Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-14

IL There q POase Party tn the BOuth9
Ths tone Of the Richmond press does
not represent the people of the South.
There is q reconstruction party that Davis
is trying to head OF by ingenious rnisrepre-
sentationl. MessrE Stevens, Hunter snd
Campbell endeaYor TO create the impres-
sion that because Mr.. Lincoln is unwilling
to treat with States as members Of the Con-
fsderaoy, he Is unwilling to treat with the
people apart from the Confederacy, They
say ave understood from him that no
terms or proposals. Of any treaty or sgree-
ment, looking TO an ultimate settlement
would be entertained or made by him with
the authorities Of the OonSsdsrats stateS be-
cause that would be 8 recognition OF their
existence ass separate power, which un-
der no circumstances, would be done, and
tor like reasons Chat no sHeh terms SoOHEd
% eStertaFnsd by him from Ssatss sspGr-
ateIy" ss - p
Davis follows upthis Gtatemsntby snoth-
er equally false. he says; 1aHsi
GTbe enemy refuse 70 enter into nego-
tistions with the Confedefate States, OF
any one Of them separately, or TO give 0ul
people any other terms or guarantees than
those which { conqueror may grant, or e
permit Us to have pesoe on sny other basil
than our unconditional submission TO theil
rule" u ID ,z5nf -1al rsg7 sas''- @
They are afraid to let the people Of The
South know Mr.. LincOln's real sentiments
To have laid bsfore them fair and hon
eat ,EtAtement Of the interview would have
been TO show that the rebel leaders sre The
only obstacles in the way Of speace. Thst
there are reconstruetionists In the South
may be inferred from the following sx
tracts tad s f sr9J 10
Thus the Richmond Enquirer says, II
an article violently abusing Mr.. Lincoln
and hil Cabinet !:
W GBut Mr.. Seward has done US 9 service
Before he undertook to use the high Ant
holy purpose Of peace making to serve th'
low and mean ends of party, the people o.
these States were somewhat divided. 4
portion Of them believed that the enemy
would yet give them fair and honorable
terms Of peace, provided they sgreed to re
construct the Union; and under, this belief
there was a growing party Which insisted
on negotiation.
GIt is not impossible thA
the scene Of discord and division that hai
distracted the city, made gloomy and dea
pondent the people Of these States, anc
cast cloud over the eversbuoyRnt spiri
Of our army, may have encouraged Mr.
Seward to propose his dishonorsbls terms
That the enemy should hasten to seiE'
upon the moment Of our distraction, wa
not to be wondered at"
The Mobile Advertissr and GassttS, O.
January 2oth, makes even more remark
sble confession:
@We do not attempt TO disguise the fac
that the Confederate cause Is ct this mo
ment passing through its most dAngeroul
crisis. Large numbers Of the people
perhaps, upon fair poll, the whole msjor
lty-are heart sick Of the war, and willing
to end it upon terms which would hAvI
been secuted at a. reasonable two years
or even one year ago. Even the class o.
slaveholders, having the deepest pecuniary
stake in the success Of the struggle for in.
depence, are ready to mako sacrifices, thI
mention Of which short time ago would
not have been tolerated. We have not 1
doubt that the country, including the slsy,
propriet0rs, large and small, would com
promise to-day for peace and independsnc,
on the basis Of 9 gradual and uniYeraA
emancipation OF the blacks. We may z
further and say, that large numbeFs'' would
be willing to give up their cherisheC
thoughts of independence, and exchange
the institution for naked peace, upon term
of reconstruction. This e q great change
3 wonderful revolution of Of popular senti,
ment, resulting from four years Of tremend
Gus conflict" aE
This is change which Is full Of dGngel
to the rebel leaders, who alone stand in thu
way Of pesee; and their present design Is
by misrepresenting the the recent inter
view, and Mr.. Lineoln's offers, to escApl
that peril. For that reason they are nov
holding war meetings in Richmond, ani
trying anew to Hhre the southern heart