The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-20

terms, than recognition of theirihdepen-
dence. 7 From this, every reader woad
infer, that the President had invited their
return to the Union, under the constitn-
ton as it scas when they seeded. Yet
nothing is more untrue. Mr.. Lincoln Of
fered no such thing, but the very reverse.
He refused truce for all hour-demand-
ed an unconditional surrender on their
part-that is surrender, with no promise
on his part, but that he would be tentent
and liberal tc them-and also demanded
the abolition of slavery or its equivalent.
These terms they rejected and offered
none Oh their part, if my memory Is not
at fault. 1t is certain that in this inter
view with the President and his Secretary ,
they did not say, or declare, they would
not treat, except or the condition OF
their Independence, and tins edit or
knows they lid not The man who
will thine with truth-whO Will sup
press it, or affirm an untruth
when blood, fratricidal blood is the con
sequence, is more than talsifier, he is
a man slayer with malice pretense lie
cannot escape this imputatlon, by re-
ferring to the fact that these leaders have
publicly declared, both before and since,
that they were fighting for Independence,
or will not lay down their arms without
Independence What they say on other
occasions is not to the purpose. The
question here is what did they say when
they met 10 negotiate for peace. 1t is by
this they are to by tried, not by what
they have said on other occasions. And
if our rulers and leaders desired peace,
or were disposed to deal fairly with the
people, they would not resort to such
unworthy and degrading acts or seek to
mislead the people
1t is plain to observing, rejecting
citizens, that our Government at Wash
ingtOn, our editor here, and the Govern
ment of West Virginia do not wish
peace Confident of success by the SUI
periority of numbers and physical mate
rial, they wish the war to continue
Mountains of debt and millions of lives
are nothing in their estimation. The
CONQUEST OF the South is their determined
purpose. not the restoration ofthe Union,
but it is the smaller part of their pur-
pose. They desire and design to con
auer and subdue the Democratic
party at the North Observe the cXul-
tant Joy of our Wheeling postmaster
and editor whenever Il staggering blow
is given to the rights Of the States. He
is an exponent of Mr. Lincoln. Up to
the commencement of this war, the re-
ceived doctrine in our Courts. rs well as
of Congress and the popular mind. was
that the Federal Government was one of
limited power, and derived whatever
power it had from the States. Now, the
purpose and wish OF the Republican
party is tOreverse this order, and 10 have
il established that the Federal Govern
ment shall he one of general and unlin-
tied power and prcrogative, and the
States limited governments, with no
power except such as shall be granted to
them by the Federal Government This,
! insist, is the tavOrite policy and pun.
pose of the men who control the Admin
istration at Washington. They want no
peace now, nor do our littlc-great men in
West Virginia wish peace. Werepcace now
to come upon us, these rulers see that il
is quite certain that the people, once
more Ill possession OF free speech and free
elections, would remove them and rein
state the Democratic party-a party, M
der whose government the country be-
came great and glorious. and the people
possessed a liberty, repose and safety,
with freedom from taxation and tyranny
the remembrance Of which makes the
aged to weep and the young to sigh TO
see what their fathers saw, but which
the people willncvcr see again, if the Re-
publican party can accomplish their pur-
poses and establish their policy.
A DEMOCRAT