The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-19

Eigt. .fagaggvtI MeTic0. talsg5l!H
The New Orleans Picayuns gives promi-
nencs to the following curious statements:
We learn that when the question whether
they should surrender or not on the same
terms granted to the other Commanders of the
Confederate armies came up for discussion
and decision before the chiefs of the Confed-
crate forces In the Trans Mississippi Depart
ment, there was q strong inclination ON the
part OF the Generals to decline the surrender,
and to embody their troops and march to the
Rlo Grande, and there reorganize them, with
view to cooperation with one of the par
ties In the civil war now being waged in that
country, This conclusion was one of the re-
suits OF that infatuation which brought so
many evils and misfortunes on the Confed6f-
atess and led them to prolong the war to the
latest moment. But for this, peace would
have been concluded and the terms proposed
by Mr.. Lincoln accepted In the conference
held at Fortress Monroe il January last
The idea was that the Mexican scheme OF
Louis Napoleon could not be carried out With
out the aid Of the Confederates, and that it
was the design of that sagacious ruler TO
adopt their cause and secure their aid, when
ever he should consider them in danger. This
idea supported the Confederates long after all
their discreet chiefs, including their general
In chief, had come to the conclusion that the
further prosecution of the war against such
overwhelming forces was q vain and hopeless
struggle and criminal waste of blood and
life. sHi 81 aahaewe assd sged ss2asi49
II was In vain that the shire wd and well,in-
formed officer, Semmes, Of the Alabama, who
came into the Confederacy in December, fresh
from Europe, stroye 20 dsabuse She r na'.,ss !.
crate chiefs Of this iar-y Aaiu assure them that
Franrr would continue her neutral course,
fo a
the pledges of Mr.. Seward that the United
States government would abstain from any In
terference In his Mexican scheme, provided
France would maintain her neutrality in our
civil war. The Confederates could not believe
that the Emperor was so unwise as to trust to
such assurances, or to see any other mode of
escape from his Mexican imhroQlio but
through an alliance with the Conlederates.
Hence the otherwise ineomprehensible per-
sistanee OF the Confederates In the contest
against the vastly superior force OF the Uni
ted States, after it had become SO unequal and
hopeless a struggle. When, however, this de-
fusion had been effectually dispelled east of
the Mississippi BY the rapid march OF military
events, 1t took refuge in the Trans Mississippi,
and there resumed its sway over the minds of
Confederate chiefs. Even so thoughtful and
unexcitable mind as Kirby Smiths gave
way to it, and in his last proclamation after
the surrender of the armies east of the Mis-
sissippi, referred to the assistance from abroad
which he declared was "near and certain" 1t
was the prevalence Of this idea and hope that
produced the delay and protracted negotia-
tions, which were At last, happily for the coun-
try, terminated by the convention concluded
in this city, between General Candy, of the
United States forces, and Generals Price,
Buckner and Brent, on the part OF the Con-
federates. ltgssaa}s sefh s-assa.5 sesdefff
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