Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-26

Correspondence of The New York World.l
WASHINGTON, July 81.
Now that 1t has transpired that negotia
tions are on foot between Sanders. Jewett
r. Greeley, and others, to put arstop to til,
war, there can be no harm In giving pub
licity to some of the speculations which
have been current here during the pas
winter, touching the question of recon.
struction. Mr.. Lincoln has had it in his
power several times to end the war. He
need never have allowed it to begin in the
first place, and after he saw its magnitude
it would have been an easy matter for hin
to have brought about reunion, If it had
not been for his own ambition and his mis-.
cradle advisers, the worst of whom, by the
way. at the beginning of the war was Sal
monrP. Chase. t~5 uotvsN ,nt,g H..
-A" ALEXANDER STEPHENS MISSION. e"
It is no longer secret that the precise
mission of Alexander III. Stephens, when
he was refused permission to- visit WASH
ing ton, as from the Confederate Govern
ment was to promise first all armistice for
a certain number of days or months; sec
ond, the assemblage of a National Conyen-
tion of all the States; third, an assurance
on the part of the Southern leaders that the
South would hold itself bound to consent
to commercial union with the North
that is, union which would permit free
commercial intercourse between the North
and the South, and would be one nation. so
far as their dealings with other countries
were concerned. As to whether the North
should have the power to pass upon any
question affecting the domestic institutions
of the South, it was to be left an open ques-
ton; and if q Convention of the States
which met could find happy solution for
it, the South would be bound to accept it.
That this was the burden of Mr.. Stephens
message was known at the time, unofficial
ly, by Mr.. Lincoln. himself tlt.H rr -
He did not choose to end the war then,
and consequently the loss of life and the
waste of treasure which has occurred since
then is to be attributed only to the malign
influences which surrounded him.
PROPOSITIONS FRoMJRFF DAVIS. -
Previous to the opening of this present
campaign, as Is well known In Washington,
unofficial aduices came directlyJrom JET DdUis
offering to end the aoar on terms ,ohich ,vould
prove satisfactory to both parties. Davis said
he wished to spare the useless effusion of
blood. He would guarantee on behalf of
the South, if not the old Union in all its in
tegrity, Union which would answer the
same purposes-that is, Union with one
code of commercial laws, and one foreign
policy. What further agreement would be
arrived at was matter for the discussion of
the people of the several States.
WHAT THE CABINET THOUGHT OF THEM.
These propositions were discussed in cab
met council, and strange to say, the only
one who really favored them was no other |
than Mr.. Chase, the same who had opposed |
peace only year previously. Mr.. Chase
had found in the conduct of the finances |
that the limit of exhaustion was almost
reached, and that war for another year on
the present colossal scale was simply i'm
possible, consistent with the honor and
financial integrity of the nation. Hence
Mr.. Chase was in favor of treating the
of JEFF Davis with considera-
tion. But he cabinet were generally OPP
posed to it, and reasoned that Davis and
his armies must really be in very bad con-
dition, or the offer would not have been
made. They, therefore, determined to try
the issue of another campaign. The cam
paigt has been tried, and its result is be-
fore the country. The hideous waste oflife
and treasure which has resulted from this
of the war, is of course to be
laid to the credit of Abraham Lincoln, Pres
dent of the United States. e AJ
SOUTHERN POLITICIANS FOR PEACE.
1t is no secret that the great political in
erests at the South are heartily sick of the
var and eager for its discontinuance. 1t
will be noticed that for the last two years
,ut little has been heard of the Cobbs,
rOombses, Rhetts, Hunters, Clays, Yulees,
md that swarm of minor politicians who
we're wont to figure so conspicuously in the
ocal politics of their States previous to the ,
isruption of the Union. All these men
nd they were still influential at the South ]
feel keenly how much they have been
verridden by the military element, and
ence they are naturally desirous of COM ]
ng back to state of things in which they
would again be able to make their appear
nee on the stage of political life. There
ore all this class of politicians are desirous {
hat the war should come to an end, and it
) they who are most active in forwarding
hese volunteer negotiations. 1t will be
oticed that it is this class of men whom
Ir. Vallandigham met in passing through
he South, and who, he says, declared that
he South would willingly come back into
he Union if an armistice were declared
here can be no doubt of the sincerity of
lese persons, but there is good deal of
Oubt whether they are authorized to act
4 behalf of the Confederate Government.
{ is very certain that George Sanders
'ould not be given any serious mission to
ettle any question between the two Sec
ons. ,laia,4a-
.iaet A QUESTION OF POLICY. ~