The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-08-03
THE PEACE MOyESsEyT.

The answer President Lincoln gave to the
Peace Commissioners from the South, is O.
pening the cyes of many The excuse given
j.. by his friends to cover up the aa'iaus of the
answer will not deceive the people, but fls-
ten the conviction deeper on their minds
that this Administration does Hot desire
Peace While it holds the power, it is de-
termined that no obstacle shall intervene be-
tween it and it's cherished plans for the de-
struetion of the best government on earth.
twill not do as an excuse that the men re-
presenting the South were not the accredited
agents of the Rebels When Mr. Lincoln
dictated his terms, he laid down the only
platform on which he would accept Peace,
no matter who the Commissioners might be.
When the application of Alexander H.
Stephens was rejected, the Administration
organs justified the act upon the ground that
Mr.. Stephens came as an accredited envoy
Of the Richmond authorities, and to receive
him in that capacity would imply virtual
recognition of the Confederacy. In the
present case, Mr., Lincoln appears to have
iAyorel the proposition for an interview I'M
der the impression that Messrs. Clay and
!iolcomb were duly accredited; but upon as
c,.!t4ining the unofficial character Of their
i.lission, the safe conduct was withdrawn,
and by process so arrogant and rcpulsive,
that the evident intention was to convey an
insult aud provoke resentment. The advan-
ctsoithe South toward negotiation are simply
made a mockery OF by the Federal Executive.
la one case the absence, and in the other
case the possession of credentials forbids an
interview. We leave it for the Adminstr;l-
ton organs to reconcile the conflicting pha-
ses Of Mr.. Lincoln diplomacy.
II must be borne in mind that the most
intimate social relations exist between Jeffer
son Davis and Messrs. Clay and Holcomb.
Both of the latter are men of high character,
who would under no circumstances connect
themselves with a trivial mission or lend their
names to mere electoneering trick. They
know what terms the Confederate authori-
rics will accept and the Southern people
sanction Is it not right and essential that
we should know too? Is it not madness to
proceed with this work of carnage when the
object contenled for, by one at least of the
parties, is mystery? The people Of the
North can CLEAN this terrible truth from the
result of the Canada Conference Mr..
Lincoln has determined, at all hazards, to
prevent peace God ofChristians! shall
people who acknowledge Thy Divinity, be
driven thus to ignore and violate Thy Doc
trine Shall an enlightened race be COM
PEELED by the will of one man, trider, intri-
gucr, fanatic and usurper, to stand at the
threshold Of redemption and labor for per-
dition!
The South desires percc, courts negetia.
ton, invites to compromise; but We the
people of the North, impotently wTithing
alnder an usurped authority permit the crea-
tup of a political accident to bafiic the natu-
raj tendencies Of both sections, interposing
his ambition and faDaticism in the path of
reconciliation.
il is upon record, above the signature of
Abraham 14incoln, that (" Me adaaaonateat
ofshieey must be aceepted1by the South,
even as preliminary to negotiation. No
proposition that does not embrace submis-
sion to that condition will he received and
considered BIZ the Erecuttce Government of
9ic United States" Esecatite Corannieati
Mark how theonc man power revels in the
adjective that denotes its strength and the
pooph''s Impotence. IL i. therefore settled
that the asbahdomcnt Of Slavery is the
purpose of thiswar. For that or soil is
lrenched With blood. for that our soldiers