M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1865-03-02
Indign6ticn Against LincOln-Gtants
ability TO Make Peace on the Basis OF
the Union.
[ From the New York World.l
WASHINGTON EehrnarY II

From the new lerk Nolu'j
WASHINGTON, February II.
Incontestably, great change has
taken place in public opinion here
within the past few days regarding
Mr.. Lincoln. When the arrival OF
the Southern Peace Commissioners
at General Grants lines was announ'
ced, the attention OF the people was
instantly directed toward the Chief
Magistrate, and they waited with
painful anxiety some sign on his part
which might indicate a desire TO turn
the priceless opportunity to national
account. With the departure Of the
Secretary Of State for Fortress Mon,
roe, admittedly tor the purpose OF
comforting with Messrs, Stephens,
Hunter aud Campbell, a hope sprang
mp in our breast that the President
did indeed comprehend the situation;
and this hope was so strengthened as
to amount to actual belief when Mr..
Lincoln himself went down to meet
the Commissioners. Democrats and
conservative men of all parties and
factions hailed the event as the pos
sible forerunner OF peace. None but
the radicals were iIspleased, and this
dissatisfaction on ther part ouly stiff
ened the hopes Of all true Unionists.
The significant articles in the
W ashington Chronicle were consid-
cred as 30 much additional weight
to tue testimony that the President
really desired peace But when Mr..
Lincoln and Mr.. Seward came back
to Washington, and the rebel com
missioners etulned to Richmond,
and the result of the conference was
authoritatively announced as no re-
suit, then the swelling tide OF gratelu
hope which had been surely lifting
the Presiden! to the highest place in
the affections OF the people, began it's
reHux, and has at last stranded him
upon lower shore Of popular con-
tempt than any on which the incapac
tiles OF his administration have yet
cast him Thinking men are now
beginning to recall the fact that NJ.
Lincoln, as President, never yet sac
ceeded in anyth ing he essayed. But
for him even Mr.. Seward might have
averted the struggle through the ne.
gotiations OF 1861. When, after the
war had really set in, the President
undertook its conduct, everything
went wrong-from the very instant
that be assumed the responsibility Of
setting aside General McClellan's
plans, the adoption Of which plans by
succeeding commanders has gained
us all our victories. The Presidents
scheme of compensated emancipation
tell stillborn. His proposal tor grad
ualiy removing slavery before the
year 1900 was quite unnoticed by
Congress. The plan for expatriating
or colonizing the negroes miserably
failed. His foreign policy has con-
sisted in squarely backing down when
any other government has assumed a
truculent demenanor-as witness the
Trent affair.
Under General Dix, while Lieut..
Col. Ludlow was commissioner, the
exchange of prisoners proceeded reg.
uIally and smoothly, although at that
time some of the most delicate ques.
tions, because entirely novel, arose,
but after Mr.. Lincoln assumed COM
mand OF that Office the exchange was
entirely blocked, and no relief was
obtained until the whole matter was
placed in the hands Of General Grant.
The result of the lieutenant gener-
al's assumption OF the affair is desert
bed by that officer hilnselfas a COM
tplete success In everything, in short,
which the President has undertaken
he has proved himself a living expo
nent of the fundamental principle OF
the circumlocution office-how not to
do it.
The fire eaters have sneeringly
commented on the subject Of peace by
the declaration that Generals Grant
and Sherman are ''our best peace
commissioners" Conservative mGn
have accepted the statement, and are
willing TO place the entire question
with those officers. For General
Grant, in his dispatch Of Feb. I'd to
the Secretary of State, clearly showed
that he knew how to manage the
matter-tAat he could make peace
npon the basis Of the Uniou. ae
obtained more from the commission
ers in his brief interview with them,
than either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr. Sew.