Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-20
The Latest Peace Rumors.

clares, ION authority that cannot be ques,
toned" that Mr.. Blair's sole object il
going TO Richmond is TO recover his pri-
vate papers, stolen by the rebels from
bis house at Silver Spring, Maryland
and that he is not authorized to speak
for the President on any subject. 1t is
not easy 10 believe this. II is now known
that the peace democrat reported TO have
gone TO Richmond, is Gen. Singleton OF
Ohio, and that he started several days
before Mr.. Blair with the permission of
the President. His errand, it is not de-
med, is to confer with the rebel leaders.
as to the conditions on which they will
negotiate for peace, and although he has
no authority from the government, he is
expected to report the result OF his per-
sonal efforts on his return.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York World, who is very prolific of
peace news. states that advices direct
from Richmond represent jeff Davis to
be strongly inclined TO peace measures,
and willing to accept much more liberal
terms than it was at first supposed he
would. This correspondent also states
that ore reason for Gen. Buffers remo-
val was 10 show the South that cur gov
eminent is disposed TO treat on liberia!
terms, and is willing to remove any OBJ
stacle that may stand in the way of
perfect understanding with that section.
HIe also undertakes to say that Mr. Blair
is clothed with foil authority from the
president to open negotiations for peace,
and to offer these terms:-
/. Amnesty 10 all, without regard TO
age, sex, or position, and irrespective OF
what he or they might have done since
the war began. This includes all the
rebel civil and military officials from JEFF
Davis down.
2. The constitution as It is and the
Union as it was. OF course some radi-
cal changes in both the Union and the
constitution have been made by the par
ty now in power which will not be alter
ed in the least. But the point is that the |
South is to be permitted to return to the
Union with all the rights and privileges
which il held before any of the states Sc
ceded.
8. The total abolition Of slavery
From this point the President will not
retract one iota. He does not insist up |
on the Immediate abolition of slavery, but
he does insist that such measures be ia
ken by the southern States AS will secure |
its extinction within reasonable length |
of time. This is sine qua non of the
restoration Of peace.
The most important Of the peace ru-
m0rs is that the rebel congress has adopt.
ed the resolution offered some weeks ago,
TO send thirteen commissioners 10 meet |
from the United States
upon the subject Of peace, and has elect
ed the commissioners, Among whom are
Vice President Strvens, Judge White Of
Georgia, Me>srs. Boyce and Orr of Sou h
Carolina. Leech and Gilmore of NORTH
Carolina. Reeves of Virginia, and Smith
and Singleton of Mississippi. There is
also a report that Gen. Grant has tele-
Graphed thar Mr.. Stephens has asked for
a pass through his lines to visit Washing
ton.
We shall soon know what truth there
is AT The bottom Of all these reports, and
what portion OF them are sensation sto-
ries. In the present hopeless condition
Of the rebel cause it is reasonable TO sup.
pose there is desire to abandon the
struggle. and that there is large class
of people IN the South who would be
glad of the same opportunity to return tn
he protection and the blessings Of the
Union which has been sn readily accept.
I'd BY the citizens Of Savannah. there
Fan be no better evidence than the fierce
of the rebel press against
such. For instance, the Richmond En-
luirer of the 9th is not striking at men
IF straw when it fiercely cries out -
"There are men in these states TO
whom the great groundswell of 1861
aught prudence without intoxicating pat
otism. Disasters are now developing
he latent treachery Of these men. They ,
10 not criticise for the purpose of cor
Getting errors but they croak in order
o spread dsaffection. In Georgia your
roaker is for Gov. Brown and state +,
lights in Richmond, while affecting to 4
condemn Gov. Brown, he cannot sup
,ort Mr.. Davis while with bis lips be !
urses the traitor, at heart he applauds .
he treason. Their influence cannot be ,
4 4 u a L !