Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-02-16

The conference was altOgetner lutOr-
NAL. There was no attendance of sec
retaries, clerks or other witnesses.
Nothing was written or read The con
versstiOn, though earnest and free, was
calm and courteous ana kind on both
sides. The Richmond party approached
the discussion rather indirectly, and at
no time did they make categorical de
mauds or tender formal stipulatiOns or
absolute refusals.
Nevertheless, during the conference
which lasted four hours - the several
points at issue between the government
and the insurgents were distinctly raised
and discussed fully, tntelligently, and in
au amicable spirit. What the insurgent
party emed chiefly TO favGr was
postpOuement OF the question Of separa
tion upon which the war is waged, and
a mutual direction of the efforts of the
government, as we'll as those of the in
surgents, to some extrinsic policy or
scheme for season; during which
passions might be expected to subside
and the @mies be reduced, and trade and
intercourse between the neonle Of both
sections be resumed. It was suggested
by them that through such postpone.
ment we might now have immediate
peace, with some not very certain pros
pect OF an ultimate and satisfactory ad-
justment of political relations between
the government and the states, section
or people now engaged in conflict with it.
The suggestion, though deliberately
considered, was nevertheless regarded
by the president as one of armistice or
truce, and he announced that we can
agree to no cessation or suspension Of
hostilities except on the basis of the dis
bandment of the insurgent forces and
the restoration of the national authority
throughout all the states of the Union.
Collaterally, and in subordination to the
proposition which was thus announced.
the anti slavery policy of the United
States was reviewed In all its bearings,
aud the president announced that he
must not be expected to depart from the
positions he had heretofore assumed In
his proclamation of emancipation and
other documents, as these positions were
reiterated in his annual message.
II was further declared by the presi-
dent that the complete restoration OF
the national authority everywhere was
an Indispensable condition of any assent
on our part ts, ~Sha tavar form of resca
might be proposed The president as
sured the other party that, while. he
must adhere to these positions, he would
be prepared, so far as power is lodged
with the executive, TO exercise liberali-
ty. It's power, however, Is limited by
the constitution, and, when peace should
be made, Congress must necessarily act
In regard to appropriations of money
and to the admission of representatives
from the insurrectionary states.
The Richmond party were then In
formed that Congress had, on the 8lst
ult., adopted by a constitutional majori
ty Joint resolution submitting to the
several states the proposition to abolish
srav.-v throughout the Union, and that
there is every reaao., 10 eApect 'ns' ma .,1 II
will be accepted by three -fourUns
states 40 as to become part OF the ma
tioual organic law.
The conference came to an end by mu-
tual acquiescence, without producing
an agreement of views upon the severai
matters discussed, or any of them. New
ertheless, it is perhaps of some import
sAuIC tliug VIC AANN bNNA4 OblC W CuDultb
our opinions and views directly to promi-
nent insurgents, aud 70 hear them in
answer in a courteous and not unfrieDd-
Y manner.
Thus ended the "peaoe conference"
brought about blythe efforts of the SEN
Tor Blair; and it ended as every reasona-
hle man must have supposed 1t would.
Davis can make nothing by surrender
iAg, bad as is his present predieament;
and his sending commissioners, as he
did, looks verv much like trick to ST.
lenee the peace faction at the South.
His commissioners, without having
made any very definite propositions,
hasten back and report to JEFF. JEFF.
distOrts the facts in Il message TO the
rebe! congress, and then gets up war
meeting in Richmond and makes q speech
in which he declares that Sooner than
unite with the North he would yield up
everything he has on earth, and il it
were possible, would sacrifice q thou
sand lives before he would succumb."
War paint is in demand, and more DOW
vows are got up to fire the southern
heart" This firing" will not extend,
however, much out Of Richmond.
On our side, there ought to be entire
unanimity now. Experiment has proved
that it is useless to talk of peace with
the rebel leaders, except through the
guns OF Grant, Sherman and Thomas
until Lees army is destroyed. And then
the southerp peQpb will take the matter
In hand, and Jefferson Davis thousand
l,Ses would not help him, If he had
'nem' 1t is we'll to have the only meth.
Oh OF obtaining peace clearly understood
oy tne southern as well as the Northern
people; to have all delusiops cleared
away in both sections. The issue must
be fought oat 40 long as JEFF. Davis can
Keep an army around him and the south.
efn Peoplesin subsection. II tbis has
oeen ulade any more thoroughlv n,6er
stood oy-this peace conference th., :.