Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-24

1N@ASSSNhSSi 6Sb AAOI4 NuG EcSluGQE
fresh aVowal that the South is really fight
ing for Independence and nothing else-a
statement which, though it has been re-
peated SO often as to be almost monoto.
nous, yet always seems fresh and surpri-
sing to the Northern mind. Every time
they learn on authority of Yankee who
heard the thing actually said with his own
two ears, it is matter of new amazement
and Indignation to them, and they set
about with more zeal than ever, fitting
out armadas aud gathering fresh troops.
A Mr.. Singleton, member of Congress in
the enemy's county, is the last, as we
learn, who has thought of sauntering With
in our lines. Two of the New York pa.
pers say positively that he also is an un-
official Commissioner; butitis also said that
he denies it himself. one thing is very
certain that he can have no legitimate bu-
siness here"
Z -says. While peace rumors
are prevailing at this time, yet none OF
them indicate any means by which peace
is to be obtained. The Washington au.
thorities take high ground and say they
will not treat with the Confederate author
tiles, but intimate a willingness to enter
tain propositions from the States. In Yir-
glnisi there is no authority with which
they can treat. West Virginia sis loyal"
and therefore needs no negotiation, and
Virginia has "Governor" in Alexandria,
and Senators and Representatives in Wash
lngton. Governor Smith at Richmond is
regarded as a usurper, as we'll as a rebel
ano consequently, the Richmond State or.
ganlzation can be no more treated with
than the Confederacy. While worshipinp
their greenback "calves" at Wheeling and
Alexandria, they will not bow down to the
Richmond Governor. Therefore, Virginia
cannot, II she would, make any PROPOSE.
tions that Washington would entertain.-I
Thus we are left out in the cold of Rebel
dom, with no alternative but to fight it out
like men.
The people of all the States are met
with coniscation acts that plainly tell
them: "You may come back but you must
return prOpertyless, pennylessi you must
surrender all your land, all your slaves, all
your personal property, certainly, and take
your chances for life with the courts and
with executive clemency." Can any man
point out any other terms2 We know
that Mr.. Orr of Mississippi, intimated that
better terms than abolition of slavery
could be obtained st Washington; but with
all due respect to that gentleman, we defy
him to give his countrymen any evidence
whatever to Justify his assertion. We
challenge him or any other man to come
forward with any evidence that both con-
6scation and abolition are not still insisted
upon by the Washington authorities. We
assert that both laws are unrepealed, aud
we understand that Mr.. Singleton, the re-
ported peace commissioner now in Rich
mond, informed gentlemen since his arrf-
val here that the Republicans in Washing-
| ton were discussing bills before Congress
for the establishments of confscstion courts
wherever their armies penetrate, and the
| taking possession. of all property and its
distribution among their armies.
We have no knowledge of that move
meut which Mr.. Orr announces to be in the
hands of men who are Sustained by vol
ume-[ Twenty four more, we believe
Ed. l-of sentiment in the country and in
the army, and by their own sense of duty,
and who are determined that in some form
the craftsmanship of the country shall be
invoked in an honest effort to end this car.
nival of death by negotiation" We wish
Mr.. Orr and all other men God speed in
ending this "carnival of death :" but let
them take care that they do not inaugurste
carnival of Slavery, and make their coun-
| trymeu the by-word and reproach among
the peoples of the earth.
Negotiations of all kinds belong exolu-
sively to the President and the Senate, and
the House has nothing whatever to do with
them. If the House set the example of
violating the Constitution, it must not be
supposed if others follow its example, and
pride's purge become as familiar to Con-
federAte as it is to English history. What
ever action that may have been which
evoked the debate upon an article of the
Sentinel, it cannot but do harm. 1t is now
apparent that the action of the House of
Representatives is better understood in
Washington than it is in Richmond. That
through some means or other Mr.. 0rr'a
proposition was known to the newspapers
of the enemy before it was heard of in
| those of his own country. The enemy are
encouraged moro by this evidence of weak
ness on our part than by all their military
successes. We implore Congress to drop
''statesmanship and negotiation" and give
their whole time to their country, its army,
and its cause. Take care of the army, pro-
vide for its organization, increase it's mum.
bers, secure its rations and clothing, and
the army will take care of their country
Leave peace to Providence, and let us
"fght it out like men," This is our sole
duty. We cannot make peace except that
of surrender, submission, slavery, aud that
peace the army will not make, nor permit
the Congress to make.
Breckenridge is reported as the proba.
BILE successor to the Secretaryship of the
War Department, vice its present incum-
bent, who is about to resign on account
of delicate health.
The Examiner says the report of Mr.
Seddon's retirement lacks confirmation.
The Augusta Chronicle asserts that
Gen. Joe, johnson has been reinstated
to the command of the Army of the West,
with his headquarters at Montgomery.
The statament talenranhad last ninht