The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-23

we must continue this struggle To sue,
cessful issue or mist make abject and
unconditional submission TO Slich terms
as il shall please the conqneror TO impose
npon rs after our surrender. II posi-,
bic doubt could exist after the conference
between our commissioners and Mr.. LII
colu, as recently reported to you, II
wonld be dispelled by recent occurrence,
of which il is proper that yon shonld be
Informed.
Congress will remember that in he
conference above referred To, onfcOmmis-
siouers were informed thai the Govern
m.ut of the United STateS would not Ell
ter into any agreement Or treaty what-
ever with the Confederate States, nor
with any single State; and the only
possible mode of obtaining peace was by
LAYING down our arms. disbanding our
forces. and Welding unconditional obedi-
ence to the laws of the United States,
including those passed for the eonhsca
tion of Our property, and the C0nStltn,
tional Amendment for the abolition OF
slavery. 1t will further be remembered
that Mr.. Lincoln declared that the only
terms on which hostilities could cease
were those stated in his message of De-
cember last, in which we were informed
that. in the event of our psnitent sub
mission, he would temper justice with
mercy, and that the question whether
We would be governed as dependent ter
ritories, or permitted to have represen-
tation in their Congress was one on when
he could promise nothing, bnt which
would be decided by their Congress, after
our submission had been accepted.
CURIOUS DEVELOPMENTS.
Ii has not, however, been hitherto
stated to Won that. in the course OF the
conference at Fortress Monroe, a sugges-
ton was made by one of our commissions
ers. that the objection entertained by
Mr. Lincoln to treating with the Govern
ment of the Confederacy, or with anv
separate State, might be avoided by sub
stituting, for the usual mode OF negoti-
ating through commissioners or other
diplomatic agents, 1.-The method sometimes
employed of military convention, to be
entered into by the Commanding Gener-
ais of the armies of the two belligerents.
This, he admitted, was power possessed
by him, though it was not thought com
mensurate with all the questions in
volved. As he did not accept the sngges-
tion when made, he was afterwards re
quested to reconsider his conclusion mp
on the subject of the suspension OF hos
tilitieS which he agreed to do, bnt said
that he had natnrely considered the
plan and had determined that 1t could
not he done.
THE PROPOSED INTERVIEW BETWEEN
GENERALS GRANT AND LEE.
Subsequently, however an interview
with General LOngstreet was asked for
by General Ord, commanding the enc
my's Army of the James, during which
General Longstreet was informed by hnn
that there was n possibility OF arriving
at a satisfactory adjustment Of the pres
ent unhappy difficulties by means OF a
military convention, and that II General
Lee desired an interview Oh the subject
it would not be declined, provided Gener-
al Lee had authority to act This com
munication was supposed to be the con
sequence OF the Suggest ion above referred
to, and General Lee. according to in
structiUnS, wrote 10 General Grant on the
I'd of this month, proposing to meet him
for conference on the subject, and stating
that he was vested with the requisite au-
thority General Grants reply stated
that he had no authority to aCcede 10 the
proposed conference; that his powers eN-
tended only 10 makimga convention ON
subjects purrly OF military character,
and that General Ord could only have
meant that an interview S0nld not be
refused on any subject Oh which he
Gen Grant) had the right to act
1t thus appears that neither with the
Confederate authorities Of any State nor
thl ou.h the commanding generals, Will
the Government OF the United States
treat al make any terms OF agreement
whatever for the cessation OF ho5tillties
There remains, then, ton ns no choice
but IL continue this contest 10 hnal
issue fJI the people OF the COuf''deracl
rdn be but little known 10 hnn y h" sup
pose II possible they would ever con
sent IL purchase al the cost OF degrade
tiOu and slavery permission To live IA !
country sarllsonod hy their own negIors.
and governed hV officers ,rut bvs, ht COP
qdrIoI IL rule over them
lHE LAsi EtFoEI
Having thus fully placed before you
the information requisite IL enable Non
IL nudge ut the state III the country, The
dangers To which We are exposed, aud
The mea-uie- Ot legislation needed t"r
aYrrting them, II remains toI ne bht Ia
invoke ynur attention Ia the eunsldrra-
tiun of those means by which. above all
others We may hope to escape the "a
lamities that would result from oar fail
uie Prominent above all Others /, the
Necessity foI earnest and cordial cooper
alton between all departments OF Gov
ernment, State and Confederate and all
eminent citizens throughout the Confed-