The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-16

ssvery the sursss and quickest means Of rs-sstsb
fishing the Union
In July 1894 the country sgitsseA with effort
TO establish peace and desire TO end the
was ovineed throughout the country. was believed
,hs Mr. Lincoln would In Difference TO that DESIRE and
In order hasten solution Of the question Of peace
modify his policy upon the slavery question; but he
remained arm in his conviction that the total
extinction Of slavery was the best road tot
permanent pace and prosperity. In his letter
TO whom II may concern" he plainly declared his
adherence 70 his policy in the strongest termA "Any
proposition he wrote (which embraces the Integrity Of
TIE whoIe Untom and TIE abandonment Qf slavery, and
which comes by and with authority that control
the armies at against the United States, will be
received and considered by the executive
the United States, and win be met by liberal terms on
substantial and collateral points, and the bearer bear
thereof shall have safe conduct both waya" Not less
positive these points is the language Of his insruc
tons 10 Secretary Seward when ordering him to Fortress
Monroe 10 the rebel Peace Commissioners in Janu
airy last Mr.. Seward directed 10 make known TO
them that three things indispensable to peace
Fiyy-The restoration of the national authority
throughout all the States.
Second-No receding by the Executive Of the United
States the slavery question from the position assumed
thereon in the late annual message to Congress and In
the preceding documents
Third-No cessation Of hostilities short of end OF
the and the dsbanding Of all the forces hostile 10
the government
Mr. Seward instructed TO inform the Commission
ers that all propositions not Inconsistent Nth the aboue
,oould Considered and passed upon spirit Of sincere
literally.
how consistently Mr. Lincoln adhered from the day Of
his first Inauguration to the first purpose the restora
OF the Union and since It's adoption in 1853 TO the
second proposition, necessary to the first is ap
parent and establishes his character for hrmness and
consistency The skill with which he educated the ma
ton to as full belief In the necessity Of the second
of his policy II had always held In that of
the nrst proves him 10 have been wise and able far
seeing statesman
Under the blows Of the army, skilfully directed by
General Grant, and the firm and positive execution Of
the details Of the political Of Mr. Lincoln the
giant rebellion was within thelast month brought near
It's end In he midst Of success which gave assurance
of the full and absolute achievement Of both his fixed
purposes Mr.. Lincoln suddenly gave evidence Of the
affection with which he has always regarded the South
and naugurated policy of concession towards State
authorities which, without retarding conflicting with
his nxcd purposes Of ultimate Union and abolition,
hastened the rapid and It hoped, bloodless disso
luton of the remaining rebel armies This policy, mis-
taken by many unwise Cancellation towards the
leading traitors Ia not yet understood and appreciated
bccausc sufficient time has not had not elapsed when
its author ceased breathe to show It's effect but we
doubt not the day will come when the people will &C
knowledge that such policy, pursued with Mr.. Lin
usual persistence would sooner have rendered the
organized armies Of the rebel leaders useless and nehec
tive than will any other which may be adopted The
apparent cancellations granted TO the people of Virginia
were undeserved kndnesses to the rebel leaders
without relieving single rebel officer OF any penalty
which he might for crime Mr. Lincolns conciatory
calculated to make it the interest of every
private soldier Of their armies to abandon them to their
fate. Under the workings OF such policy az Mr. Lin
coin had fnaugurated In Virginia the dispersion OF the
rebel armies would have rapidly accomplished
than will be by the hard CLOVIS Of Sherman and Grant
under less humane and radical policy. In Mr..
Lincoln the Southern people have lost their best friend
and the rebel leaders Of their wsest and bteres.
= enemies