Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-02-09
PEACEl PEACEl

The several MISSIONS OF the Dlairs 10 feh
mond. the vsit..of Mr.. Seward to City Point
81. TO meet Me,srs, Stephens, Hunter and Camp
bell, and the subsequent hasty mission OF MIR.
lincoln to the same vicinity on Thursday
last. and his return on Saturday morning to
Washington, have deeply exercised the pub
lie mind on the subject of Peace. Newspaper
writer's and correspondents, politicians great
md small, are indulging in all kinds of spec
nlations and theories on this all absorbing
tonic. Rumors and plans of all kinds are
nshered forth to an anxious and inqu'rips
nsoplc and all have, or will have their follow
ers and believers until stubborn facts shall ex-
plode these Pigments Of fertile imsgna;lons
Whether any good, speedy or definite re-
suits will flow from these various missions
snd movements, is yet IN unsolrcd mystery.
Let our people bear in mind the facts con-
nectsd with these movements so far as they
have developed themselves, ponder them
c,olly and deliberately. and they will e likely
to arrive as near the truth as any of the thco-
rists or professional politicians, who are not
inside the inner ring. We did think it more
than probable from the fact of ths Presidents
sudden visit to Fortress Mon roc, and his hasty
return to Washington city, that there was
more in the coming of these men than would
be indicated by the the tone of the Richmond
papers. Whether they had been secretly
clothed with powers by the Richmond author-
ties, or whether they assumed power from
their people, we cannot believe that the Prssi-
dent would have gone to meet them without
reasonable assurance that they could accom-
plish something definite for the proper aud
right Termination of the War, and their re-
turn to their allegiance and the Union.
We have full confidence in the patriotism,
honesty and ability of Abraham Lincoln to
conduct this contest to an honorable, safe, and
correct termination, and that too on the basis
he has in his messages indicated. We cannot
persuade ourselves that he will disregard
either his declarations or the will ofthe people,
who have sustained him for the last four years,
by submitting to any terms they may dictate,
in conflict with his heretofore platform. This
movement has like its predecessors proved to
be useless bubble.
Be this as it may, we feel great confidence
that tho dawning of the light of peace, And
thu. speedily, are visible, aud that the dark
clouds of war are about to disappear from our
horizon. If this result is not accomplished
by the means of Mcsscrs. Stephens & Co., it
will be by the indisputable arguments pre-
pairing by Grant and Sherman. That these
arguments will be speedily and effectively ap
piled we feel confident from the movements
of the last ten days or two weeks. The large
number of troops which have been transported
from distant fields and hurried down the
Chesapeake, indicate, uuequivocally, a move
ment of VITAL importance, and that it is in
tended as the vital and crushing blow. That
Richmond and its defenders are doomed to be
speedily vanquished we believe to be fore
gone conclusion. and that the only thing
which can or will prevent it is the powers and
terms of the frrn of Stephens. Hunter & Co,
If they are not clothed with sufficient authori- |
~ and the proper terms. Grant and Sherman
will settle the negotiations for them on less
favorable terms than the President mi sht now
feel disposed to accord to the Rebel leaders
We draw these deductions from recent events
and believe that we shall ere long see them
realized.
The negotiations were somewhat abruptly |
terminated, but this mission may have boon
a mere feeler to see whether President Lin
coin could be induced to aba.e anything from
the terms he has heretofore publicly an
nounced. as also if possible to ascertain the
movements and strength Of the Federal force
brought to operate against Richmond, and to
ascertain the sentiments of the people at the |
North. If these wore their designs we feel
satisfied they have learned nothing which they
eau use to promote the rebel cause, but they.
may have learned enough to satisfy them of
the hopeessness of their cause and the proba-
bility of its speedy extin ction. We further
believe that the negotiations will be speedily
renewed, but by different persons and with
different arrangements, the neg,.iators will
be Grant and Sherman, and tn ir arguments
will be shells aud bayonets If the object Of
this mission on the part of the rebels has been
to delay the threatened blow of which they
doubtless had information, they will end that
800 has proved failure, and in all probability
has only fastened the fall of that blow.
-3CorroS Coming Five ofths feet of vessels
On which Collector Drapcr is loading the cot