Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-10-11
GEN. sHERMAN's PEACE PLAN,
Governor Browns Reply TO General
Shermnn'S Message.
ron The coat.a.r... Union.

From the cOufsdsr1ts Union .
As much has been said about the informal
messages sent by General Sherman to Gov
eruor Brown, Vice President Stephens and
Senator Jonson, inviting them to visit the
General in Atlanta, for conference In ref
erence 70 the state of the country, With a
view TO negotiation for peace, and Gs the
public mind has been much excited upon
the subject, some saying that ia the duty
Of these gentlemen to accept the Geueral's
invitation and make an effort to settle our
difficulties by negotiation; others eouteud-
ing that it was the duty of the Governor
70 have seized the Generals messenger and
have ordered him hung as . traitor, we
have for the qualification Of our own and
the curiosity of our readers, called upon
the Governor and inquired for the facts.
The Governor Ia reply to our inqairies,
stated that Mr.. VIM. King, who represent
ed himself a. the bearer Of . message from
General Sherman, called upon him and
stated, in substance, that General Sher-
man had requested him to say 70 the Gov
ernor that he would be pleased to receive
q visit from him and other distinguished
Georgisns, with q view 70 q conference up
on the state of the country and settlement
Of our difficulties; that be would give the
Governor g passport through his lines with
an escort, il desired, to 20 and fetnrn at
such time as might be agreeable TO him;
that he General Shermanl recognized him
(Goyernor BroWn) as the Governor Of the
whole State, and as over one hundred miles
Of the territory of the State is now behind
his lines, he General Shermau) would al
low the Governor 70 60 and visit his people
in the rear II be desired to look after their
condition, and return at his pleasure-that
be would receive him and other distin-
guished Georgians at his headquarters, and
treat them with the respect and considera-
ton due their position, during the confer
ence which he invited-thAt he did not
wish TO be compelled to oEerrun and desc
GOVERNOR BEowS's REPLY.
After bearing the statements of Mr.. King,
the Governor replied =
Please make to General Sherman an
acknowledgment of my obligation for the
personal courtesies which you say be pro-
poses to extend 70 me. But as he is only
= general commanding an army In the field
and the Governor OF q State, neither the
constitution Of hisscountry nor OF my own
confers upon, us any power 70 negotiate q
treaty Of peace. We probably hold but few
sentiments in common, but, if we should
agree in every particular, We wonld have
power to bind no one by any compact We
might make. As our interview could there
fore result in pothing practical, l must de-
cline the invitation. While the portion Of
the State now in the rear of General Sher'
mans army Is held by him, and the eIecu'
tion Of the laws of the State, suspended BY
armed force, know Of no service which
could render 70 the people of that section
BY q personal visit. III could better Iheil
condition or mitigate their suferings,
would, on their account, cheSrfully go a.
the expense of any inconvenience or per
Soual sacrifice which the trip might cos
me. .- %. .s.
To the remark that General Sherman
does not wish TO be compelled to overruu
and desolate more of the territory Of Geor'
gis, reply that no compulslon rests upon
him 70 attempt this, unless it be the erueI
1 orders Of bis government II he makei
the effort, he will find much greater diff
culties In the way Of his advance for the
next hundred miles than those encounter
ed duripg his march from Dalton TO Atlanta
| Georgia may possibly be oVerrun, but can
never be snbjugated, and her people will
never treat with conqueror upon her soil
Al a sovereign State che had the undoubt.
i ed right 70 dissolve her connection with
the government of the United States wher
the compact had been violated by the otheI
States Of the confederaey, and TO form &
compact, which she has done. She is Al
sovereign to-day as she was the day sh'
seeded from the Union, and has the SAINT
power, by Q. convention Of her people
which she then had TO resume all delega'
ted powers and all the attributes of sover'
eighty, and then 70 declare war, negotiAtC
! treaties of peace, and do all other actl
which 9 sovereign stRte may 90. while
original source Of all sovereignty, her con
\ stiiution, formed by them, has conferred nc
such power upon her Governor.
The fact must not be overlooked, how
ever, that while Georgia possesses thI
sovereign power 20 act separately, hei
faith, which never has aud ! trust neyel