Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-16
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wishes which we form in favor of peace to
take into account sll the susceptibilities Of
national feeling, and we do not at all ques-
tion the right of the Federal Government
to decline the cooperation (consours) of the
great maritime Powers Of Europe. But
this cooperation, is it not the only means
which offers itself to the cabinet of Wash
ington to hasten the close Of the war; and
if it believes that it ought to repel any for
eign Intervention, could it not honorably
accept fhe idea Of direct (polfr parlers) in
formal conferences with the authority
which may represent the States Of the
SOUTH The Federal Government does not
despair, we know, of giving slmore active
impulse to hostilities. Its sacrifices have
not exhausted its resources, still less its
perseverance and its steadfastness. The
protraction Of the struggle, in a word, has
not shaken its confidence in the defnitive
success Of its efforts. But the opening
of informal conferences between the belig-
erent parties does not necessarily imply
the immediate cessation of hostilities.-
Negotiations about peace are not always
the consequence Of a suspension Of war
fare. They precede, on the contrary, more
often the establishment Of truce"
This is the gist of the dispatch. The re-
mainder is devoted to arguing in favor of
its acceptance. To this dispatch, Mr.. Sew
ard, under date of February 9th, replies at
length. Quoting theremark of the French
Minister, that the Federal Government
does not dispair, we know, of giving more
active impulse to hOstilities," and another
Of similar import he says:
"These passages seem to me do uninten-
tionsl injustice to the language, wheth-
er confidential or public, in which this
Government has constantly spoken on the
subject of the war. It certainly has had
and avowed only one purpose determi-
nation to preserve the integrity Of the
country. So far from admitting any lax
ity Of effort, or betraying any dependency,
the Government has, on the contrary,
borne itself cheerfully in all vicissitudes
with unVsrying confidence in an early
and complete triumph of the National
cause"
He says that so steady have the Federal
forces advanced in the work of reclaiming
the rebellious districts, that they now hold
but Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, with
half of Virginia, half of North Carolina,
half of Mississippi, and One-third of Ar
kansas and louisiana. He further says
"While there has been much difference
of popular opinion and favor concerning
the agents who shall carry on the war, the
principles on which it shall be waged, and
the means with which it shall be prosecu-
ted NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys has only to re-
fer to the statute book of Congress and the
Executive ordinances to learn that the ma
tivity has hitherto been, and yet is, as eff
fcient as that Of any other nation, what
ever its form Of Government, ever was un-
der circumstances Of equally grave import,
to its peace, safety and welfare. Not one
voice has been raised anywhere, out of the
immediate field of the insurrection, in IA
vor of foreign Intervention or mediation,
or arbitration, or Of compromise with the
relinquishment of one acre of the national
domain, or the surrender Of even one con-
stitutional franchise. At the same time it
is manifest to the world that our resources
are yet abundant and our credit adequate
to the existing emer gency."
Of the French proposition, be says:
"But when NJ Drouyn de Lhuys shall
come to review in the light in which it must
necessarily be examined in this country, l
think he can hardly fail to perceive that it
amounts to nothing less than a PROPOSE
ton that while the Government is engaged
in suppressing an armed insurrection,
with the purpose of maintaining the con-
national authority and preserv-
ing the integrity of the country, it shall
enter into diplomatic discussion with the
upon the questions whether that
shall not be renounced and
whether the country shall not be delivered
over to disuniOn, to be quickly followed by
ever increasing anarchy"
Mr.. Seward then most ably presents ar
guments against such course, of which
we have spoken particularly elsewhere.
He further says, in reference to a confer
enee:
"Itis true, indeed, that peace must come
some time, and that conferences must at
tend, if they are not allowed to preeede the
pacifcation. There is, however, q better
form for such conferences than the one
which NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys suggests. The
latter would be palpably in derogatiOn of
the Constitution of the United States, and
would carry no weight, because destitute
Of the sanction necessary to bind, either to
the loyal or disloyal portions of the people.
On the other hand, the Congress of the
United States furnishes q constitutional
forum for debates between the alienated
parties. Senators and Representatives
from the loyal people are those already
fully empowered to confer, and seats are
also vacant and inviting the Senators and
Of the discontented party,
who may be eonstitutionally sent there
from the States involved in the insurrec-
lion"
Taken as whole, the reply of Secretary
Seward's is one that will be endorsed by
-he great mass of the people of this coun-
.ry. We want no interference or inter
FentiOn, and nobody could better set forth
his fact than has Secretary Seward.
IHIO SOLDIERS TO OHIO TRAITORS.