The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-07-28

closed against the Confederate States for
full interchange of sentiments, free discus
sion of conflicting opinions, and untram-
meled effort to remove all causes of con-
troversy by liberal negotiations. We, in
deed, could net claim the benefit of safe
conduct which had been extended to us in
a character we had no right to assume and
had never affected to possess; but the
uniform declarations of our Executive and
Congress, and thrice repeated, and as
often repulsed attempts to open negotia-
tions, furnish sufficient pledge to US that
this conciliatory manifestation on the part
of the President of the United States
would be met bv them in a temper OF
equal maSnanimity. We had, therefore,
no hesitation in declaring that if this cor
respondence was communicated to the
President of the Confederate States, he
would promptly embrace the opportunity
presented for seeking peaceful solution
of this unhappy strife. We feei confident
that you must share our profound regret
that the spirit which dictated the first step
toward peace had not continued to animate
the councils of your President. Had the
representatives of the two Governments.
met to consider this question, the most
momentous ever submitted to. human
craftsmanship, in temper of becoming
moderation and equity, followed, as their
deliberations would have been by the pray
ers and benedictions of every patriot and
Christian On the habitable globe, who is
there so bold as to pronouce that the
frightful waste of individual happiness
and public prosperity which is daily sad
dening the universal heart, might not
have been terminated, or if the desolation
and carnage of war must still be endured
through weary years OF blood and suffer
ing, that there might not at least have
teen infused into its conduct something
more of the spirit which softens and par
TALLY iedeems its brutalities.
Instead of the safe conduct which we
solicited, and which your first letter gave
US every reason to suppose would be ex-
tended for the purpose of initiating ne
gotiation, in which neither Government
would compromise its rights or its dignity,
a document has been presented which
provokes as much indignation as surprise.
1t bears no feature of resemblance to that
which was originally offered, and is unlike
any paper which ever before emanated
from the constitutional Executive of afree
people. Addressed ''to whom it may con-
cern," it precludes negotiation and pre-
scri5es in advance the terms and condi-
tions o! peace. i returns to the original
policy Of 'no bargaining, no negotiations,
no truces with Rebels exceptto bury their
dead, until every man shall have laid down
his arms, submitted to the Government,
and sued for mercy"
Whatever may be the explanation of
this sudden and entire change in the views
of the President, of this rude Withdrawal
of courteous overture for negotiation at
the moment il was likely to be accepted,
of this emphatic recall of words of peace
just uttered, ani fresh blasts of war to the
bitter end, we leave for the speculation OF
those who have the means or inclinations
to penetrate .he mysteries of his Cabinet,
or fathom the caprice of his imperial will.
1t is enough for us to say that we have no
use whatever for the paper which has
been placed in our hands.
We could not transmit it to the Presi-
dent of 1.-The Confederate States without
offering him an indignity, dishonorins
ourselves, and incurring the well-merited
scorn ofour coun.rymen. While an ardent
desire for peace pervades the people ofthe
Confederate States, we rejoice TO believe
that there are few, if any, among them
ho would purchase it at the expense of
liberty, honor, and self respect. If it can
be secured only by their submission to
terms of conquest, the generation is yet
unborn which will witness its restitution.
Ii there be any military autocrat in the
North who is entitled to protfer the condi-
tions of this manifesto, there is none in
the South authorized to entertain them.
Those who control our armies are the
servants of the pecple-not their masters
and they nave no more inclination, than
they have the right, to subvert the social
of the sovereign States, TO
overthrow their established constitutions,
aud to barter away their priceless heritage
Of selfgovernmcnt. This spondence
will not, however, we trust, prove wholly !
barren of good result
If there is any citizen of the Confeder-
ate States wEo has clung to hope that
peace was possible with this Administra-
lion of the Federal Government, it will |
strip from his eyes the last film o. such |
lelusion or if there be any whose hearts
nave grown faint under the suffering and |
agony of this bloody struggle, it will in
'pire them with fresh energy to endure |
md brave whatever may yet be requisite
o preserve to themselves and their child |
ZEN all that gives dignity and value to life /
,r hope and consolation to death. And |
f there be any patriots or christians in