Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-21
Peace.


must be some FIRE, runs the old proVerb
The accumulation Of peace rumors at
Washington and Richnond-the antago-
nistie capitals-indicate that something
Of peacsable nature is in the wind.
For two or three days past our telegraph
columns have been we'll filed with COS
sip and rumors about the Blair mission,
the appointment Of Peace Commission
ers aud the close application Of the Presi.
dent to the consideration Of these i'm
portant questions TO the exclusion Of Wis
itors and air other business. This morn
ing The news begins to assume still
more definite shape We are now as
suFed that Mr. Blair is TO return to Rich
mond at once, and il is presumed that
bis previous visit met With a success to-
wards bringing about a peace, little
dreamed Of By the people. II it be true
that Mr.. Blair Is to return to Richmond
Immediately, we confess it looks as
though negotiations were 20 take the
place of hos,ilitiss aud the sword to
give way to the pen. Ia addition to
this we have al abstract of q debate in
the rebel Congress, copied from the
Richmond papers, which shows that JEFF
DaTis's power and authority is trembling
in the bslance. Hitherto the rebe Con-
grsss has been pitiably su5servient to
him, passing such lass as be desired and
carrying cut his wishes in every par
tieular in sustaining bis administration.
The failure Of the Confederacy is the
failure Of JEFF Davis, and rice rsrsa.
The rebel President has been as abso-
late within his own boundaries, as the
Aasocrat Of all the RussiaA His word
was law his nod death.
The disposition manifested By the
rebel Congress to free isself from this
desposic sway, exhibits in a stronger
light than any other fact, the great de-
sire Of the Southern people for peace.
They see the hopslessnsss Of their an
dertAking The reelection Of Mr.. Lin
eoln convinced them that they had
nothing more to expect from politi
cal disssnsioEs in the Northern States
and the continued triumphs Of our
armies has demonstrated TO them sheir
inability much logger to Withstand the
military power Of the Government.
Long ago they despaired Of foreign In
tervention. What is left them but 20
submit and obtain the best terms posi-
bic by negotiation, or perish amid the
ruins Of their cities and plantations
Compelled to choose between the two
alternatives, It is easily seen which they
will select Life Is sweet-all that a
man hath will he give for his life
There is yet another reason for
placing some confidence in tie rumors
Of peace. Military glory has ever been
the great object Of worship in the South
ern States To be called the chivaIry o.
America was the sweetest incense that
eould be offered to their pride. Ever
prompt to lAud their own courage and
sneer at the peaceful and money-loving
propensisies Of their Northern asso-
eistes, they had persuaded themselves
and no small portion Of the people both
Of Europe and America, that in arms
and statesmanahip they we're superior
race Bat this bubble reputation is fast
disappearing before the eannon's mouth
and the terrific onssts Of Northern sol
diers. inspired By ardent love Of country
and desire to rescue it from traitors
Unless the South speedily sue for peace
they viii witness the overthrow Of their
last army and the downfall Of their last
stronghold Peace declared now, woult
,, leave them in possession Of one defense
to which their wounded honor might fal
back, if assailed When tainted Will
their inability to resist Northern courag,
: and endurance, tkey eoGld retOrt North
l. ern failure to take Richmond Bat
, delay of two or three months in max
ing peace will rob them of this source O
consolation. Hence, il is not improh
able that the rebsl Congress will pa
forth every effort to secure cessation
: Of hostilities before that last and crown
ing humiHation-the fall Of Rickmon
= -overtakss them.
z All these circumstances induce us {
a place no little confidence in the runor
s that preliminary negotiations for pesc
r. are now pending. In case the rumor
Of should prove well-founded, Mr.. Lincol
viii have to shoulder the most fearfE
responsibility yet placed in his pathway
Justice and mercy have both 10 be satil
fed, and careful discrimination exc
eised, that neither may be wronges
Never before was mortal man called 0
to decide such delicate questions as wi
y be forced upon him. Upon his judi
ment, his patriotism, and his mercy, d.
pends the lives and happiness Of thor
sands of the braTest and the best Of ou
land How necessary that the prayer
: of a Christian people should ascend
). the Great Giver of every good and pc
: feet gift, the Great Source of Wisdol
and Power, that he would baptize OF
Chief Magistrate with that wisdom, th,
discretion, and that Christian spirit III.
8, will enable him to decide wisely, q
firmly. and forever secura the han1ine,