The New York herald., 1865-02-06

peace misolOn IfOm niCumOuu ~ uOtuin8 moio
than dipicmatio reconnaissance, designed to
prepare the wsS for the inevitable alternative
Of submission, then Is is probable that another
conference soon may folloS, and perhaps an
other, until, step by step, the negotiating reoel
chiefs shall have prepared their fre-eating con-
federates and followers for the final step OF re-
pentance absolution and peace.
& This explanation Of the matter seems TO DO
generally accepted as tho true ono in the polit-
cal circles of Washington. Our correspondent,
on the steamer with President Lincoln to For
tress Monroe and back, says:-"While Hunter,
Stephens and Campbell did not feel that they had
the power to lay down the arms ofthe insurgents,
they were made fully aware of the position OF
President Lincoln. He would not and did not
bulge an inch from his point Of submission as
the initial proposition Of peace" The rebel
agents, we are thus further informed, have re-
turned to Richmond 70 report progress, "and
will soon be heard from again." that "the inter-
view was Of tho most cordial and hopeful
natures" that "ths country has reason to be
proud Of it, that "good will result from 1T"
and that 20 few days will tell il it be peace or
q continuance Of the war;" This encouraging
view Of the subject Is supported by another
correspondent in different sphere, who urges
that this peace conference is stepping stone to
submission on the part Of JEFF. Davis himself, from
the fact that before he appointed these Late COM
missioners he had been notified from President
Lincoln, through Mr.. Blair, that he would not
receive or meet any peace ambassadors from
the insurgent government "except upon the
basis of reunion and the abolition of slavery"
This is strong point In support Of the theory
that Davis, in this peace movement, has
deliberately broken ground in favor Of timely
submission to the imperative necessities Of his
situation. Unquestionably he may now open
what Old Abe describes as collateral
issues" command many advantages, and save
vast amounts of Southern life and property, In
cludng soldiers negroes and cotton, which
will surely be lost from continuance of the
suicidal game of Southern independence or sub
jugation
We expect soon to hear from Messrs. Ste
Of their report at Richmond. The "die in tho
last ditch" party of that city, including some of
the leading Congressional defenders of Davis,
had boisterous war meeting only the other
day, as if they suspected some double dealing in
this peace movement. We have thus far had very
goon reasons to consider Davis selfconceited,
selfwilled, imperious despot-foolish in his
favoritisms, implacable In his personal re-
venges, a raging fanatic in his hatred Of "the
Yankees" and blindly bent upon "hghting to
the last man and the last dollar reckless of tho
consequences to himself or his followers. But If
his late disasters and his present critical situa-
ton have brought to him cool reflection and
common sense, and to an honest determination
to give up his confederacy for the sake Of
peace, we have under estimated his redeeming
virtues. It is possible that he may have turned
short corner against the Richmond peace fac
tions combining for his overthrow. II is pos
sible that he may thus have formed an alliance
with General Lee, Stephens, Hunter, Campbell
and others in behalf Of a Union movement to
head Off or conciiate his peace adversaries !;
but the fact has yet to appear that he has
given up his purpose Of fighting to the last ex-
tremity and "dying in the last ditoh." We,
therefore, await from Richmond the solution Of
this late peace conference.