The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-15

the wish that General Lee should have the control
Of military operations which II is desired
upon him. and the President at placed him in the
position created by the law. HIS counsels and aid
found invaluable by the Executive, until, the fall Of
seven Pines, The President deemed essential 70 the
safety Of the capital 70 put General Lee In command OF
the Army Of Northern Virginia But G.. General sI
retained In the general command Of all the armies
at the same time What the RESULT To the great
regret of the President General Lee was forced by
stress OF duty too great for one man. to request that
choice should be made Wiling, he ever has been TO
DO his country every service In hs power ne et 70 me
President saw whether he could best aid In Its defence
by remaining in the field or returning 70 his once IN
Richmond The wisdom OF the choice which left him IN
command OF the army that has now for nearly three
years baed every OF the enemy 10 get possession
Of capital will scarcely be questioned by any least
Of all by Virginians
the that the President while awaiting himself Of the
services of General Lee in the field loses opportunity
of obtaining the benefit of his advice and opinion on all
important questions and in all extended operations
These two distinguished citizens, too devoted 70
their country, too conscious OF their own NOBILITY
Of character, too superior 70 base or envious
passions 70 entertain for each other any but
the most cordial sentiments Of mutual esteem
and friendship constantly engaged In the interchange
Of visits for conference all military Affairs as well az
the general condition OF our country From TINS the
bappiest consequences have resulted woaid 1naI 20
eminent example followed by ALL and we should
spirit OF confidence anmatng the people that
would put shame tho croaking the despondency tho
many of public men and produce effects 30 inju
nous TO our cause
Gen. Lee ON Aiming the Negroes.
THE FOREMOST MAN OF THE REBELS AN AB0LI-
rIONIsr.
From the Richmond Enquirer, January IL
General Lee is regarded q man reasonably devoted
70 cause he Is looked upon not easily disheart
ened he has exhibited practical potriotism be Is ad
mted 10 know something Of the wants and necessities OF
the army; he Ia large savehOlder-and yet he urges
has countvys authorities TO conscrpt the negroes and to
II disposed the question authority,
might stop here and ask what man will put himself in
the scales against General LeeS II this war was being
waged part for rights in the territories, this
TO the mes and berate the negro
soldier would be suicidal But a. il IL the white man
liberty, and not the negros slavery for which this people
by which every mans devotion 70 the cause may be
weighed measured and estimated.
II this is waged for the liberty independence and
nationality Of these States and II for this bect only
people made the tremendous sacrifices Of the
last four years and are willing 70 make stu greater sac
independence and nationality Of these States is justified
and made imperative duty Can we count the cost
OF liberty value by money and say its attainment
too expensvc-that negro property Is worth more
than liberty Through every organ OF public senti-
ment-the press, the pulpit, the authorities, Con.
fcderate and State-opinion and purpose have been
dehanty expressed that upon no terms and under
NO circumstances will these States geunite with their
enemy But that every sacrifice OF life and property
shall be freely made to nationality Have we
drift ed urther than desired and said more than we
meants Have we been playing the game Of brag, with
Have sacrificed hundreds Of thousands Of our best
and noblest citizens in merely bullying our enemy and
playing upon the credulty Of the world? Nol The peo
Die Of these States were and still are in real
it be sign Of panic to say that we would sacrifice
slavery for the Of cause every man has again
and again held out that sign Was 1t mere gascon
ade was it earnest2 Was the 'last ditch meta
phorcal fsehood Of the brag kind the resoute pur
pose OF a brave peOpeY
some Of our contemporaries entered upon the dis
of this question with moro passion than pru-
dence but sober second thought has taught them to
modify their hastily expressed opinions and before
week the same papers have changed their tone Others
discuss the question with wise patriotism and calm
spirit Among these last find the Wilmington North
CaroliRam. But is that paper correct in saying that
people called upon now to surrender the whole
question At issue between them and the people OF the
Northern States9'' IL "a yiediny-a concession Of
prncipe the part Of our people which they cannot
readily fall in wh9 Does 1t involve in any way the
righteousness Of slavery IN yield price FOR liberty
az a premium to stop the desolation Of war;
Our Wilmington contemporary concludes his article
thus
be necessary prepared TO adopt conservative,
safe and practical course in the matter We would be
willing To the Powers Of the EARTH in return for ac
tive CO operation and assistance the extngushment Of
the institution after series Of years For instance we
would be willing to place slavery in such situation that
century hence would be extinct In the Confederate
States Meanwhile, would have our people gradually
introduce free labor that resources would not re-
main undeveoped Southern country checked
and psralyzed in its career OF national growth The
whole question however at this stage is not legitimate
subject Of discussion and have only referred 10 II
that our people might hold IL SUB JUDGE.
Thus there il no difference whatever between the
ENQUIRER and the North Cdroiinian. We proposed the
plan Of abolition suggested nothing AS to who should
abolish the institution merely said that for indcpend
enccnot recognition, not nterventi0n-but Tor inde-
pendence and peace, actually acquired through the IN
pared 10 urge the people Of these States e dtoo"
Of sdrcry
this the proper time for its discussion We believe that
the proposition Is emnently PRACTICAL that II opens up
new ied Of diplomacy, and one from which much good
may come We believe the time To be emf
ncny ht and proper The liberty party of Europe niu
cnces s opinion and controls the actions OF govern
influence has been decidedly and actively opposed TO us
because stakng the occasion Tor tho cause OF this war
regards fighting only for slavery The cause Of
great people fighting for Independence could not have
failed draw to the active sympahies OF all liberal
minded men il that had not been preudiced and
the charge that these States had disrupted
the great government OF popular rights merely To- hold
their negroes in slavery The Declaration OF Independ
cnce which declared all men free and equal" also
declared that governments derived their just powers
from the consent Of the governed This last
postulate, powerful in Europe than the for
mer has dsregarded in because the other
was denied In the false charge that were fighting
merely for slavery. We may affect TO disregard the
sopinon OF manknd'--our forefathers paid II decent
respoct--b cannot hope to occupy place among
the nations Of the world If we intend 10 disregard
its every sentiment
We propose that the people Of the Sta'es shall attest
the Of their love for liberty and their eson
ton to free by showing TO the world their readiness to
surrender slavery for liberty Such spectacle has not
been presented 10 the world Of modern times So dsin
terested love for liberty cannot be shown in the sac
fees OF any nation Not pccunary value only, but the
firm convictions OF whole people are surrendered up
for liberty.
And ths is the propitious time. We have for four
years maintained most gigantic war; we have success
fully demonstrated capacity 10 continue the war for
four or forty years longer we have just brought TO a
close a campaign gigantic than any OF the Others
and IN which the enemy claims 70 be fully successful
and vet IL has but shown that there Is no point in
country Of sval Importance" city whose capture in
wolves the loss OF our cause but that IN our army not
cities HES the hopes and fortunes OF their country
The people Of these States believe slavery right, per
mtcd and sanctioned in the word of God proper for the
white men, good for the black economical as system
Of labor and necessary TO the proper cultivation OF the
great staples OF this country; but Notwithstanding all
this the people OF these States willing and prepared
70 surrender all for liberty from Yankee dominion, for
Independence and nationality.
II Europe will not respond 10 our proposition favora
by shall nj least have silenced the SANDERS Of
enemy aud It's own abolitonists. No harm can come or
the proposition SINCE IL rejected we will fight the tight
t.n C.pr f.rfy httA