Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-21
No NerOtiatiOni with fi,s Rebel lead

No Negotiation with the Rebel lead
Itis subject for astonishment among
many, that notwithstanding the terrible
evils which the rebellion has brought upon
the South, the rebel leaders have yet been
able to hold in an iron grip the armies
which they have organized. That disafec-
ton is wide spread among them, there can
be no doubt. That desertions are very nu-
merous and increasing every day Is well
established. That secret societies exist
among them whose object is TO further
their escape is we'll known among the
Unionists of the South Prices are 50
enormously high that everything except
the bare necessities of life are placed be-
vond the reach of the masses. The con-
scription has been SO universal that it has
taken in children and old men; and now
it is required that every alien shall either
enter the rebel army or leave the country.
This state Of affairs has brought about the
most appalling conditions ever known in
any country. And yet despite all this,
the rebel leaders succeed in holding to-
gether two large armies, one in the East
and one in the West. The explanation of
this, as given to us by an intelligent Union
refugee from Montgomery, ia, that
while the rank and file of the
Southern army, the poor white
trash, have physical courage, they are ut
terly destitute of the moral courage neces-
sary TO organized rebellion against their
leaders. So long, therefore, as the rebel
armies are unbroken, the villains at the head
of the rebel government, are capable of
welding such despOtism as is unknown
in any other portion of the globe II once
they ara deprived of their power, and
handed ever to the mercics Of cruelty
outraged Southern people, they will have
no resting place for their feet on this con-
tinent. They viii be pursued by the
wrath Of "a people whose Affections have
been fearful to contemplate.
Under these circumstances, how shame
full appears the proposition of the Chicago
leaders to get down on hands and knees
and lick the dust under the feet of the
Richmond miscreants. How shameful the
abandonment of the people of the South,
who, during the long and bloody struggle,
have been firm friends of the Union. Ne
gotiations with the rebel leaders will keep
them in power on the return of peace. Ii
will put under their cruel domination the
men who have fed from the South, as ref
ugees from charnel house Of death and
corruption. 1t will make it impossible
for them to return again TO their
families or their effects. It will
simply be a reward for treason and
rebellion. The true and only safe policy
for the government is to treat with none
but the people of the South, with the men
who have been so fearfully wronged and
who, to-day pray for deliverance fiom the
horrible despotism Of JEFF Davis and his
coafreres in treason and in crime. The
path of duty and of patriotism lies clear
before the people of the North. They
have suffered much, but yet their sacrifices
do not equal the interests at stake in this
great struggle. On the one hand is a
shameful supp lance to JEFF. Davis, and
peace that will bring eternal infany upon
the North A peace which viii only be
war deferred-Or that Will nourish into
new and vigorous life the elements of de-
cay and death, which are fostering in the
body polite, could not be blessing any
more than the loathsome diseases of pest
house are blessing TO mankind. The na-
tion, with equal wisdom might welcome
the plaques of small pox, cholera and
yellow fever, as any peace which could
now be Obtained from that most wicked of
all traitors who now rules the people of the
South. From him, 50 long as he is engi
roned by mis- armies, nothing but separa-
ton can be obtained, or at least recon
struction that should make Treason vir-
tue, and Slavery the corner stone of the
Republic.
Let there be no negotiation with the
rebel leaders, but let them be dealt with
with ali the enginery of force, ineessant
war, until their power is destroyed, and
they themselves are shot and hung, or
wander despised and execrated wretches
in other lands. AS for the Chicago Cop
perheads, which propose to let up from the |
terrific pressure of war, giving the rebel
lion opportunity to recuperate again and |
thus ensure the disruption of the Republic
the people will repudiate it and insist upon
the only possible prerequisite of substan-
.isl Peace,-the utter overthrow of the az
mics Of the rebellion. rsrrE !