Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-03
From The N. Y. Tribune. March ac.l
The Presldenf md Fence.

| 'lnB u-fcbAucmt AmW - ChCcs
We presume no person of even average
sagacity has imagined that the President of
the United States had gone down to the
front at such time as this in quest merely
| of pleasure, or leisure or health even. We
| do not place emphasis OH the coincidence of
his departure with Gen. Singleton's return,
and we are not sure that his visit was
prompted by an intimation from Gen. Grant
that he believed, or had been confidentially
advised, that the time was ripe for pacifica-
tion. But that Mr.. Lincoln departed for
| the James In the hope that he might bring
Peace with him on his return, we are as well
assured as if he had told us so; and that his
remaining with Gen. Grant after his COM
panions had left for Washington was dicta-
ted by public considerations, is too palpa-
BILE to be doubted. We write uniformed
as to the truth or baselessness of the specific
rumors of yesterday that conference was
then proceeding between the President and
Gen. Grant on our side and Jefferson Davis
| and Gen. Lee on the other, and assume that
| 1t was premature II. not wholly unfounded.
But that the President will not return to
Washington without having satisfied him
SELF no matter how informally, that the
master-spirits at Richmond are or are not
ready to accept Peace on the basis OF re-
union, we hold beyond question.
Assuming that his effort will prove abor-
tive-that no terms can be proposed or de-
vised that can be aeceded to alike by the
President on our side and by Davis and Lee
on the other--that the President will re-
turn to Washington without having achiev--
| ed any approximation to Peace-we shall
thereupon feel and urge that the overture
and appeal to the Southern people, which
we have hitherto suggested, will be still
more expedient, more urgently required,
than it has been. And for these reasons:
l. 1t may be inevitable, but it is surely
unfortunate, that our Government Is con-
strained to treat with the Rebellion through
its fomenters and leaders. These, OF all
men living, have the strongest and most
palpable indictments to protract their re-
sistance to the latest possible moment.-l
They have far more than any Others to gain
by success, and less to hope from recon
struction." Many of them doubtless, would
far sooner see the universe shiPcred than
! the Union restored. They want Peace, OF
course; but nothing is Peace to them which
does not involve Disunion. Hence 1t by no
means follows from their rejection OF our
overture that it is unacceptable to the mass
of those who have upheld the Rebellion. If
the former reject fair, just, generous over
ture, we would fain appeal from the lead
ers to the followers.
L.
Ito insurgents) of the paciication desired
by the President have stood forth in clear
and bold outline, while their counterpart
have been vailed in shadow. For example:
Mr.. Lincoln's Niagara manifesto reads thus:
executive MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July is, 1854.
'.To tchom il may concern:
"Any proposition which embraces the
eI,n .,,Nn yr.ffl
whole Union, and the abandonment of
Slavery, and which comes by and with an |
authority which can control the armies now |
at war against the United States, will be re- |
ceived and considered by the Executive |
Government of the United States, and
tciH be met by liberal terms on other substantial
and collateral points, and the bearer or bear |
ers of it shall have safe conduct both ways. |
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
So again, in his letter to Gov. Seward, |
giving him instructions to govern bis course |
at the Hampton Roads conference, the Pres
ident says:
"Three things are indispensable, to-wit: |
81. The restoration of the National au-
thority throughout all the States.
80. No receding by the Executive of the |
United States on the slavery question from |
the position assumed thereon in the late
annual lueSSdBc W SOuBlCSo, dilu III ptC-
ceding documents.
"3. No cessation of hostilities short of an
end of the War, and the disbanding of all
forces hostile to the Government.
"All propositions not inconsistent with
tho above, will be considered and passed up
on in spirit Of sincere Hberdhty.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
It was entirely proper that, in opening a
negotiation, the PresidentshOuld thus clear
lv indicate the main points on which he
felt bound to be intlexible, and, as to 9TH
ers, merely shadow forth the spirit in which
they would be regarded and treated. But
what we now contemplate is an appeal to
the Southern people in case the present eff
fort to come to an understanding with the
rebel chiefs shall prove abortive-an appeal
from those chiefs, If so it must be, to the
good sense and right feeling of the South
ern people. Believing that large majori-
ty of these never intelligently lent them
selves to the conspiracy to divide and de-
stroy our rcountry-confident that they are
sick of carnage and weary of being made
the puppets and victims of unhallowed am
bition-we plead for an appeal by the Pres
ideut to their understandings and their
appeal SO terse that it will sure
ly be circulated, and so lucid that it cannot
be misconstrued or perverted. Such an ap-
peal, setting forth precisely what is to be
gained by acquiescence and what must be
put at hazard by further resistance-could
not fail to be met in kindred spirit by
very large proportion of the Southern peo-
pie, rendering perseverance in the Rebel
lion by the residue manifest and fool-hardy
of property and life. The in
telligence from North Carolina, which we
print in another column, of the disposition
of the North Carolina Legislature and of the
people of that State, only confirmus in this
opinion. We cannot realize that the digni-
ty of the Government would be lowered by
such an appeal, while we are sure that its
position would be strengthened and the
power of its enemies weakened. If the re-
suit should be the shortening of the War by
but week and the saving of bare thou
sand of human lives who would say that il