Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-03-24

Military CODve0ssout0Wo 49,
sno the National Df0s
= ea1saes.
From the Washington Star, March 10.
Richmond papers, rontslning ! message u
JET. Davis 70 the rebsl congress, have been |
received. The message i gloomy in the ex-
Irene, and calls upoo congress 70 ftfnisA at
psce uaaterid, upsn ma upney . relies |
hem fro6 tAcir peril. j
Troops mdss 6e faised, savs. by ymore
vigorous conscription, and every means ap-
piled FOR increasing their army. With meal
It $50 per bushel and -four At &70O per
barrel, they we're flooding the country with
currency which they could never redeem.
and destroying the confidence Of the people,
and lac insists that congress must, without
delay, secure two millions Of dollars in gold
The Message says:
1.-THE capital Of the confederate states 10
now threatened, and 10 in greater danger
than Il has heretofore been during the war.
The fact il stated without reserve or con-
ceaiment, ~ due to the people, whose ser
wants We are, and in whose courage and con
stancy entire trust Is reposed; as due to you
IN whose wisdom and resolute spirit the
people hare ceaiided, for the adoption Of the
measuses required TO guard them from
threatenea peril.
II have heretofore, ID confidential mes
sage ID the two houses, stated tine facts
which induced me to consider ii necessary
that the privilege Of the writ Of habeas cor.
pus should be suspended. The conviction Of
the necessity Of this measure has become
deeper Is the events of the struggle have
been developed. Congress haa ! ct concur
red with me in opinion. It is my duty to say
that the time has arrived when the suspen-
sion Of thc writ 10 not simply advisable and
expedicnt, but almost indispensable to the
successful conduct Of the war On congress
must rest the responsibility Of declining to
exercise power conferred by the constitu
ton rs means Of public safety TO be used
in periods Of national peril resulting from
foreign invasion. If our present circn."stan-
ces are not such as were contemplated wheii
this power was conferred, confess nyse'
at n loss II imagine any contingency IN
which this clause Of the constitution will not
remain q dead letter. ms.
"W,th the prompt adoption Of the meas
urcs above recommended, and the united
and hearty cooperation Of congress and the
people in the execution Of the laws ard de-
fence OF the country. we may enter upon the
present campaign Nth cheerful confidence
IN the result. And who can doubt the con-
tinued existence Of that spirit aud fortitude
IN the people. and Of that consistency under
reverscs which alone are needed to render
our triumph secure! What other re- ource
remains available but the undying, uncon-
querablc resolve 20 be tree. Ii has bccome
certain, beyond all doubt or question. thn
we must continue this struggle to q success
ful issue, or must make abject and uncondi
t'onal subInis sion to such terms rs it shall
p'ease the conquertr TO impose on us after
our surrender. II u possible doubt could ex-
list after the conference between our CON-
missioncrs and Mr.. Lincoln, as recently re-
ported TO you, it would be dispclled by
recent occurrence, of which it is proper that
you should he informed.
Congress will remember that in the con-
ference above referred to our commissioners
were informed that the government of
the United States would not enter into any
agreement or treaty whatever with the Con
federate States, nor with any single state
aud that the only possible mode of obtain
disbanding our forces and yielding uncon-
ditional obedience to the laws Of the United
States, including those pas sed for the con
tiscation of our property, and the constitu-
tionaI amendment for the abolition of slay-
cry. 1t will further be RENE mbcred that Mr..
Lincoln declared that the only terms on
which hostlities would cease were those
stated in his message Of December last, in
icn e., nd hat Al r.
our pertinent submission, he would temper
justice with mercy and that the question
whether we would he governed MS depend
ent territories or permitted to have repre-
sen alton in their Congress was one on which
he could promise nothing, but which would
be decided by their Congress after our sub
mission had been accepted
ut has not. however. been hitherto stated
to you that, in the course Of the conference
at Fortress Monroe, a suggestion was made
by one of our commissioners that the ohjec-
tons entertained by Mr. Lincoln to treating
with the government Of the confederacy or
with any separate state might be avoided,
by substituting for the usual mode of neco
tiating through commissioners or other di.
plomatfc agents, the method sometimes EN-.
ployed Of military convention to be entered
into by the commanding generals Of the ar
mics OF the two beligerents. This he admit
ted was power possessed by him, though
ne thought 1t was not commensurate with
all the questions involved As he did moi
accept the suggestion when made, he was
afterwards requested to reconsider his con-
cluslon upon the subject Of suspension of
hosti.itles, which he agreed to, but said he
had naturally considered Of the plan, and
had determined that it could not he done
subsequently, however, an interview
with Gen. Longstreet was asked for by
Gen. Ord, commanding the encmy's army Of
the James. during which Gen. Longstreet.
vas informed by HIM tina: there was a pos
sibil'ty Of arriving at a satisfactory adjust
ment OF the present unhappy ditfiulties by
means OF military convention. and that
Gen. Lee has desired an interview on the
subject, it would not be declined, provided
Gen. Lee had authority to act This com.
was supposed TO be the conse- !
qnence OF the suggestion above referred to
ana. Gen. Lee. according to instructions.
wrote TO Gen. Grant on the Cd Of this mont!
to meet him for conference on the |
subject, and stating that he was vested with |
The requisite authority. Ten. Grants reply |
stated that he had no au' hority to accetc TO |
% prG posed conference. that his powers OK.
ended only to making convention on sub
ects purely Of military character. and that
zen. Ord could only have meant that an in
'erview would Not he refused on any subject |
81 which he, Gen. Grant had the power to
act.
IT thus appears that neither with the
ccn'ederate authorities. nor the autho, tiles
o' any state. nor through the commanding
generals, will the government Of the United
. ,.s.. .reat or make any terms or agreement
whatever for the cessation sf hos,;l;,;ss
There remains, then, for US no choice ~,
70 continue this contest 70 final issue. for
tae people Of the confederacy can De 81, Ii,
tie known to him who suppose it poss;l,is
they would ever consent to purchase. At ,he
cost OF degradation and slavery, perm;ssi n
~ i've IN country caIris"ned by their own
negroes, and governed by officers sent hv ,h.
conqueror In rule owe them,