The New York herald., 1864-08-08
Peace Negotiations and the Chicag'
Convention.

Convention
The air is full Of rumors of peace negotia-
tiSns TIE peace politicians are making the
most of their time, and running about the coun-
try babbling ed chattering like parcel of old
women. Thee 4xiations which were COM
menced at NiagaF6' Falls by Chevalier Jewett
in connection with the rebel cfnissaries on the
Canada side, and afterwards taken up by Old
Abe, who operated through Greeley and M jor
Hay, fell through on account of buDgling
at Washington. 1t is true that Greeley made
a botch CT his part, as he does OF ell
bis operations, from his sheer ignorance
as to the manner in which to conduct any
such affairs. But, with all his shortcomings
and failure to comprehend his task, much less
to manage il successfully, an important point
might have been gained by The administration
had it not been for the mismanagement of the
| officials at the national capital Their action
was nothing more than might have been ex-
pected; for they bungle everything that they
take hold Of Mismanagement is tho order of
| the day at Washington, and characterizes every
| move that they make. 1t is the leading char
acteristic of the officials Of this administration.
| Every golden opportunity presented is sure
to be fooled awey. For Old Abe and his
Cabinet to do anything else wond be the
greatest wonder of the nineteenth century.
| The rebel emissaries, having failed to do
anything with Old Abe, except to get him on
a record damaging to himself and his party,
| have now turned their attention to the demo-
cratic politicians and delegates to the Chicago
Convention. In view of this programme, the
| intelligence comes over the wires that Dean
! Richmond Ben Wood, three or four ex-Gover
nors from different States, several editors of
! country newspapers and squad Of delegates
| to Chicago are lowering around the Clifton
| House. lulled by the soft phrases and sweet
tones Of Sanders, Clay and Holcombe, from
| Rebellion. The move now is to carry on peace
| negotiations through the Chicago Convention.
| The reply OF Lincoln, sent to Niagara through
| Major Hay, has given the rebel agents and the
| ultra peace -at-any-terms men that superficial
| strength which they think will enable them to
carry the proceedings Of that body to any ex
tent that they please. They are therefore de-
termined to make the nnost of ii, and make the
Chicago Convention machine to grind out
their schemes, and thus play into the hands of
JEFF. Davis, which they have been trying to do
in various ways ever since the war broke out.
The adoption Of programme dictated or sug
gested by the Southern emissares in Canada
will undoubtedly be one of the first moves at
Chicago. Then the nomination OF some man
like the Connecticut Seymour, Vallandigham,
or perhaps poor Pierce, who, if through any
misbap he should be elected, will do JEFF. Davis
bidding, just as poor Pierce did when
| he was in the Presidential chair. Their main
object, however, is to SO shape matters as
| to secure the reelection of Lincoln. This
the Southern emssaries consider equivalentto
the South gaining its independence. The.
vallandigham and other ultra peace men then
hope, through the disgust OF the Northern peo-
pie, to get up a revolution in the loyal States,
and through the turmoil and excitement carry
off the Western and Middle States into the
Southern confederacy, leaving New England
by itself; in other words, the execution OF the
plan extensively talked over By leading South
erners for remodelling the Union before the
rebellion commenced. That some such pro-
gramme as this 10 on the slate is evident from
the extreme activity and desperate efforts OF
the ultra peace politicians and their frequent
visits to the rebel agents in Canada.
There never was o more golden opportunity
for any party than that which now presents it
self to the democracy. The great bulk Of the
people are sick and tired Of the present imbe
cile administration, and are anxious for on op
portunity to record their votes against them in
| November in way that will be eaectual.
All that the managers at the Chicago Conven-
ton have to do is to shape the proceedings of
that convention and place before the public In
| the candidates that theyr nominate record
that the entire oppos1oBto Old Abe will en-
dorse, and their success is certain. But the
movements and operations OF the democratic
leaders do not give any hope or indication that
they will do such wise act We can see no
| signs that the wishes of the masses of the peo-
| pie will be considered there. Everything
points to the very reverse results The move
nonts on the chessboard look very much as
though none but few noisy politicians,
some Of whom are really in sympathy with
the rebellion, and others who care for
| nothing except the spols ard little vain
glory for themselves, will exercise any in
| 1uence there. The chances are slim, indeed,
that the voice Of the people, the hundreds of
thousands Of voters, will be Needed or even re-
garded in the proceedings Of that convention.
We have several times stated that the late Bal
timore Convention did not represent the peo-
ple and that it only reflected the views
Of the shoddy politicians Rapidly occurring
events are daily proving the correctness OF
our position. We have no more hope that the
Chicago Convention will represent anybody
but handful of noisy, scheming politicians
than we bad that the Baltimore Convention
would In view Of these facts, the only true
course for the masses Of the people to pursue is
to get together in the several Congressional dis.