The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-07

fsrenoea The synopsis OF the King Of Prus-
siax speech, with which the miscegensssd
writer for the amalgamated Times and Tri5sns
has furnished us, is most mastery; his reply to
the King Of Prussia's extraordinary conundrum,
"Why did the President 60 down." b wonder
fully clever and ingenious; but in pointing out
the fact that Fortress Monroe has been confer
ring with three rebel chiefs he has done the
nation real service, which. we, at least, shall
never forget
The Peace Qsestion-Ths Issue Before the
Rebel Authorities nj Richmond.
The late peace conference, as we anticipated,
was dead lock from the beginning to the end,
between President Lincoln's condition prece-
dent Of q recognition Of the supreme authority
of the Union, and the rebel sine qua non Of
an armistice and then the recognition of their
southern confederacy. The rebel commission
ers having no authority to enter into nego-
tiations for lace, except as the represen-
tatives Of an Independent government the
Executive could do nothing better than to
dismiss them with his ultimatum and bis prom.
ises Of the most liberal treatment if they would
| lay down their arms, give up their hopeless
cause of Southern independence, and return to
| their rightfhl allegiance.
What good, then, has resulted from this i'm
posing conference II it has left the contending
parties in this war precisely as they stood
| beforei This h the question which we arc now
called to consider. In the first place, however,
this late conference, il It has done nothing
| else, has done much for the cause Of the coun-
| try in effecting clear, definite and authori-
| tative understanding on both sides viii cb did
not exist before. In the loyal States, for exam
pie, we have had an active, agitating peace
faction at work upon the theory that if the
leaders and people Of the rebellious States
| could be assured Of their rights under the con-
stitution, and that no confsoations and none
Of the pains and penalties Of treason would
follow their submission, but that they would be
welcomed back again like the rcpentant prodi-
gal son, there would be no difficulty in secur-
ing speedy and enduring peace. Now, this
mischievous Northern peace faction is dsarmed
| of its weapons and silenced, for all these
assurances of forgiveness, absolution and con-
| stitutional protection have been offered by
| President Lincoln to the rebel leaders and
their followers, upon the simple condition of
| their return to the ark of our common safety,
| the Union.
| But, again. The results of this late peace
mission will do much in the correction of false
impressions among the leaders and followers of
the rebellion. There is peace party among
| them which has professed to believe that the
war might be ended and Southern indepen-
dence obtained through the Intervention Of
diplomacy with the sLincoln government
The leaders of this party in the rebel Congress
| have been very active of late in behalf of q
peace commission to Washington. Now, what
| ever may have been the motives of Davis in
| this late peace experiment, the report Of its
proceedings will compel these rebel peace agi-
tators to define their true position. They have
studiously avoided thus far the alternative of
| reconstruction; but we suspect that they have
been all the time looking in this direction. IT,
after hearing the reports Of Stephens, Hunter
and Campbell, a single man in either house Of
the rebel Congress shall Indicate disposition
for peace, we may be sure that the end Is near.
Otherwise, we may accept the issue Of this
James river peace, conference as the signal at
Richmond for preparations for the most despe-
rate and sanguinary fighting of the war.
Assuming that the rebel peace party will be
temporarily borne down upon the alternative
Of independence or subjugation, the Southern
war party Of fre-eaters, on the other hand, will
be despoiled Of their venom by anything like
a candid report from their peace commission
ers. Against such report oil those imfamma-
tory jeremads from the rabid Southern war jour
nails and orators to their people, that submission
to the Union means the seizure of their estates
houses, lands and .foes, the dishonoring Of
their wives and daughters, and the horrors Of
Yankee tyranny and brutality in every shape
and form, will lose their force upon the South
ern popular mind From the experience Of the
people Of Savannah under the acceptable gov
eminent Of General Sherman, the people Of all
the South will abe. prepared to entertain the
promises Of Abraham Lincoln as comprehend
ing notstheir spoliation and destruction, but
their salvation and security with their return to
| the Union.
A proclamation to this end, il has been inti-
mated, may shortly be looked for from Presi-
dent Lincoln "to oil whom II may concern"
That the effect Of such proclamation viii be
good cannot be doubted. We presume, how
ever, that they are awaiting at Washington the
reception Of the rebel peace agents and their
report at Richmond The issue of peace or war
now rests upon Davis and his confederate
rulers They must prepare for peace on the
ultimatum Of submission, or for another strug-
gle Of war from which they can be rescued from
swift destruction only by miracle. The
clamors Of their war party will probably pre-
vail in favor, at least, Of o desperate effort to
cut the enveloping combinations Of General
Grant The rebel chiefs may also still cherish
| the delusion Of assistance, in some mysterious