Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-17
The .re..nre of Jen. DnHis.

We have q synopsis Of the recent mes
sage Of the President Of the COnfederacy
to the rebel Congress. It differs from his
previous communications in having some
what less boastful tone, and in its eager
Rrasping toward peace. In misrepresent-
alton and cslumny, however, no altera-
ton is manifest; these are still potent
weapons Of the rebel administration, and
constant use has not rendered the leaders
less adept in handling them.
Davis says that the anticipatiOns with
which they entered into the contest have
ripened into conviction. If SO, they are
easily convinced. Then, they determined
to possess the seat Of Government Of the
United States; they would rally an army
in the North as well as South, and hold
and occupy New York and Philadelphia.
Have they accomplished this? True, they
have succeeded in keeping Washington in
state Of alarm, and in forcing the presence
of an army to defend it, but they have no
more succeeded in their efforts to take it
than the Federal army has succeeded in cap
turing Richmond. Both have SO far failed,
and therefore the results are even; but from
the present standpoint the advantages are
upon our side. Then, Davis intended to
carry the war into the North, partly by
Southern 7slor and partly by the aid Of
Northern traitors. These last are begin
ing to show their hands, but as yet they
have not dared rise in open rebellion, and
IS for the Southern bordes, the only inva-
sion they have made upon free soil was by
the adventurous raid of Stuart, which was
bold and aggravating but nothing more
On the contrary, the Federal forces have
steadily advanced, although slowly and
with frequent reversss. Maryland is freed
from rebel tread, and in Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Missouri the secession hold is
slight The fact that Morgan is project
ing another raid through Kentucky is no
proof Of re-occupation by the rebel army,
although it is an evidence Of laxity and
mismanagement upon our side. Our Op-
erations upon the coast have been uni
fOrmly successful; the exceptions at James
Island last sumner and at Galveston max
ing the rule more spparent. Whatever
boasts may be made, it is evident that
upon our own soil the rebel antieipatiOns
have not aripened into conviction.
Again, they anticipated speedy and pow
erful foreign aid, which has failed them.
To be sure, France offered to interfere, but
the offer came to naught and did not raise
the blockade nor add dollar to the mill
tsry chest Of the Confederacy. Davis him
self says that the course Of European Gov
srnments has not been what was expected,
thereby cOntradicting his former assertion.
But Davis wants peace. Why, if their
aaticipations have been realized2 They
were to sehiess tbsir. independence by
war; have they doneit7 They asked no
favors Of anybody do they sue for peace
now 2 But earnest as this cry is for peace,
it gives no hope to the cOmpromisers--
only to the out-and-out rebel sympathi-
ssrs. Those who would hold national
convention and remodel the Constitution
to guarantee to the South all the fanciful
"rights" which she could trump up that
wanted protection, viii find no encourage
msnt in this declaration Of the rebel Pres
idsnt. 1t is only the Vallandighams, olds'
oritchfelds, and Medarys, who will have
their plans furthered by it. They want
s peace upon the same grounds as does their
mastsr-entire acknowledgment Of the
claims Of the rebels. But that the Gov
ernnsnt and the North will nsusr grant.
It is useless here to re-e1pOse the utter
falsity and hypocrisy Of the charges of in
humanity which are made against the
Federal Government in connection with
the war. Il has been done SO often as to
bestaie, and though It were done five hun
drod times more, Davis and his Grew would
repeat the allegation and glorify theirown
atrocities into he exercise Of manly
end christian virtues.
1nrsgard 70 the Emsncipation ProOlana.
sn, Davis makes the most inpOrssat