American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-08
Special Dispatch to Pittsburgh Commercial,
PEACE.
WAsIIINGToN. Feh. g.

W ASHINGT0S, Eeb. =.
The following is the full text of a
dout le loaded leader in this mornings i
Chronicle, supposed on all hands to be
from Colonel Forney, and TO be semi off
cial:
"There is 50 much discussion about the
propositions of peace between the Gov.
ernment of the United States and the
disappointed leaders who have compelled
large portion Of our people to take arms
against it, that we should be Indifferent
to our own frequent, early, and recent
expressions on the subject, If we did not
take some little part in the debate. The
subject itself is so vast, that it taxes the
greatest and appeals to the smallest minds.
Transcendng ordinary topics and evanes-
cent follies, it demands the attention of
every one who thinks, or talks or writes
upon it, We can best understand how
they feel who have suffered the fearful
punishment of rebellion against the iusti-
tutions Of our common fathers by rcmem-
bering how much we commisserated them,
even with the sense of their dreadful
crime before our eyes.
"Pride, passion, and naughty sense
of refusing to repent, have been the trif-
ing cause of hatred among the families
of men, as among the families of nations.
But we cannot, before God we dare not,
deny that it is hard to say | am penitent,
it is easy to say forgive. How mystic
rious is the philosophy of the human
heart? How full of pathos and instruc-
ton the prodigal son? Who ever read
the Vicar of Wakefield without shedding
tear, unless, indeed he attempted to
outrage nature by showing that he had no
feeling.
eve know not that Commissioners
1 ON the seeded or revolted States, are
in this same city of Washington, but we
hope they are on the ground. The more
distinguished or authoritative they are,
the more they should be welcomed The
terms of reunion are few and briefly told.
The revolted States are not sought to be
returned as captives, or as interiors, or as
degraded members of the National family
There is only one condition of restoration,
it is not the abolition of slavery. To
that both sides have at last agrecd-the
one because it desired, the other. because
it could not ,help it. That condition is,
that the Union shall be restored"
To-day, at eleven o'clock, Presid ent
Lincoln left Washington, by a special
train, for Annapolis, to join Secretary
Seward at Fortress Monroe or City Point,
to hold an interview with the rebel dep
utation, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and
Campbell, accompanied by one Of the at
taches of the White House.
Secretary Seward left here on the ear
ly train yesterday morning, accompanied
by Mr. Robert j. Chew, of the State De
partment When the President left here
the commissioners had not arrived within
our lines, and his destination was Anna
polls From the fact of his going on to
Fortress Monroe or City Point, color is
given to the report that the rebel deputa-
tion has been allowed to enter our lines,
and it is understood that they are now at
Fortress Monroe
1t is believed that the rebel Commis-
sioners will be requested, as a preliminary
to any discussion of peace propositions,
to show that they have authority or the
color of authority to present as a basis OF
negotiation, and all propositions less in.
admissible than that of Confederate in
dependence.
The Republican of this afternoon says
that indications are that the rebel Com.
missioners robed with greater power by
jeff. Davis, is stated by the Richmond
praCs