Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-10

Government, and see II measures could be de-
vised to heal the breach which severed us,
and obtain that independence for the Confed-
eracy which M other power on the face Of the
earth but the Yankees would think Of deny
As to the conditions of peace, the President
emphaticaIly asserted that none but the iRde-
pendence Of the Confederacy could ever re.
ceive his sanction. He said he had embarked
in the cause with q full understanding Of its
meaning and magnitude, and full knowl-
edge Of the tremendous odds against us
VIII Who he believed % was OF on our side, and the
united resolve OF our people, he doubted not
that victory would yet crown our labors and
our sufferings.
In my correspondence with Lincoln, contin.
led Mr.. Davis. that functionary has always
spoken Of the United States and the Confed-
! have never nailed to refer to them as separate
and distinct Governments. Sooner than we
should ever be united again, would be will
and, if 1t were possible, would yield up my
life a thousand times rather than succumb.
He concluded by exorting those at home who
field in repellipg the foe, believing that thereby
we would compel the Yankees in less than
twelve months to sue for peace on our own
terms.
Loud and long continued applause followed
the speech OF the President.
Repeated calls were made for the Vice Pres
ident, but it was announced that he was not
well enough to respond
A long series of resolutions were adopted,
among which were the following:
Resolred, That we spurn with indignation the
grossly insulting terms which the President OF
the United States has proffered TO the people of
the Confederate States.
RESOLVED, That the terms in which, and the
circumstances under which, IL was made
stamp the profier as a designed and pre-
meditated outrage upon, and indignity to, our
people.
Resolued, That in this presence, and IN the
face of the world, in nvoking thereto the aid and
favor of Almighty God we renew our resolve
to maintain our liberties and achieve our
independence, and to this end we mutually
pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred
honors.
From Richmond Dispatch, Feb. y
We say to the croakers of the Confederacy,
If you want to give up the contest, meet like
men in public assemblies and say so, butd not
paralyze the army with your long faces and
deep groans. Gohome and dream Of subinga.
tion, and die If you will, but do not be the death
OF your country.
The Conference Studied Ensult on Mr..
LIncoin's Part.
Richmond Sentinel, Feb g..
The peace embassy Is at an END. When the
treatment with which it met is considered, II is
difficult to understand why Blair was sent to
invite 1t. The only apparent purpose was
to gain an opportunity for Offering US fresh
insult.
Affecting some sensbllisy as to the torrents
OF blood which he has caused to be shed,
q conference. which he had before refused,
looking to pacific adjustment of our differ
ences deputation Of eminent citizens was
accordingly sent on oar part. The story OF
their mission is told in another article. 1t
Wh0Uy fdsled and not merely that, the men
who had invited 1t took occasion to make
their action as offensive as possible. X
We have had some who have been hopeful
OF peace propositions. Not realizing the full
ennity OF our enemies, they have deemed it
imposs slble that their deviiish thirst for our
blood was not yet slaked; that their rapacious
designs upon homes and properly, and
! their desire to destroy cur Liberties, were not
yet abandoned or abated; and hence they have
been anxious that our Government should ex-
tend the olive branch. The question with these
so-called peace men has been settled now. Our
advance, though invited. has been met with the
most intolerable of insults We have been
fairly forced to the wall, and it is plain that
there is no escape from utter ruin, save such
There is literally no retreat but in chains ana
slavery There are no peace men among
npW There is no room for one-not inch
OF ground for one to stand upon. We are all
"sr men Hencefor,h we musttake our meas
tres accordingly.
Let our legislative bodies. tor mercy's sake,
now stop debate and act. To the Virginia Lee
gislature would say-for we are anxious
hat our Gear old Commonwealth should lead
oft-ley al your wiredrawn resolutions and
your elaborate bills or the table, pass one SIM
pie resolution devoting the W hole power Of the
State in men and material to the public de-
fence, and place all at the call OF the Govern
nent. Virginia is to be the great fighting
ground; her capital is 10 be a gage OF battle
Whatever we have that can help Gen. Lee
should be placed at his disposal. Better far
that we be sunk by an earthq make than over
run by Yankees.
We understandthat Stephens Hunter and
Campbell were met at Fortress on shipboard
by President I4inco and Secretary Seward
The conference was brief. The propositions
made by Mr.. Lincoln were substantially as
follows: "If the Confederates will lay down
their arms, take OFF their uniforms, disbapd
and disperse to their homes, Mr.. Lincoln will
proceed TO appoint for the Confederate States
marshals, district attorneys and Judges for
Init O pnrtc hat in
fiscation law he would endeavor to be as le-
nient possible to the leaders Of the rebellion;
thar he would treat neither with Confederate
States nor with any State separately: that he
will accept nothing and listen to nothing short
Of unconditional submission to the Oonstitu.
ton OF the United States and laws passed un-
der its form; that the slavery question has
been disposed OF by Congress in the adoption
OF the late constitutional amendment, and was
not to be new discussed" Our deputies there
fore returned, and reached Richmond Saturday
evening.
Union of all Southern Eleme ats result of
the Nission-The Campaign of 1865 to be
Fought out.
From Richmond Enquirer, Feb. 6, editorial
The Commissioners returned on las: Satur-
day evening, having gone as far Fortress
Monroe, where, without being permitted to
land, they had an inter view with both Lincoln
and Seward Abolition and reconstruction
were the only terms OF peace which the enemy
would entertain-that is, immediate recogni
ticn by Of equality social and political, of the
negroes, and unconditional submission, with
pains and penalties of rebellion, confiscation of
property and penalty Of death to so many as
the mercy of Mr.. Lincoln may eonfine the pun
ishment. Thus ends the peace excitement
The enemy are yet too much elated by their
recent successes to entertain any proposition
that does not sui bmit these States TO furore of
political equality with the other States, and
these people TO future of vassalage to the 10y.
al citizens OF the Union. Having, therefore,
made an honest effort to open negotiations with
the enemy by which peace might eventually be
got' and having been met with terms degrad-
ing In their character and ruinous in their ef-
fects, the people Of the States have bat one
course left them. They must fight it out. To
surrender is to lose all property, liberty, life,
ana to enter upon future Of misery which,
Wlthan six months, would certainly drive them
again to war. There were some few persons
VINO thought that honorable terms OF reconcil-
iation and reconstruction could be Obtained
and VINO desired that an effort should be made.
Inc effort has been made by three of the best
StaIeSmen that c0nld "a II that Of