Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-16

I - SS4sNa ~ GAG EGCGhL ELleh-
mOnd (A6ricRn Chureh) War Meet
iinE-DeSponding Views of the Con.
EederGte Situation.
Hon. ]. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State
of the Confederate States, was announced
as the next speaker. He was greeted with
rousing cheers, and spoke in substance as
follows: The number of persons compo-
siug this meeting, the cheers with which
hear you greet every expression of patrio-
tic sentiment, shows the defiance with
which your breasts are swelling, and the
hot flush which sllfeel, at the bare thought
of the ignomiuy which an arrogautgoVeru.
ment has proposed to you, that yoa should
bend the knee, aud bow the neck, and
meekly submit to the eonq1eror's yoke,
aud all give assurance that the FIRE of free
dom burns unquenchably in your souls
How different from one short week ago.
1t seems an age, 80 magic has been the
change. Then, despondeucy and hope de-.
ferred, oppressed and weighed upon us.
Men were querulous, and asking if it were
true that no honorable peace we're attaina-
able except by continued warfare Then,
it WAS said it was our perVerse iudisposl.
ton to negotiate that led to the arrogance
of the invader. This deIusion went so far
that it penetrated the legislative halls, aud
threatened the disruption of the harmony
of our councils. Now, cheerful voices are
heard all around, aud hope beams on eY-
cry eouutenance. Now, the resolute and
war worn soldier is nerVed anew. Now,
the cheering and purifying influence of our
glorious women sheds its light over our
cause, and still leads Us on in the path of
duty and honor. What is the cause of
this striking change in the aspect of our
affsirsi Have we found allies in foreigR
=.
hour of theirisorest need to stretch their
arms to our assistance? Has any European
State come to our aid in the time of
our extremiies2 Not so, but Just
the reverse. Our gallant Beauregsrd
is still coutending against Sherman, and
heard men this morning speculating on
the chances of his drawing in his lines and
abandoning the defense of ChRrleston.-
IGlorious UnarlestoL (which for over TWEEN.
ty months has withstood ERE such az
has never been rained on devoted ciIy.-
Our enemies are still arrsyed against us
There is no voice from across the Atlantic
of any aid to be extended. What then is
the cause of this chsuge2 1t is the know
ledge which has come home to the under
standing and hearts of the people. We
now know in the core of our hearts that
this people must conquer its freedom or
=
dreamed of such arrogant propositions as
were brought from Fortress Msnroe.-
Thank God we know it now. The people
know, as one man, the path which they
must tread or perish. Our commissioners,
sent to confer with the enemy, went with
piece of blank paper, filed with one
word written by our PTesident-independ-
ence. What we're they told2 'Indepsnd.
encel You are our subjects. Independ-
euce! Strip the gGudy epaulettes from
: the shoulders of your officers; strip the
. uniforms from those who man the trench
, es; bring your leaders here, and you know
: me, 1 am mercfful, Lincoln" Tire issue is
2 thus before Us. 1t is to live free or perish.
b 1t is due to you to know how this peace
: commission came to be sent, aud the facts
which preceded their going. The Emper-
er Lincoln sent US this message at the close
+ of last year, two months before the com
i missiouers were sent. Mr.. Benjamin. here
! read from Lincoln's message relative to the
/, futility of any sttemPt- at negotiation
]: with the insurgent leader, that he had left
y no room for doubt or hope. Six weeks af,
terward, continued Mr. Benjamin, there
|. came = man from Washington, who wa
known to be the intimate friend of Lincolo
and an adviser in his councils. he had 6
= confidential interview with our President
the nature of which L am aware of, but au
not at liberty to disclose. When he left
he took with him letter from the Ptesi
dent, in these words: /" Sir / am ready Il
confer for peace at any time, aud, notwith
standing the refusal of previous offers, if
bad any assurance that they would be re-
ceived, would sendcoumissioners, to con
Ter upon some measures that would restort
peace to the two countries" believed
said Mr.. Benjamin, that Blair was Lineolnl
messenger. Had he casually denied j
once I should have believed him, but WhsE
20 he repeated II five or six times did no
q believe him. What was the answer from
:, Lincoln to Blair2 AS you have shoWr
Id me the note of Mr.. Davis you may say Il
him that l will see any messenger infor
mslly sent TO confer upon measures to re-
store peace TO our one country" Undel
these circumstances our friends vent for
ward for a conference. Each WAS t1r
81 nished with copy of the letter written by
: our President, "a You will go forward anC
Z confer with the enemy upon means to re-
q, store peace to the two countries: Tha
q was all, except the confidential interzis1
Is Of Blair with the President which cauno
4. relate in the presence of 90 many people,
believe contrary to the honorable gentle
man who has preceded me, that when BIat
: came to Richmond there WAS an oPPOrtuni
= y for suspendiug fighting and bloodshed
j, IN which time measures might d
taken for the restoration of peace
Bot none of us for moment dreamed
: reconstruction. Is it wonderful that on
]. President, whose only defect is that be
=, too tender hearted, should have yielded I
of the temptation of trying to stop the blood
d, shed OF his countrymen, of which ever
=. drop seemed to come from his own hear
= (APPIause.) ThsYics President Was con