Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-07-27

! desired to visit w ashlngton IN the fulfil
ment Of this mission. This assurance,
which we then gave, and still do give,
entire credence, was accepted by US as
the evidence of an unexpected but most
gratifying change in the policy of the
President a change which we feel au-
thorized to hope might terminate in the
conclusion of peace, mutually just, hon
orable and advantageous to the North and
South; exacting no conditions but that
we should be duly accredited from Rich
! mond as bearers of propositions looking
to the establishment Of peace, thus offer
ing basis for a conference as compre-
| hensive as we could desire.
1t seemed to US that the President
opened a door which had previously been
closed against the Confederate States. for
full Interchange of sentiments, free dis
cussion of conflicting opinions, and un-
| trammelled effort to remove all causes of
controversy by liberal negotiation We
indeed could not claim the benefit of a
safe conduct which had been extended to
us In character we had no right to as
sume, and had never affected to possess
| but the uniform declaration Of our Execu-
tive and Congress, and their thrice re-
peated and often repulsed attempts to open
negotiations, furnished a sufficient pledge
| that this conciliatory manifestation on the
part OF the President of the United States
would be met by them in temper of
equal magnanimity. 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
for this unhappy strife. We feel conf
dent you must share our profound regret
that the spirit which dictates the final
step towards peace had not continued to
animate the councils of your President
| that the representatives of the two Gov
ernments met to consider this question,
| the most momentous ever submitted TO
| human craftsmanship, in temper of be-
| coming moderation and equally followed
as their deliberations would have been,
| by the prayers and benedictions of every
| patriot and christian on the habitable
globe.
How is it that the frightfuI waste of in
| dlvldual happiness and public prosperity
which Is daily saddening the universal
| heart might not have been terminated, or
if the desolatiOn and carnage of war must
still be endured through many years of
blood and suffering, that there might not
at least have been infused into its conduct
| something more Of the spirit which SOFT
ems and partially redeems its brutalities
Instead OF the safe conduct which SO So
llclted, and which your first letter gave
US every reason TO suppose would be ex-
tended for the purpose of military negotia-
tlons, IN which neither Government would
compromise its rights or its dignity, a
document has been presented which pro-
vokes as much indignation as surprise 1t
bears not feature of resemblance to that
! which was originally offered, and is unlike
| any paper which ever before emanated
from the constitutional executive of n free
people. Addressed to whom it may con-
Germ, 1t precludes negotiation, and pre-
| scrIbes III advance the terms and condi-
tons OF peace. 1t returns to the original
policy OF no bargaining, no negotiation,
no truce with rebels, except to bury their !
down his arms, submitted to the Govern |
ment and sued for mercy. What may be !
the explanation of this sudden and entire |
change IN the views of the President of |
this rude withdrawal OF q courteous over |
lure for negotiation at a moment it was !
likely to be accepted of this emphatic .
recail OF words Of peace just uttered, and |
iFesh blasts Of war TO the bitter end, we |
leave Tor the speculation of those who |
have means Of inclination to penetrate the !
mysteries Of his Cabinet, or fathom the
caprice OF his imperial will 1t is enough
lor us to say that we have no use, what
ever, for the paper which has been placed |
IN our hands. We could not transmit it !
to the President of the Confederate States
without offering him an indignity, dis |
honorlnS ourselves and mourning the we'll |
merlted scorn of our countrymen. Whilst
oesire ior peace pervades the people of
uile confederate States, we rejoice to be- |
iieve that there are few, if any. amongst
tnem VINO would purchas it at the expense
VI liberty, honor, and self-respect, if it
can oe secured only bv their submission to
Terms ol conquest. The generation is yet
unborn that will witness its restoration |
II there be any military autocrat in the
North who Is entitled to proffer the con-
dition OF the manifesto, there is none in
the South authorized TO entertain them.
Ahose VINO control our armies are the SER
wants OF the people, not their masters, and
,noy nave no more inclination than they |
M nave rlsht TO subvert the social institu- |
.,ohS OF sovereign States, to overthrow
lne established Constitution and to barter
away their priceless heritage of self-gov-
, eminent 1hls correspondence will not,