Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-14
RALEIGH TUESDAY. FEB. IA. 1ssS.
The late Attempt at NegotiatiOn-.Speech es OF
the President and Mr.. Benjamin.

the President and Mr.. benjamin.
We have already published the statement Of
Messrs Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell in relation
to their late interview at Fortress Monroe with
Messrs. Lincoln and Seward. We have had the
Southern accounts of this interview and the North
ern accounts are now reaching US. The New York
Times says:
"The conference lasted four hours, and was per-
fectly friendly and good tempered throughout
Not q word was said on either side indicating any
but amicabe sentiments. On our side the converse
ton was mainly conducted by the President on
theirs by Mr.. Hunter, Mr.. Stephens occasionally
taking part ~
The rebel commissioners said nothing whatever
of their personal views wishes, but spoke solely
and exclusively for their government and at the
outset and throughout the conference declared their
entire lack of authority to- make, receive or con-
slider any proposition whatever looking toward 3
close of the except on the basis of recognition
of the independence of the Confederate States as
preliminary condition. The President presented
tine subject to them in every conceivable form sug
costing the most liberal and cOnSoerate modIhca-
ton of whatever in the existing legislation and ac-
ton of the United States government, might be
REGARDED as especially hostile to the rights and in-
terests, or woundng to the pride, of the Southern
people but in no single particular could ne induce
them to sWerVe for q moment from their demand Tor
recognition They did not present this consplcu-
Ously as resting their own convictions or Wlshes,
but as the condition which their government had
made absolutely indispensable to any negotiations
or discussions whatever concerning peace
President Lincoln, on the other hand, informed
them, at every point that such recognition was ut
terly and totally out of the question that the Uni
ted States could stop the war; and arrest even tem-
porariy the movement of its armies only on the
condition precedent that the authority Of the ma
tional government should be recognized and Obeyed
al. u, of he INIT
This point conceded, he assured them that upon
every other matter of difference they would be trea
ted with the utmost liberaty; but without that
recognition the war must, and would, go on"
1t is clear from the foregoing well as from the
statement of our commissioners and the recent
speeches of the President and Mr.. Benjamin in
Richmond that Mr.. Davis was fixed in his purpose
to take nothing less than separation, and that Mr.
Lincoln was fixed in his purpose not to agree to
separation Mr.. Davis says emphatically, in his
speech in Richmond on Monday night last that any
thing honorable, and recognizing our independence
as basis, would have been gladly accepted. ~
And Mr.. Benjamin, in his speech on Thursday night,
says, "our commissioners sent to confer with the
enemy went with piece of blank paper, He'd
with one word written by the President-'Inde-
pendencel'" And Mr. Benjamin goes further and
says he did not expect the attempt at negotiation
would succeed The attempt was made, not with
the hope Of success, but merely for effect! He
says Eve knew its failure would be the signal for
grand uprising of the people, which was the only
element necessary to success" 1t is apparent,
therefore, that the people have been tred with in
this most vital matter. We" did so and so for
effect and then "ws" determined to do SO and SO
without for moment consulting the people as to
their wishes That is the English of the whole
business. The prediction of Mr.. Boyce is again ver
iied, to wit that Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Lincoln can
never make peace. The only hope for peace short
of subjugauon, as We have uniformly declared, is
in the action of the sovereign States.
The Presidents speech is very hopeful. He
makes the same predictions in relation to Grant and
Sherman that he made at Macon, when he declared
that Hood would soon have Sherman on another
Moscow retreat. But the. speech is that of Mr..
Benjamin. He says that unless some "r0dieal
measure" be adopted Richmond must be abandon
ed; that "there are not enough able bodied white
men in the country" including all in the bomb
proofs to fight the battles that the radical mea-
sure" is, take the negroes-say to them, go and
fght-you are freer He says if we press them
they will go against US and he admits that the
States must be consulted and must agree to it,
before they can be taken.
But Mr. Benjamin goes still further, and says
81 could lake evsry bale Of cotton in tie land"
And further STILL and says, "Lsay the same thing
in regard to toJacco-taEe all the cotton and tObac.
co." And ne goes still further, and says, al WANT
ALL THE BACON" And he goes still further and
says, "after you have given US all the means and
all the men we want nt"-obSerFe, it is soc" all the
time, and the people never" the eroakers should
be hanged. They should be put in the trenches,
and the soldiers should inflict capital punishment
on them. Put them in tt"e trenches, and let the
soldiers come to town and take their places" This
is certainly extraordinary language from the Seere
tary of State of the Confederate States The people
are first to be robbed of their property the negroes
are to be armed, and then every citizen who may
differ in opinion with Mr.. Benjamin is to be hanged.
What do the members of Congress from North Car.
oliRa think ofthat? The history of the first French
revolution perpetuates on its bloody pages no more
radical" or desperate character than Mr.. Secreta
ry Benjamin.
Mr.. Sheffey, Speaker of the House of Delegates,
who preceded Mr. Benjamin in a speech on the oc-
csson, said among other things, ITO Congress l
would say, tax heavily and feed and cOthe the SOL
diers who stand between and subjugation, though
the teeth of the people chatter Nth starvatiOn"- "
Mr.. Gilmer, Of this State, heard all this, and then
followed Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Shefey in a war
speech. "Oh what a fall was there, my country
men!"
Is this the entertainment to which we were in
vited?"
We copy to-day from the C0nser1atirS, letter
datad &c Near Holly SnrinOS Randolph County" "
purporting to have been written by A Quaker,
formerly of the straitest sect" We do not charge
that this letter is forgery, but we doubt its gen.