Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-18

he states that he had then recently had converse
ton with Prince GoRToHAoow, the Russian Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, on the news fom the
United States, especially the military movements
In the West and the actions of Murfreesboro and
Vicksburg. In the course of this conversation, as
Mr.. Taylor reports it to Mr.. Seward, the Prince
took occasion to say: ~ shall be glad, neverthe-
less, when you cease to show me laurels; they
are are always dipped in blood but whenever you
have branch of olive to exhibit, bring it to me at
once" Mr.. Taylor adds that, in reply to the OBJ
servaton Of the Prince, he suggested that at least
SOLVE leot" could be found in the policy
adopted by General Banks at New Orleans, and
that, by adding leaf to leaf in this manner, we
would finally be able to hold the entire branch.
The Prince expressed his pleasure at the news,
which he had already noticed in the papers, and
avowed his willingness to accept it as "a leaf from
the tree Of peace"
1t seems that the time has not yet come, in the
judgment of the President, to hold "the entire
olive branch in one hand while holding the
sword in the other but for this reason the people
are none the less discussing all sides the terms
aud conditions on which peace is to be offered and
accepted. This discussion, if pot preci plated,
has been greatly quickened by the PRONUNCIATION
Of the Presidents letter !" To whom it may con-
cern"--a letter Of which the contents may be truly
said to "concern" every man, woman, and child
in the United States for it is in this manifesto
that they automatically learn the conditions
which the country can have that peace for which
the whole people yea,n, with the exception only
of those who desire the continuance of the war,
that they may get pecunary gain or retain political
place.
Ia order to show the deep impression produced
by the Presidents rescript under this head, we
make few citations from the columns of our Re-
publican contemporaries.
The Newark IN. j. Daily Advertiser says:
1.-THE letter OF President Lincoln, written at the time
of the ridiculous Niagara Conference wherein the aba
donment Of slavery mentioned prerequisite to the
ception If peace commissioners, is still widely and
gravey discussed the serious nature Of the subject
certainly justifes We have been looking for some
planatn of this surprising declaration, which is
tary TO the Presidents previous policy but having
been made most Of those who have been supporting the
war for the Union quite bewdered by this apparent
change OF its object"
dent, as made from time to time, and which are
with the terms of the late manifesto,
the Advertiser proceeds to say:
Under the impression produced by sentiments thus
expressed and well sustained, the Unonovng people
rallied to the support Of the President and insisted his
denomination The preservation of the Union under
stood to be the sole object of the and to that grand
result all minor questions made subordinate slavery
though believed be chief among the of rebel
linn tn tax its of ord death m ppp
other issues of The conHctts existence to depend wholly
upon the acts of the traitors themselves 1t cannot there
FORE be disguised that the sudd appearance of the Pres
dents letter painful and perprxing surprise t. very
many of those who desire to do all they to sustain the
Government and preserve the Union.
1T impossible that the President could have in
tended by that short and apparently unpremedtated letter
suddenly the national policy lie could not do
80 il would No knows better than he that he has
power to impose, on behalf OF the Northern people
conditions the letter expressed At the most be
spoke only for his individual self and nconsdrra
BILE portion of his Northern friends We cannot tbok at
all probable that who has frankly avowed himself 10
be not the leader but the creature of the popular will
controlled BY aud not controlling the march OF
now the responsibility of stpuiatug such terms Of
negoaion before consulting his friends consentng To
hear any propostns from repentan States If they should
offer any"
Mr.. E. c. Seaman the editor of the Ann Arbor
Journal in an address to the readers of that paper,
announcing his purpose to favor change Of men
and measures in the conduct of the Government,
with view to the restoration Of the Union on the
Constitution, says:
1.-THE recent communication of the President directed
To whom it may concern at agara Falls shows Fixed
determination to make the abolition of slavery the princi
pal object of prosecuting the war; and to refuse to
toto any negot atoms for the restoration Of the Union
cept the coDd that the Southern States sha abs-
don and abolish slavery
Being national, not sectional Republican, con-
sentative not radical; old line Wing not abo-
onSt-I am an unconditional Union man, in favor Of a
Federal not consolidated Union favor Of the Unir
Of al the States from the Atlantic and the Gulf Of Mexica
the great Northern Lakes under any and all circum
stances with or without slavery.
Believing that the Constitution Of the United States is
the only bond of Unon for this whole country which
be formed that must eventually sink into
more cons dated military desp atisms msnag, d by mill
tary cbieains selfish and corrupt par ssn politicians
unless we become united ssan Federal Unon found
ed upon The absolute sovereignty OF the States in all inter
raj aud domestic matters the only practical basis OF
Union l in favor Of the restoIa OF the Federal
Union il practicable, under the Constr
tuition it is, subject to suoB notifications may be
upon future by constitutional maj 1ry of three
tOurihs oi the Staes. ground 10 hope for
the restoration OF the Union upon any other basis
Believing that the was is now prosscu cd for an i'm
purpose that the Union ON be
and permanent peace established between the Free and
the Slave States long the enamel patton and restoa
ton policies of President Lincoln persisted in,
in favor of chnge Of policy and Of making effort "a
restore the Union on the old basis"
The New York Tribune holds the following Ian.
guage on the qncstion-arguing the propricty Of
n Immediate resort to negotiation with view o.