The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-02-08
Southern Uninious,

southsrn Upinions, 49,.
While the Peace conference was in ses
sion in 1.-THE middle Of the stream"-a place
which an Irish friend at our elbow, says
where Mr. Lincoln never swaps horses'-the
Richmond papers were giving their views
in considerable quantity and variety. Here
are extracts from several Of them. The
last paragraph Of the Examiner article is
most refreshingly saucy.
The Richmond Sentinel (Jeff. Davis or.
GAM Of Jan. 31st, says: "Let US keep
clearly in view that independence to main
tain which we drew, tho sword, and listen
to no suggestion for its compromise ut The
price Of peace. Such peace would indeed
be but hollow truce and an illusory ar
mistice There can be no permanent peace
where honor is compromised. or where vital
interests are placed in peril 1t would be
madness-it would be unnatural cruelty
after having fought this battle nearly
through, to adjourn it over. for our child
rem to begin it anew. In the tide Of human
events this terrible truggle has fallen to our
lot Thus far we have met it as men
Thus far we need not fear the verdict of
history or the judgment Of the world. The
past at least is secure. Shall We sacrifice
all our honors through sudden weakness
now? Shall we sell the measure Of our
great fams for any ease which may be ob-
tanned, short Of full success? Shall we,
by any unmanly shrinking from dangers
which we have braved for four years, leave
heritage of blood for our children, for
which they shall curse our memories? Let
US stand firmly to our responsibilities"
The article closes with this explanation -
1--WE have extended these remarks to their
present length lest the missions between
this capital and Washington should enfeo.
Die US with Injurious expectations"
The Richmond Er lniner, in an article
on peace, says: "We should try and pos.
sess our. souls with equaninity, until these
worthy gentlemen who have gone to w ash
ingson return % Richmond We are no
Of thpse who believe that peace talk and
peace missions tend to demoralz, the ar
my. We do not believe the gallant sol
diers who have braved the storms Of BATH.
for three years are likely to be dcmoralz ID
byp ace talk; but on the contrary we think
It ''kely to do much good for our people
to understand il an authoritative manner
from men like Vice President Stephens,
Senator Hunter and Judge Campbell, the
exact degree Of degra la,ion to which our
enemy would reduce Us by reconstruction
We believe that the so called mission from
these gentlemen will teach our people that
the terms Of the enemy are nothing less
than unconditional surrender. Better 60
to tghtng--better to b. su,iu gated aud
Conquered than to live to recoIlrct that we
brought our ruin upon our heads by adopt
lug recpns,ruction. These missions should
e3courag. our people to renewed IF ,rt ard
nerve them to future conf cts, BY show wing
Us that we have brought the enemy to con
slider p lace. which. at no previous time
during the last ionr years, wJull he even
stop To tax abou~ .r ..-.
Heretofore his lansuag. has been, "no
partly with the rehell ,n--nO terms with
traitors" but now he sends one. two, and
three missions, and has consented to per-
init Mr.. Stephens aud others 70 come to
Washington, whom, three years ago, b.
sent back to Fortress Monroe There is
considerable change and very great i'm
prhvem"nt in the manners Of the enemy.
notwithstanding our recent reverse, he has
learned enough to make him poli,. and
courteous. Let the peace talk exhaust it.
self. and We snail be none the worse off, if
We stuff r not our Efforts to Dag and or
spirits !" fail"
The Wig has a imilar article. 1t thinks
comprom Sc possible, but not probable.
"ln she N nth peace means reconstruction
and reunion; and under the impression of
its approach, gold falls. In the South peace
ineans separation and Independence; at least
that Is its general, # not universal mean
ing. The fact tina. psaoesrunors COIN
cident with marked fall in gold shows
that Southern opinion on this subj C, is the
precise antithesis of Northern opinion
Until the two opinions begin to cease their
sntagoniSm, ahd to tend toward common
significance, negotiations must inevitably
fail"