The mountain Democrat., 1865-02-18

struggle, are exciting much attention.
We are convinced, from the discussion
the rumors have elected, that there is a
strong and constantly increasing peace
sentiment prevalent among the people,
and that a speedy termination Of the war
would be welcomed with more heartfelt
rejoicing than any event which has &C.
Cured for many years. Politicians,army
contractors and government spies want
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sick of boodshed and devastation, and
long for peace. But we believe nearly oil
the stories manufactured and circulated
about peace propositions, are designed for
speculative and political purposes. The
Administration may have in contempla'
ton some scheme for peace offering, but
it will be coupled with such conditions as
to render its acceptance by the South i'm.
possible. The war spirit flags. Recruit
ing goes on slowly. But few volunteer
Some means must be devised to arouse
the prejudices and passions Of the North.
What so efficacious to this end, as the re-
lection by the South of peace Ovcrturcs,
seemingly fair, made by the Administra'
ton? Judging from the tone Of the lead
ers of the party, the men who control the
Administration and shape its policy, no
proposition will be offered in good faith
In the Presidents famous letter, directed
To whom it may concern, he explicitly
states that he will not enter into any nc.
gotiations for the restoration Of the UEion,
except on the condition that the Southern
States shall abandon slavery conditions
which he must know they will not accept.
Thaddcus Stevens, the Abolition Chair.
man Of the Committee Of Ways and
Means, in Congress, said, on the floor Of
the House Of Representatives, that "This
talk Of restoring the Union as it was, I'm.
der the Constitution as it is, is one Of the
abSurdties which | have heard repeated
till have become about sick of it. This
Union never shall, with my consent, be
restored under the Constitution as it is. VI
This is not the language of an insignif
cant individual, but of a leader who wields
a potential influence in the dominant par.
ty. And the radical wing of his party
cordially endorse his sentiments.
Again, Horace Greeley figures in the
peace movement, and his connection with
it convinces US that it is all sham, o
cheat, started to delude the people with
false hopes. A few days before the elcc
ton the Tribune, in a spunky editorial
written by Greeley, ridiculed what it call
cd the "copperhead cry of the Union as il
was" and gave expression to the follow.
ing crazy sentiment: 1--WE swear, with
uncovered heads, that the restored Union
shall not be as it was, but as it should be-. ;
That is, no Union at all, if we cannot frs
abolish slavery. We all know that Gree
lcy's opinions are law with his party
lie sounds the key. and they all join
in the chorus. a few days later, at a
large Abolition meeting in Boston, Senator
Sumner. taking the hint from Greeley,
said he "took issue with General McClel.
lan'S declaration, that the Union is the
one condition Of peace--we ask no more.
We do ask more The war must 60 on
until slavery is abolishcd"! This shows
the spirit which animateS the leaders Of
the Administration party, and indicates
pretty clearly that they will offer obnox
lous peace propositions to the South, foT
the purpose of forcing them TO reject
them. 1t convinccs US that no PROPOSE
tionS of nature to command the conf.
dence Of the South will be offered. There
is large class of men, contractors, in.
formers, etc, who are coming money out
OF the miSfortuneS and miscries Of their
country, who do not wish the war stop
ped. They were never so rich before, anG
few of them have yet become satiatet
with wealth. They care not for the blood
shed, or distress, so long as their hoard,
are growing large. The hearlless fanatics
desire rreteXt for the adoption of more
barbarous measures than have yet come
into general practice. Butler expressed
and exposed their views in his New York
speech, when he declared that the rciec.
ton by the South Of peace overtures
would be the signal for the opening Of O
war Of determination. 1t may be, how.
ever, that the Administration apprehends
European interference and the recognition
of the independence of the Confcderacy
by some of the great powers, and to pre-.
vent such interference and recognition
terms acceptable to the South and honor.
able to both sections will be offered by
Lincoln. Upon no other theory, judging
from the past history Of the Administra.
tion in its dealings with the South, and
the sentiments entertained by Stevens,
Greeley, Sumner and other leading Ado.
IitionistS, can we place the least conf
dence in the peace rumors.
- -
DoN'T SEE TIT was promised us that
the reelection Of Lincoln would appall the
South and induce immediate submission.
We don't See it. On the contrary, the
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