The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-03

dition that we were duly accredited from
Richmond as bearers of propositions look.
ing to the establishment OF peace. and
desired TO visit Washington in fulfillment
of this mission. This assertion 10 which
we then gave, and still do, entire credenee
was accepted by us as the evidence OF an
unexpected but most gratifying change
fn the policy of the President, change
which we felt authorized to hope might
ultimately lead to the conclusion of a
peace, mutually just, and advantageous 10
the North and to the South.
Exciting no conditions but that we
should be duly accredited from Richmond
as bearers of propositions looking to the
establishment OF peace, thus proffering o
basis for conference as comprehensive as
we could desire, it seemed TO us that the
President opened door which had pre-,
viously been closed against the Confoder-
ate State for full interchange Of senti-
ments, free discussion Of conflicting opin-
ions, and untrammelled effort to remove
all causes of controversy by liberal nego-
tiation. We, indeed, could not 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
posses, but the uniform declaration OF
our Executive and Congress, and their
thrice repeated and as often repulsed at
tempts 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 a4emper of equal magnanimity.
We had therefore, no hesitatiqri' iytde-
Al M sln,, 49,,
commS nicated to President Of the Con-
federal States he would gladly embrace
the opportunity presented for seeking
peaceful solution of the unhappy strife.
We feel confident you must state our pro-
found regret that the spirit which dc
tates the first step toward peace had not
continued to animate the councilsoP your
President.
Had the representatives Of the two
Governments met to consider this qnes-
tor, the most momentous ever submit
ted to human statesmen, in a temper Of
becoming moderation and equity, follow
ed as their deliberations would have been
by the prayers and benedictions of every
patriot and Christian on the. habitable
globe, who is there then so bold as to
pronounce the frightful waste Of indiyid-
ual 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 continue many weary years Of blood
and suffering, that there might have
been Infused into its. conduct something
more of the spirit which softens and par
TALLY redeems its brutalism.
y 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 nebo-
tiations in which neither the Government
would compromise its rights or its digni-'
ty, 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 iSun-
like any paper which ever baiore enlana-
ted from the constitutional Executive of
a free people.
addressed "To ,ohom il may concern
II precludes negotiation and precribes in
advance the terms and conditions of
peace. 1t returns to the original policy
of no harboring. no negotiations, 40 traces
With rebels excepting to bury their
lead till every man should have laid
Town his arms, submitted TO the Coy
ernment, and sued for mercy.r
What may be the explanation 81 this
suoteiou Arsi' r1ssirs issH * IND e yibwh aF.
he President of this withdrawal OF
courteous overturesior negotiation, alta
it was likely to he accepted, of
emphatic recall of words of peace just ut
cred, and fresh blasts of war to the bitter
md, we leave for the speculation Of those
Who have the means of inclination to
penetrate the mysteries of the Cabinet. or
athom the caprice Of bis imperial will.
1t is enough for US to say that we see
10 use whatever for the paper which has
een placed in our hands. We could
lot transmit it to the President of the
States without offering him
n indignity, dlshonoring ourselves and
,curring the well merited scorn of our
While an ardent desire for peace per-
AIDES the people OF The Confederate
tates, we rejoice to believe that there
re few, if any, amongst them who would |
urcbase it at the expense ofliberty, hon
+ and selfrespect.
Ii it can be secured only by their sub.
lission to terms Of conquest, the genera
ON is yet unborn which viii! witness its
If there be any military au-
,crat in the North who is entitled to
roffer the conditions OF this manifesto.
lere is none in the South authorized to
llertain them. Those who control our
mics are the servants OF the people, not
leir masters, and they have no more in
ination than they have right to subyert
10 social institutions OF sovereign States.
overthrow their established constitu-
ons and to barter away their priceless
aritage of self government. /.
This correspondence will not, however.
) trust, prove wholly barren of good re-
Its. If there is any citizen of the Con- z
derate States who has chung 70 a hone ,
at peace was possible with this Admin.
ration Of the Fedeal Government. It
IL strip from its eyes the last film of
ch delusion, or if there be any whose
arts have grown faint under the suffer. :
: and agony of this bloody struggle, it'll
Il inspirit them with fresh energy and
ave whatever may yet be requisite 10 pre- 4
we to themselves and children all thar 4
les tlignilRapd value 10 liie.aQr hope :
q consolatl1Iin death ]; and IL here b. q,
Y patriots or christians IA yenr lind
o shrink appalled, from the Inevitable
private misery and public calamity :
ich stretches over thom, we pray that
their bosoms resolution may be Quick. !.
ed to re claim their abused authority =
vindicate the outraged civilization {
their country for the suicide you have op
ieaVored to inaugurate; more, which Il
templates the most noble and hu- W. W
ne. We would return our most sincere is,