The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-27

days all the men and oil the material that may
be asked for. With Mcclellan holding his
broad egs over Washington, the north bank
Of the Potomac and the whole border Of the
loyal States, public confidence would revive
gold would rapidly find its true level, and
General Grant would no longer be harasssd
by those incessaut stampedes In his rear and
those incessant demands upon him for the
veteran troops on whom he has counted for
the execution Of bis gigantic plans. Let Nc
Clellan be recalled, and all will go well. Let
his ostracism be continued by the Washington
Directory, and the Directory may soon find
itself obliged to date its political and other
scripts from some place not south Of the Sus-
quehanna.
The Late Peaoe Conference-Ltneoin and
Davis-SiRnifcs mt DsveIopme nts.
The late peace conference at Niagara Falls
was very curious affair. Since the publica-
ton Of Colorado Jewetts circumstantial report
Of its proceedings the whole concern has been
generally regarded as q ridiculous farce, in
which the performers were desperate adven-
turers, noisy charlatans and political donkeys
This, however, is but superficial view Of the
subject. IF we look only little below the
surface Of these funny peace proceedings at
Niagara, in connection with the contem-
poraneous peace mission Of Kirke and Jaques
to Richmond, we shall discover in them mat
ters Of the greatest import and challenging the
most serious consideration.
Granted, for the sake Of the argument, that
George Sanders contrived this Niagara confer
ence as mere speculation from which he
might replenish his empty pockets; that Colo
RADIO Jewett, In joining in this initial peace
movement, believed that It would enable him
to head Off Dean Richmond, Fernando Wood
and even Vallandigham, as a candidate for the
Chicago nominations; concediug, too, that Gree
ley was taken in. and done for by Sanders and
Jewett; that Old Abe, In the outset, was
humbugged by Greeley. and that Kirke's peace
mission to Richmond was q newspaper adven-
ture. we contend that these volunteer peace
makers at Niagara and Richmond have rem
dered very important service to the country in
worming out the peace ultimatum of President
Lincoln and the ultimatum Of jeff Davis
What is the sine qua non demanded by Mr..
Lincoln Of the rebellious States as a condition
precedent to the establishment Of peace and
the Union! Nothing less than the abolition OF
slavery. The rebellious States must make
good his emancipation proclamations before
Abraham Lincoln can agree 10 any peace with
them. Why has he now taken this extreme
abolition ground, when he has always hereto
fore, down to the late Baltimore Convention.
insisted that the Union Is the paramount, while
slavery is but q secondary. question: We can
only conclude that, without requiring the aboli-
ton Of slavery therein an essential condition,
Mr.. Lincoln is afraid that peace and reunion
may come too soon to suit his ambitious pur-
poses and the grasping designs OF his party.
What would become Of this party, and its one
idea Of abolition, should the revolted States be
restored to the Union to-day, slavery and ALL
as practically unaffected or untouched by the
war; The republican party. with its one idea
Of abolition, would speedily be superseded
and cast under a cloud OF disgrace by an all
powerful new party, made up Of the couserva-
tive masses Of both sections Hence it follows
that, as any peace movements, however promis-
Ing which do not involve the abolition Of slave
~, threaten to cut short the reign OF the re-
publican party, they cannot be supported by
the administration.
Greeley, from the outset, has comprehended
the advantages to bis party Of the exclusion OF
the Southern States from the affairs Of The gene
raj government. In 1861 he advocated the
State right OF secession, and, if we mistake not,
the policy Of permitting the seeding States
then represented in the rebel provisional gov
eminent a! Montgomery, Alabama, to 60 10
peace. At present he appears 10 be very
anxious for peace and reunion, and ready for
all reasonable measures of Cancellation, except
upon the slavery question. Here he fully en-
dorses Lincoln's ultimatum, and for the same
reasons. Greeley, we dare say, however, fears
that peace under anything like the Old Union
would net only be the end Of hIs party, but
that the country, from fierce reaction Of pub
lie opinion, might become TOO hot for the safety
within its borders of any of TIE shoftion lead
enc concerned in agiiatns the $ nth into this
bloody rebellion.
Jefr Davis and bis ruling Southern confeder-
ates are in tho same predlcsment. There is no
refuge, no escape for them IL they fail In esIsb-
lisbing Southern confcdcracy. A sweeping
amnesty would not save them with the return
Of the "so.cslled Confederate States" to the
Union; for the outraged people Of those
States would NOT longer tolerate the
presence among them Of the treaoh-
erous reckless and .blood-stainsd leaders
responsible for this horrible and ruinous war.
Accordingly, JED. Davis tells Mr.. Kirke that his
ultlmatum Ia Southern independence or exter-
minstIon. And what else, a. he 10 situated,
could he dot But be no more represents the
feelings and wishes Of The suffering and sorely
tried people Of the revoltsd States than does
Abraham represent the masses Of the people Of
the loyal States in bis abolition ultimatum. The