North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-07-13
:
Jefferson Davis Peace EnVOys.

When the Hon. Alexander II Stephens.
Vice President of the Southern c. ederacy,
applied for personal interview with Mr.,
Lincoln, and was curtly and arrogantly de-
MED admission within our lines, upon point
of etiquette, we expressed sorrow and sur
prise that the administration should have
thus dismissed an opportunity to open path
of negotiation that might have led to an hon
orable peace. The Administration journals,
at the time, insisted that Mr.. Stephens mis-
sion was entirely disconnected with any pur
pose of a diplomatic nature, and that it refer
red exclusively to military question. We
advanced arguments to prove the contrary,
and exposed the absurdity Of the suppnsition
that statesman, OF such superior abilities as
Mr.. Stephens, and one oe such high official
grade in the Confederacy, should have been
dispatched upon an errand less important
than the discussion of the radical points of
difference between the sections. We publish
! to day a recent correspondence between Jeff.
erson Davis and Governor Vance, Of North
| Caroline. that proves that we were correct
IN our estimate of Mr., Stephens mission .
and that further proves how obstinate and
/ systematic have been this administration in
| closing all the avenues through which the in
/ fuence OF reconciliation might enter. When
we reflect upon The terrible sacrifice of life
that has occurred since that time, aud of the
new obstacles to compromise that have been
engendered, it is impossible for the patriot
and the humane man 20 repress his indigna
ton at the heartless treachery ofthose Off.
clals who, for their own purposes, could thus
coldly shut the door in the face of messen-
ger of peace.
MIR. Davis says: eve have made three
distinct efforts to Communicate with the au-
thorties at Washington, and have been in
varlably unsuccessful" In regard to Mr.
Stephens mission, he says: "rhe third time
whose position, character and reputation
were such as TO insure his reception if the err
emJ were not determined to receive no pro-
position whatever from the Governments
! Nv iGo'bSAtG oNGpiiCHo d pdtElOllC
lender of his services in the hope of being
| able to promote the cause of humanity, and
although Gttle belief was entertained of his
success, cheerfully yielded to his suggestion
that the experiment should be tried, The
enemy refused to let him pass through their
lines or to hold any conference with them
He was stopped before he even reached Fort
ress Monroe ON his way 10 Washington.
We should not have referred so poinedlv
to this correspondence, had not thee BIa ok
Republican press, at the time of Mr.. Ste
phen's rejection, sought to deceive the public
and to exculpate Mr.. Lincoln by repeated as
nothing whatever to do with peace ncgotia-
tions. But we wish the people to appreciate
the exten to which the arts of deception
have been practsed, 10 blind the public as to
su,tsd Hr. i.incoln's purpose to have had the
war term.nat..I at hat time, because, in the
first place, the Abollt,. m p ot had not ripen-
ed, and, in the second pSce, 'HiS arrange
ments for retaining the Presidency wee not
matured. He, therefore, sent discouit.e-
Gus and foolish answe, of rejection to Mr..
Stephens request for an interview, knowing
that such course would so effectualy dis
gust the Southern people as to renGer any
future advances oa their part improbable
At the same time, he instructed his organs
- 10 NJ H.,
that Mr.. Stephens mission was of no politi-
ca. Importance, having reference exclusively
10 an exchange Of prisoners. But, in the
course Of time, the truth starts from its hid
ing place, and coniron:s the falsfior. We
were sure, then, that Mr.. Stephens came up
on an errand of mercy, of humanity and
patriotism to appeal to the rulers of the
North for negotiation with a view to the
peaceable settlement of differences. His
mission was one of peace and for that reason
was thwarted by Mr. Lincoln. In that as in
all other things, the Administration pursued
policy tending to exasperate the Southern
people and to proong the war. To have held
conference with Alexander ii. Stephens,
upon whatever subject would have dsgraced
no Government and wronged no cause for
whatever his political creed may be, he is a
statesman, gentleman, and an honorable,
conscientious and right-hearted man. That
we all know, and as such, he is the peer of
the best in Washington. When he asked
admission at the threshold Of our Council
Chambers, we must have known that no dis
honorable motive brought him there and
| when our Chief Magistrate turned his back
upon him he likewise turned away from
hope that was oftring to heal the wounds of
our poor country. In debating the brief
lines that dene1 the interview, he dictated
the death warrants of hundreds of thousands
/ Of caunirUu uhnu Mr. St...,l,o.,s