The New York herald., 1864-08-13


6rmsr while and oats wore lover. Pork was 81
hilner. Beef quiet, aud lard frmer FreiEhts were
nrm. Whiskey quiet, but Arm.
Peace Oversures-Their Advantages to
| the Admanistratton and the National
Cause.
| The most famous Of all the recorded speeches
| Of Daniel Webster is that which was delivered
in the Senate thirty-four years ago against the
| notification and disunion doctrines Of South
| Carolina Of that day, and in vindication Of the
! Union. commencing with these words:-"When
| the mariner has been tossed, for many days in
| thick weather, and on an unknown sea, he
| naturally svails himself Of the first pause in
| the storm, the earliest glance Of the sun, to
! take his latitude and ascertain bow far the
elements have driven him from his true course.
Let us initiate this prudence, and, before we
| float farther on the waves Of this debate, refer
to the point from which we departed that we
may be able, at least, to form some conjecture
where we now arc"
This is precisely the advice which we would
apply to the administration at this crisis. In
the prosecution Of this war we have .been
tossed for many days, in thick weather, and on
an unknown sea-" but at length we have "a
pause in the storm" and glimpse Of the
SUM-" which may be wisely appropriated in
ascertaining show far the elements have driven
US from our true course, and exactly "where we
are." We call, therefore, upon Captain Lin
coin TO come out on deck and take careful
observation, In order that he may return to the
"true course which will bring the good ship
Union safely into port. No observation is
needed to show him that he is out Of his lati-
tude and all adrift; but in continuing to beat
about at random, he is in danger Of going to
the bottom. In Short we believe that the time
has come, that we have arrived at that stage Of
this exhausting war, when every consideration
Of wisdom, patriotism and humanity suggests
the propriety Of magnanimous and bona tids
movement on the part of the administration
in behalf Of peace.
In the present state OF affairs, il we can do
nothing more, it is all important to the safety
Of the country and the administration that we
should place the leaders Of the rebellion clear
ly in tho wrong before their own people and
the civilized world, aud the government as
clearly in the right before all the people Of the
loyal States in the further prosecution Of this
dreadful war. We can do this through q
special embassy OF three peace commissioners
to Richmond, If we can do no more We be-
lieve however that through . movement Of
this kind, comprehending an armstice of six
months, and convention Of all the States,
subject to such conditions and ratifcatons as
may be hereafter agreed upon, we can secure
permanent peace upon the basis of The Union
and the constitution.
Let us suppose, for instance, that Mr.. Lincoln.
assuming this responsibility fop the sake Of
peace and "a decent reGpoc. for the opinions
Of mankind" has detailed three peace com
mssoners TO Richmond with these simple pro-
positons:--First, for an armistice for six
months: aud, second, for convention Of all the
States, TO consist of one delegate from each
Congressional district, aud two additional
delegates at large from each State;
and that said convention thus constituted,
shall meet, say in Baltimore, on the first Mon
day in December next, TO consider the ways
aud means for peace-could anything, in any
event, but the greatest advantages result to the
Union side OF The house? No. Rejected or 40
cepted, the loyal Stales aud the government
have everything to gain aud nothing to lose il
this undertaking
Ii JEFF. Davis, his Cabinet and Congress ac-
cept tie armistice and the convention, we shall
Still retain under the first our blockade and
all the forts ard places wrested from the eremy
as now held by our land and naval forces; aud
If the convention shall come to nothing we
shall be in position to resume the war with all,
and more than oil, the advantages which We
now command. But we have great faith in the
opinion that the representatives Of the rebel
lious States, in being brought into familiar
council with those of the loyal States, where
they will be relieved Of the despotic authority
OF Davis, will be SO charmed with tho suspen-
sion Of the war thai they will find . treaty OF
peace and reunion, satisfactory to the North
and to The South, sn easy achievement
II is probable that Davis E,ay reject the con-
vcntion; il is possible that Lie may reject the
armistice, or couple It's acceptance with pre-
posterous conditions OF Southern independence;
but the overtures suggested will compel him to
show bis hand, and II be shall fatty refuse to
listen to any propositions Of peace. except upon
the basis Of Southern confederacy, all doubts,
all divisions, all discords among the people OF
the loyal States will be ct an end The copper
head peace faction will bs dsarmed and pow.
erless for further mischief, the North will be
united, and divisions and dissensions will break
out In the South. Let II be made to appear to
those people, in their present crippled, ex-
hausted and desperate position. under Jef
Davis that tho government does not seek their
subiugation 70 an abolition idea, or their de-
struction, but their reclamation and salvation
In the Union, and President Lincoln will soon
realize the immense advantages Of this peace