tionl with the individual inhabitants Of the
land
AtpreEent. the project Of this convention
may be noticed only as symptom Of strong
desire for peace among the Northern people.
Nothing will come of it for some time So
long as the present Executive and Congress
remain in Office, their discretion hasno check.
They are committed TO-. tue continuation ot
the war in the last extremity. Passion and
interest both bind them to 1t. They will m,
doubtedly prosecute this war until new mem.
bcrs Of Congress take their seats next gear
unless the vast army they have collected fol
powering the South, ris itself destroyed be
fore that period arrives.