The Portland daily press., 1864-07-23
FOR GOVERNOR,
Tha Clifton House Peacemakers.

The prominent secessionists composing thi'
eynclave over the borders. are Mr.. c. C. Cha, :
Of Alabama, Jacob Thompson, of Aississlp !,
Beverly Tucker, Of Virginia, and George h.
Sanders, Of no particular domicil, who are il
very pleasant and romantic quarters at tie
Clifton House. II Is decidedly q more pleas.
ant place TO live In during the summer months
than either Richmond or Petersburg, especial.
" since the indomitable Grant is circulating
round In the vicinity of these cities.
What would these gentlemen have our gov
eminent do under all the circumstances? Dc
they expect that the President Of the United
States win 90 demean his Office as to give
the rebels and traitors hearing? Do the,
for one moment Imagine that our government
will make any propositions for peace to them.
or to rebels Ia arms? These men are not au-
thorized by the so-calIed Confederate Govern
ment TO make overtures Of peace to us, bu
are only "in the confidential employ of theiI
government according 10 their own show
ing. see
They would be exceedingly rejoiced, no
AOUOt, W tC ihllOuuCcu " OuI fceiQcut, set
him kneel down and make offers OF peace:
and still more rejoiced II they could be the
bearers Of such offers TO JEFF. Davis and his
Eebel crew. But such a degradation on tn,
part OF our government these rebels will new
er have the pleasure Of witnessing.
The agitation of this peace question Is in
the custody and under the special manage.
ment Of Northern copperheads, directed and
manipulated BY Southern rebels. The dreg.
and prodigates Of the country are with thi,
peace party, and all are under the direction
and influence of men who once held plac,
and power and desire to do 30 again Tn,
object Of this movement at the present time !,
manifest, and he who runs may read and I'm.
derstand 1t. vallsndigham's hand is plainly
to be seen In it. These copperhead politician
believe the time Is propitious for making such
movements. Some political capital must be
laid up for the use Of the coming Chicago
4 Convention, for, according to present appear
ances, their stock intrade will be rather small
aud Unavailable.
II the Ciinon House coterie, aided By
northern copperhesds, could succeed 10 max.
Ing the people believe the Washington Gov
eminent had refused to listen 10 overtures OF
peace, or refused terms offered In good faith
and on q reasonable basis. they would inau-
gurate the nrst step towards creating feeling
OF dissatisfaction with the administration or
the part OF the people, and thus would eaip
something for the benefit of The traitor cause
But they will fall In this as sigually as they
did last year, by the agency of northern COP
perheads and the invocation of the mob spir
It In our large cities. TO oppose any successfu
barrier to the invincible power Of Govern
mental authority TO crush out an internal re.
bellion.
We ara glad that President Lincoln has put
himself Just right In this matter. Recogniz-
Ing no authority Of the Clifton House gentle
men, he says, ito whom |. may concern, tina,
peace may be had at any time by laying down
rebel arms, submitting TO constitutional au
thority, and snnihilating forever the cause oil
our present troubles. "On this line. onl,
will he fight out this question, and in 90 dc.
Ing patriotic people win never desert him.
We are fully aware that the rebels have no
seen time since they waged this war upo
the North when peace was so desirable 4
them a. II Is now. But In order to obtain i
they must first lay down their arms and asl
for 1t through proper and and legitimate chan
nels. 81 u
No conclsve at the Clifton House, or unde,
Table Rock, has any power TO make PROPOSE
tions OF peace, or any right to eylect our
government will enter into diplomatic neg,
tiations with them. The agitation on III,
subject Of peace at this time shows the weak
mesa Of the rebels. Such agitations have oc
Cured before, and their object has been clear
" understood by the loyal people of til,
North.
There Is nothing strange or unnatural In the
fact that certain lickspiitles Of JEFF Davis ar
making inquiries about the disposition of III,
loyal States towards the rebels. and the term,
on which the Union might he restored. j.
they could only get an offer from our govern
ment, however Objectionable that offer mighi
be TO JEFF. Davis, they would imagine some
thing had been gained to the rebel cause
Upon such an offer they could erect a plat.
form on which might be played some curious
tricks OF political jugglery. And that the
members Of the Chicago Convention would
act well their parts ia such play there can
be no question.
But they are destined TO wait long while
before our government will condescend to sue
for peace. When the leaders and master
spirits OF the said convention are engaged In
the work Of constructing peace platform, We
advise them to incorporate the following man.
ifesto, which appeared 10 the Richmond En-.
quirer not long ago, that the people may
clearly see what grounds there are for hone
of peace and our government be not disgrace
ed In the eyes of all civilized nations of the
earth. The manifesto embraced the following
demands:
Recognition by the enemy OF the lndepend-
ence OF the Confederate States. aN
Withdrawal Of Yankee forces from every