Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-07

mi to make II odious for the public au-
tborities 70 proceed with becoming pru.
dence and circumspection. Happily. such
counsels are received with go
little favor by the sensible portion OF the
that those who nave the man,
agement of the public interests can anoro
to pay them no attention; but yet the ten
dency of such teachings ID TO evil anu
such as offer them are to be ciassea among
those whom the people should hold in dis
repute.
Some of QUE public men bold that we
ahonld employ the arts of diplomacy, as
Veil as the appliances of war, in our efforts
to bring the present hostilities to speedy
and nrosnerous issue. The means TO which
thev have been referring are the use of
such amsipuities and the tender of propo-
sitiops of such seeming advantage as shall
create a division among our enemies, with
out committing ourselves Some OF them
have attempted this diplomacy. They have
made speeches, or delivered messages, or
written letters, as solemn, and as subtle,
tSs oi 81 time. They have censured the
President because he did not engage in
similar course. Now that their attempts
are over, it might be instructive to learn of
them their opinion of the efficiency Of 1i.
nlomacy. when practiced In the face of the
people. Mr.. Stephens speech and Mr..
Boyce's letter excited a great deal of ami.
madversion here; we have not learned that
they made any impression among our enc
miles, Indeed, the storm they have raised
here would, of itself, have destroyed their
efficiency there, The credit for plain sail
ing-Which 1t was desired 70 receive at the
North-was given them here, not there
In short, our people did not comprehend
that diplomatic manouvre was being exc.
cuted, and did not act the part which the
stratagem required. Instead of assisting
in the sch eme, they attacked the managers.
If the President had attempted the same
| manmuvre, he would have met the same
fate. In short, such "diplomacy" in q
country like ours Is an impossibility.
The people, by their desire for securing
the greatest degree of success in the man
agement Of public affairs, must, however,
learn to repress q mere curiosity, and to
confde, to greater extent, in those to
whom, for the time being, they contide
their interest. 1t Ia o fit theme for the
defamation of demsgogue, to require
that government shall have no secrets,
that buncombe shall be deliberately ad
dressed, even on the most delicate subjects,
and that the wisdom of the Cross roads
must be invoked and consulted on every
possible occasion. But common sense
teaches us that in many cases nothing
could be more mischieVous and fatal than
such a policy. We trust, therefore, that
Congress will so respect its trust, and so
discharge its duty to the people, as to give
to it's deliberations such secrecy, when
necessary, as may best secure the good
effect of its measures. The people will
infinitely prefer such a course to weak
compliance with the clamor of the ignorant
or inconsiderate.
Ours being q government of the people,
high grade of wisdom and steadiness in
the citizens is absolutely necessary for the
iudicious management of public affairs.
The people must learn to prize those who
tell them the truth, who make known to
them their faults, point out their duty,
and exhort them to be guided, not by
passion and prejudice, but calm reason and
good sense. They must learn to distrust
those who fatter and WOO them, and to
shun those whose unchastened judgment,
captious tempers and volatile dispositions,
make them unsafe and fatal counsellors.
Tina Peace Question:
THE REBL AuTHoRIFIBs ANXIOUS TO PREVENT
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEAoE-aov. Browns
PLAN OF NEGOTIATION,
From the Athens [Ga.l Wat Gilman.
The Governor comes out boldly in ia
vor of Convention of the States, to ne.
gotiate terms of peace, boundaries, &C..
and supports his views by arguments which
those who oppose this measure will End
themselves unable to answer.
1t strikes US that the opponents of this
mode of settlement either do not compress
bend it themselves, or else wish to prevent
the people from understanding It. They
hold that if the States of the South go into
Convention with the Northern States, the
same majority which elected black re.
nubiican President will force upon them
such terms as will be destructive of their
rights and inconsistent with their honor.
This objection to Convention is disingenu'
ous ana inconsistent with the character of
an honest man. If it were proposed to
make the action of Convention final,
there would be great force in the objection
urged. But there has been no such prop
osition. 1t is proposed to have Conven-
ton of the sovereign states to deliberate
upon and settle the terms of peace. Such
Convention would deliberate upon all the
various plans ofsettlement which might be
proposed. 1t would probably agree upon
| some plan to be submitted to the several
States, or the people thereof for ratifca.
ton or rejecti6n-which plan would not
bind any State unless it ratified it. Is any
BODY afraid to trust the States or the PEG, ,
pie In matter which concerns themselyesf
alone2 Are they not competent judge,ot
their own interests and safe guard rs OF
their own honor2
But it is said such conventsn would
not be able to agree upon ~ terms
Very well-What then2 f1r existing
rights would not be prejuSsed thereby
Our condition would become any
worse. On the contrsr IL wou!d De great
could be raised at me North after a six
months arrniSti6g to invade our soil with
out further No vocation, aud re-commence
"the dread arrival of blood" with which
the civilized world is already sickened and
tired2 On the other hand, If we are mis-.
fakon IN th;s ~ the Markham naonIa