Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-23
Pence or No Pence.

It is now demonstrated beyond doubt
that the first absolute preliminary to the
ermination of War and heinauguration Of
Peace, Is the removal of ABRAHAM LINCOLN
from the Presidency. This accomplished,
and Peace is not only attainable but easy.
The correspondence between the high con-
tracing parties at Niagara published yes
terlay-the first rumors in regard to which
awakened the most earnest interest through
out the land-is now before the people, and
presents the Administration in its true
character. Therein ABRAHAM LINCOLN as
sumes the whole responsibility of rejecting
direct propositions looking to the settlement
of our internal strife and civil war. In LIN
coins note "To whom it may concern"-as
If the establishment of Peace did not con-
Germ the entire nation-he distinctly states
that the abandonment of slavery is nee
essary preliminary to any negotiations with
the South Now the United States Govern
ment has been at war for three years with
the Southern Ststes--the Governmentrecog-
nizes the Confederate States as belligerents,
having belligerent rights-in effect the same
rights that a foreign nation at war with
us would have; yet LINCOLN makes the
unconditional abandonment of all their
rights the basis of any negotiation with
them. All wars, whether between civilized
or barbarous nations are finally ended by
negotiations; but by the present Admins
tration negotiation is forbidden. No mat
ter whether the propositions which the Con-
federate Commissioners were authorized to
make were of an acceptable character or
not, LINCOLN by refusing to listen to them,
assumes the responsibility of the war and
all the distress and misery that follow in
its wake. By the position he assumes, LIN
coin acknowledges that his own caprice or
dogmatic obstinacy is the only obstacle to
a just and honorable peace. The rebel
Commissioners properly characterize this
position. which is an outrage upon the
people and an insult to the civilized world.
We have no doubt that the Southern
people are anxious to have peace; and
wesare sanguine that If the overtures of
thesrebel Commissioners had been accepted
in the spirit they were made, an honorable
and auspicious peace would speedily have
followed. By rejecting them as he did,
LINCOLN, though he may have gratified a
few Of his most fanatic followers and venal
contractors, has placed the people in false
position towards the people of the South,
and in wrong position before the world.
Had he been either just or magnanimous, he
could have concluded peace and might have
been reelected to the Presidency, the OBJ
iect of his ambition; but in order to pam
der to the radicals in his own party and
crafty the furious and ferocious fanatics
that surround him, he forswore himself
and has surrendered every claim he may
previously have had upon the support or
coniidepce of the people,. He said once he
would accept the Union with or without
slavery. his address ITO whom 1t may con-
cern'' shows that he is not laboring to re-
store the Union but to abolish slavery. This
bold and audacious avowal Of his wicked
purpose, coming upon the heels Of his call
for 100000 more troops, will have salutary
effect in arousing the people and the
army to forcible realization Of the dread
full perversion to which the war for the
Union has been subjected.
The rebel Commissioners prominent In this
attempt at reconstruction, CLAY, HoLcoMBE
THoMpsoN and SANDERS, have ofIiciated
In Europe as the cofdential agents of the
rebel government and they doubtless came