Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-17
[For the Sentinel.l
TREASON TREASON =. TREASON - !


TREASON TREASON =. TREASON ~
GrNrrENEx--It is rumored the street that
there IS a resolution before Congress-n secret ses-
sion-to open irregular negotiations, Through Com-
mssioners with Lincoln Dor peace This is not only
treason butt under the circumstances II is treacher
OF the most infamous character. Ii you please lei
rs know whether it, be true or not; Inc peoPie,oi
Virginia Certainly and, believe, the people OF me
Coniederacy generally, will not allow themselves TO
be sold by traitoTOus Congressman after this fashion
q.
Our correspondent 80" refers to report which
is pretty coDrmonlupon the street, and whicn mas
excited so far as il has gained any credit tue utmost
surprise and Indignation among our people. "hat
the citizens OF VirOaR al least, think OF SUCH rev.
olutionary notions as are therein referred to may
be seen in the noble action dfour house OF peegases
on Tuesday last Propositions moi WHIT more ans
orderly ruinous and fatal than those referred 70 by
nOn were indefinitely postponed in the promptest
and most indignant manner, by vote oil lOl 10 z.
That vote spoke for Virginia in substance and IN
manner We do noedoubt but that ing honOr OIL the
State is as truly represented in Congress, ana tna'
no one OF her delegates at least could have part IN
sucf exceedingly reprehensible and intoieraole
proceedings as are imagined, =
Ifthere be- indeed, single member remaining u
Congress who is in favor OF seeking peace oy theOS
ouuan road instead Of the regular authorized inoue
ofnegotiation which the Constitution mas pr9Ndeu,
and which he has sworn TO support, he knows Out
little of the temper ofthe people, II he supposes nc
would meet with the least encouragement ortoieT-
alton or escape the most indignant reprehensioh.
The sentiment of GOV. VANCEis the sentiment OIL
our whole people, and the sworn duty OF our legs
lators II et all of our movements, whether OIL peace
or war be in solid colmR" There Is neither, arg
nifty honor safety in any other; nothing outlo
treason and ruin.
Mr.. ORR said The editor Of this paper Is the
public and private printer OF this House, aug
it is the commonly received ergan OF the Executive
This is my apology for noticing the siahuetoes ~
ticle which have had the clerk TO read, IL Is APP
parent 10 this House. and to those who are familiar
with our proceedings that the article is intended as
a criticism upon the report from the CommH'ee On
Foreign Affairs, submitted by me on last THURSDAY.
ts no less than grave charge OF treason against
that Committee and an implication OF hike import
against the members OF this House. who were cogni-
zant of the substance of the report and voted TO re-
ceve n IN secret session. trust that the reputa-
ton OF the members composing that GomlnH9e -
sufficient TO satisfy the country that the article Is
false and sanderdus, The deliberations olfhe Ioin=
mittee upon the report were presided oyer by the
venerable pure and distinguished member from
Virginia MI RIyFs. Would he have so presided,
| from week 10 week, where treason was plotted =
Woud he have voted as he did, in open session, TO
20 into secret session TO receive hdf report
Would his colleague, Mr.. peJarnette, General
Atkins, oil Tenn, Mr., Wuherspoon, ol b ", nv
Smith, Of Ala and Mr. Turner, oil \. " nave
given their sanction TO a "tredsondoie report =
character pr Are they "trditOTOuS CUgresSihen ~
Can it be that they have brought forward disorder
lgraaoits and fatal proposition reprsheRs'se esd
iatolerable aud having ReiiheNdigm'y, honor, nor
safety In II
But of the Virginia delegation Messrs. Rives and
DeJarnette were not alone IN voting 10 receive the
report: Messrs. Wickhau, Baldwin and McNulen
voted with them, aware at the time OF its substance
and thus they, too fall under the rod of the power
behind the throne OF the SNtiae',
In refuting this calumny against members of this
House il is unnecessary to dyulge the contents OF
that report OF the ACTION OF the House thereon, al
though it is with me now (as announced when pre-
sented it) matter Ct indifference whether II should
be considered in open or sec'et session:
II the writer of the article ever saw the resQiu-
tons he has knowingly falsifed them. If he has
not seen Them but supposes them to be as he SKATES,
then according to his own report, he betIays gross
ignorance n asserting that IA resolution 70 open ~
regalar negotiations, through commissioners, acih
Lincoln for peace" would constitute treasoh ana
greater crimnality in preSuming to arraign worthy
and patriotic men for something of which he Is ig-
norant,
WHY should they be subjected to this malianant
criticisms For the sake of the argument let II be
conceded that they have proposed TO send commits
sioners to Washington % TO open Irregular neg0fid-
tons for peace" These commissioners might be
sent with no other power than TO confer and con
suit with the authorities there on terms OF an honor
able peace with instructions tGreport the results OF
conference 10 the tIlis
Such negotiations would be irregular, and might,
think would if ratified by the treaty making power,
secure an honorable and satisfactory peace Who
but a mailman would dcnounce these means and this
result 'treachery Of the most intamous ehsFac'
teri
From the supposed relationship Of this Journal to
men in power il may have been intended in indulg-
ing in bitter denunciation TO have the effect of in
timidatng the advocates of AN honorable and peace
full settlement Of the war. II this was the design
let me assure YOU, sir, that greater mistake was
never made. Denuneiation will be met by defiance.
This movement is not in the hands of timid, nor
time serving men, Sustained as they ares by vol
ume of sentiment In the country and in the army,
and BY their own sense of duty, they are detkmined
that in some form the craftsmanship of thu coun-
try shall be invoked in an honest effort TO end this
carnival of death by negotiation.
The Sentinel thinks it 'JOOIiSh, reasonable and
rniRous'' for this House to send Commissioners 10
Washington with powers limited as preseribed.--
This is to assume thai no terms could be obtained
which would not be 'rtinoRs" Is there any reason
| for this assumption That journal proposed few
DAYS since 10 abolish slavery for foreign interview
ton> Who is authorized TO say that better terms
could not be obtained from the United States Who
Is authorized TO say that terms could not be agreed
upon witlAkhem without abolition and without, re-
| construction? We certainly could make it to their
interest to recognize as an independent people
withoat involving either slavery reconstruction,
and nations usually follow their interest. The
question of reconstruction however does not arise
in the proposition TO negotiate, and shall not there
fore discuss il. 2
Nor is it "f0oliSh or reasonable" and will add
that il is neither impolitic nor unmany while we are
gathering up all military strength to meet the
enemy to resort to every audable and proper effort
to give peace TO distracted and bleeding country by
negotiation. 0nthe contrary the Statesman who
would refuse TO do this is hideous moral deformity
MIR. ATKINS, Of Tenn, said that he was prevent
cd by sickness from being present in the House