Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
sPEcuLATIoNs on PEACE.

the result OF the late election. ~ WAL not ps Aoi
gotten that both soldiers like Gen. Grant, and po-
liticans like Mr.. Greeley, INDUCED, in advance OF
the election, ia predictions based largely upon the
moral effect that would be produced in tho South
by Mr.. Lineoln's success. The sclato Of that sue
cess We. 50 signal that the people who lent ere
dulous car to such representations might well be
pardoned in looking for their fulhlment
To these anticipations fresh strength was doubt
less added by some observations made by General
Butler, in New York city, to the following effect;
What is the duty of tho Government in tha future
War always last The history Of nations, the e1.
perieace Of the world has shown this WAR therefore
must come TO an end But how? In what way? Awar OF
this kind Ia to prosecuted for the purpose OF breaking
down the power opposed to the Government aud
bringing them into the fold OF the u1eer .ne
supremacy of the laws. In yew therefore OF the una
nmty Of The American peoples in view Of the strsnSh ano
majesty Of the laws In view Of the might OF the naiion
might IL not be suggested that now good time or us
once again to hold out to The deudsd Of tho South the
olive branch of peace, and them, Conc oack, come
back This ia tho last time OF asking. Tome baeA
and leave the feeding upon hnsk and come with 90 20 the
fat H land end LEI bygones be bygones aud our coun-
try will hive in peace hereafter
ave in . condition now, not takiog counsel from
our fears not taking from weakness but TAX
ing counsel from maEnanimty and our strength again
to make uer for the last time; 10 cali upon them; and
hn tha not 10 the eyes tho country have exhaust
store pesce TO the country a. st
In pursuance of this recommendation Borrowed
ss il was from the programme Of the defeated cans
didate, who, on this very ground, had incurred
much obloquy and decentralization during the can,
vass1 it vas Tamored that the President had under
consideration the propTiety Of sending comnis-
sion to Richmond for the purpose of rendering
such 81 amnesty to the Southern people through
the authorities which there represent them
And within the last day or two We have seen it
intimated that the President would probably issue
proclamation Of amnesty on the 2lth instant, the
day of National Thanksgiving. The Pittsburgh
Gazette, than which it is known thereis no journal
more devoted to the Administration, suggests that
ait is fitting that On that happy day the olive
branch should be interviewer with the laurel in the
ehsplet Of victory"
Our readers do not need to be informed that we
place little reliance on any of these representations
of present peace. If tho Richmond journals afford
any index Of the Southern feeling produced by the
late election they certainly do lot warrant the hopes
expressed by Gen. Grant or Mr. Greeley in advance
Of tho late electoral contest. The Richmond Wing
holds on this subject the following language:
Our information is next to positive that Lincoln has
been reelected Few have doubted from the frat that ths
would be the result and fewer rtl will regret If. For
ourselves We feel that the great for which We
struggling hsg escaped real peril The policy OF concs-
ton, of concession and cajoery which Mcclellan would
have attempted wes something more to be dreaded than
apprehend that such policy would deceive demorsl2e
and divide the South With Lincoln there no fear OF
this; people will continue to stand a. one man; with
hin il 10 united South sgainst divided North. With
Mcclellan il might have been united North aganst d
yded South in which event oil that have been striving
for in th, four years struggle would have been lost But
Lincoln continue to be the master OF the Yankee and
the spectre Of reconstruction vanishea forever"
To like purport the Richmond Enquirer reasons
as follows
makes sure would have been avoided By the election
Of Mcclellan but might have been conducted with much
ability and given US more trouble than Lincoln can
possibly command This reelection OF Lincoln binds our
people stl rer together and prevents the division aud
iscord which the election Of Mcclellan night have intro.
duced We know that il msans continued war, and orr
country will prepare for it. There 10 prospect for
peace aud It Is better for that should know clearly
The purpose Of the enemy in hs matter than to have been
divided n opinion by the hopes Of peace which the defeat
Of Lincoln would have raised among people Let our
authorities begin immediately the work Of recognizing the
army consolidating the regiments, filing up the ranks i'm
proving the cavalry and preparing Tor me spring cam
psign" 1855 -
We DO not cite these expressions for the pur-
pose of reviving the smouldering embers Of the
late canvass, but simply to disabuse the public
mind Of erroneous impressions that are calculated
to induce discouragement by raising groundless
expectations Of aspeedy exit out Of our present
troubles On this subject it remains for US only to
repeat what wo said before the election, Is follows
"RoY peace will come no man can predict, but it will
cone because it come tho nature Of things Whon
1t will come no predict, for who tell what
day will bring forth when the thoughts Of men have left
sheiT Did chsnnei who he's calculated the elements Of
great social aud political agitation that be fix the
points at which tho nation will pause fod permanent
rest from tho turmoil Of our troubous tlmea Il"
AZ the frt condition Of all right knowledge 10 know
the Limitations Of our faculties 90 the frat condition ofa
right action Is to know the responsibilities Of our situation
When these clearly perceived and generally acknow.
ledsed the pssiiSlles OF position win. under tho
providence Of God be revealed to according TO nes
wh'eh human foresight appoint snd IL ways
which msre human wisdom can srdain. A, soon aa
tas people ready to follow The esdDga Of Providence
"a hos been to attempt tho unequal task of ooercns
providence il the line Of liz own predetermined wishes
we may expect TO the path Of duy opening before q,
INTO The patti Of safety d. what devious steps sha
Ina th path we ever 10 find 1t at a or through
what Valleys Of humiliation may have TO pas. before il
shall be reached reached ct ALL are issues of the unds
veloped future known only TO Him who spDont, the
bounds Of our hakltat0a' AiJ.fai J. al ~ Il,