The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-04-06
Lee Thinks the Rebel Cause Hopeless, and
Stephens in favor Of Negotiation and Re-
',s-lT III s construction, ioua
New York, Saturday, March 25.

! gste- NEW DIRK, saturday, MARCH 20.
A Washington correspondent makes
series of revelations, for which he vouches,
concerning the rebel Confederacy, of very
important nature. He says the total avail
able military force of the rebels is 1872, 600
men, the figures being taken from the rolls
in the rebel War Department on Feb. 18th.
| Among the witnesses before the rebel Sen
ate Committee to inquire into the condition
| of the Confederacy was Gen. Lee. He said:
| SIT would be bad policy to evacuate Rich
mond as the Virginia troops would not so
into North Carolina; that they had not
troops enough to last till midsummer If
the war was to be carried on, the least Of
evils would be to arm two hundred thou
sand negroes, but they should be emanci-
! pated. 1t would depend upon circumstances
whether they would succeed by arlning the
slaves, but they could at least carry ON war
another year. The sentiment in the army
was almost unanimous for peace. The men
will fight longer, if necessary, but they be-
| lieve we can't continue the war through an
| other campaign. 20 | think the best policy
is to make peace on the plan proposed by
Mr.. Stephens. The people and country
ought to be saved further sacrifice. To the
inquiry if peace be not made before spring,
whether he would take command Of 1.-THE
armies, with unlimited powers, he replied
that he would take any position to which |
his country called hitn. but he did not think
he could save the cause-no human pow er
can save it. He thought Stephens policy
was the best now. The army and the peo-
pie ought to be saved if ali else is lost.
A long list of Senators, Representatives,
and other public men who are In favor OF
reconstruction on the basis Of the Union and
the Constitution, is given. i1 ra
Elk Senator G. G. Clay recently returned
from England, reported that England would
have nothing to do with the Confederacy.
When Mr.. Stephens returned from the
Hampton Roads conference he told his
friends that they would have peace before
May LIST, 1865-the substance of what Mr.. |
Lincoln said was that he could make no
terms with Mr.. Davis as the leader OF the
rebeliion--that he could not treat with the
States while they confessed allegiance to the
Confederacy Government but that he was
willing to treat with the States separately, |
and if peace was declared, would do all III
his power to remit pains and penalties. JET. |
Davis instructions were that negotiations
should be conducted as between two indie
pendent Municipalities, and pending the nego-
tiltions. an arInistice of ninety days. These
We're not entertained by Mr.. Lincoln as a
basis for negotiations. Mr., Stephens looks
upon any further effort on the part of the
Confederate Government towards negotia-
lions, or to carry Oh the war, as futile and
unjust to the people, and states his plan of
peace is: First, let President Lincoln issue
and address to the army and people Of the
South, embodyiug what he has said as to
peace and what passed at the interview;
second, appoint Commissioners to meet
State Commissioners to consult upon peace,
isand the return of the States on condition of
obedience to the constitution and laws; third,
the election by States sending Commission
ers, of congressman, who shall enter Con-
gress upon equal terms Stephens believed
this plan would secure the appreciation of
North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, and perhaps South Carolina and
Virginia.