Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-02-02
PEACE RUmORs

gery sel5ed upon by the people, |
That we ell desire peace is too evident to be con-
cealed-toe natural and proper to be denied. We do
desire it earnestly. Is it hand Upon what are
the present minors founded?
First then upon the nature of things. 1t is reason
able to suppose that the people of the United States
a. well ds those of the Confederacy, tired OF this
terribly devastating and exhausting contest The NOR
feeling of the whole world is stocked by Its contn
nance AM possibly the patience OF the world ID De-
coming exhausted by the suffering entalsd upon whole
populations By some OF its Incidents All these furnish
genera reasons supposing that some effort would
be made to come to an accommodation But these are
simply reasons why such thing might be- What evil
dances are there that such efforts have been made OR
are in train Of being made?
In ell protracted wars and especially in all wars OF
the character of this waging the American con-
tinent rHuors, sarmses, efforts, frequently unfounded,
frequently fote always precede actual negotiations
These rumor saapeless i'll form and mysterious in orr
gin very efter foreshadow coming events with an &C
euracy almost prophetic. Such rumors are now abroad
Bat su n have been abroad before, aud have
resulted in nothing. So may these fhe present ru:
more far sae derve their significance from
the fact that Francis P. Blair Senior, the rghthsnd
mau OF Lincoln and Seward, paid visit to Richmond
some time SINCE under flag of truce osensiby to look
after some papers alleged to have been taken from his
house near Washington during the last advance of
forces in that direction This his ostengibe ect,
but it certain that his real object to sound the
Confederate authorities At any rate he did have en-
interview with President Davis, private, bu. perfectly
unofficial as Blair was clothed with powers Off
cia character, but understood to know the views
and possess the confidence of the Washington govern
rnent No doubt Mr.. Blair obtained Mr.. Davis views
and most likely carried with him to Washington a
written minute of these views, made by Mr.. Davis
himself. At Washington he has long interviews
with the heads of government especially Mr.. LnGon.
It in to be presumed that be sets the facts before them
and makes them acquainted with the views of the Con
federate government. Last week Mr.. Blair made
second visit to Richmond rumor attributng to that
visit vario motives and objects, but all of public
character the most reasonable statement being that be
brought with him a programme or proposition from
Lincoln for the appointment of commissioners be-
half OF the Confederate States to negotiate settlement
of the difficulties existing between tbs psrtiea and Of
fering any such commissioners appointed by the Con-
fsderate States safe conduct to Washington and back
All this seems to receive confirmation from the telegraph
ic statement that Mr. Hunte, OF Virginia, NIr. Ste
phens of Georgia, and Mr. Campbell, OF Alabama
had been appointed commissioners, and started to-
day for Washington.
Thus far we are Oh pafe ground, and pretty ain
~ s.e our way. A poiEt hes been reached to which
previously no approach had been made. "A eomnani-
cation haa been opened between the bagsrent part,s
with the avowed object of trying to negotiate peace
ut uutil wa know whether any basis has been agreed
Upon, we 1nGt say whether the frst real step
has been taken towards the accomplishment of the
tsnsible object 1t s 1ontended with some force, that
Mr.. Blair at his first Interview with President Davis
was put possession Of his views, and with the pes-
ton of the CoRlederacy, and that there would have
lsen no u5e in his coming again with any programme
that did not concede basis less in accordance
with these views. 1t is also commended that gentlemen
Of the character and posi- ion OF Messrs. Hunter Ste
phens and Campbell would not consent to 60 on to
Washington as commissioners unless upon the assur-
ance that they would be met on some groand upon
which they could open negotiations without derogaen
to the honor and independence of their government
Nor indeed, can it be supposed that the Confederate
government would send them upon any such mission
without such first given. All this however
r predicated upon the assumption that these gentle
men have an Official character, not only conferred by
their government, bat recognized by the Lincoln
government In regard to all this, left in the
dark. We confess We have very serious doubts. We
fear Lincoln will take the ground that Buchanan did,
Hsmsy otter to receive them, not as Commissioners,
bat eminent citizens Of Virginia, Georgia and Ala
bama All this will be known, for that position
On his part, and We much appehend it, will put stop
TO the whole matter. We do not that their position
"a Commissioners is recognized by the appointment OF
similar Commissioners to greet them the part of the
Li1colr government. This Ilsy have been done how
ever.
Has Lincoln suddenly concluded to lower bis tone
and if re, wbyH
Il Eould be sheer folly to attempt to conceal from
ourselves Others that the advantages OF the mtary
situation are decidedly with nina. That recently the
balance ct has been largely in his favour. Up
sarsny he has the bail at his foot and that he has
it ABSOLUTELY is no doubt the firm conviction of lie ge
proportion Of bis people. If the propositions he
IL willing to maketLe basis upon which be is willing
to uegotiate should be at all admissible by the Sonh
people, we must attribute it to operating
frsm the outside. We have not been able to extort
these concessions from bic arma and know him too
Veil to expect them from his love or his generosity
II things should around to meet our wishes
we may assured that the wiley Seward trimming
his sails to meet an approaching storm that he has
had ntimation Of of action to be adopted at
an early day by the Western European powers, and
that be wishes to anticipate hem-perhaps to outbid
them perhaps to secure the Confederacy for an ally in
stead Of enemy III some great struggle fast approach
ing.
We make these suggestions merely as sarmises. We
account for any lowering of tone on the part OF
Lincoln in no ether way. Unless there he sona for