Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-16
THE PEACE FAIL URE.

Peace prospects which diverted public at
tention for few weeks past, have all blown
over, as we fully believed they would We
cannot but wonder that any one in any way
conversant with the public sentiment of the
people of the free States, as to the terms
upon which the rebels ought to be taken
back, and the demands, or more properly.
the position of ne rebels, could place any
reliance on, or have any expectations of
peace, from Peace Missions. 1t is we'll
enough, perhaps, to allow one of them to
come off occasionally, in order to satisfy
croakers, but that the administration has
any confidence i'll them, we cannot believe
How can it? The union-loving people ex-
pect the rebels to lay down their arms, and
submit to the laws The administration
knows this, and will it step behind this ex-
pectation of the loyal people, in making ar
rangements for the return of the rebels .
Never President LINCOLN dare not dis
regard this general sentiment, if he would,
and we do not believe he has any such
wish The leading rebels understand this
public sentiment with us, and they can. any
day, give notice to our generals that they
are ready to come back, and respect the
laws, ,clthom the aid Of peace MISSIONS
JEFFERSON DAVIS does not believe that peace
can be attained through peace missions,
but III order to appeasc the clamor against
the war, which is swelling up higher. and
higher, in the Southern States, allows the
farce to be played out, knowing that it
must come to nought, and hoping when its
fallaciousness is fairly seen, to be able to
secure the undivided support of his subjects
in the prosecution of the war.
1t was clearly demonstrated by General
SHERMAN's passage through Georgia, and
other late exposures of the internal condit-
ion Of the rebels, that they have still an
abundance of the most essential supplies
necessary to carry on war, and they have
still material enough scattered through
their several States, with which to organ
izc two formidable armies This will keep
up their courage, and insure the consequent
efforts necessary to sustain themselves for
another campaign. Micawbcr like, looking
all the while for something to turn up to
their advantage The United Colonies,
when engaged with England in the Revo-
lutionary war were much worse off, and
their case looked more gloomy, than does
that of the rebels now and they seem as
determined, and are able to endure as much.
as our fathers. The question arises very
naturally then, whether the rebels are ready
to come back into the Union upon the only
terms they can be received on We think
not. One Of the conditions will be, the
punishment, according to law, of the lead
ers of the rebellion. The loyal people of the
States will agree to nothing less Nor is
there any use of talking about an arrange
ment with the rebels, where this is not stip-
ulated for Will any one say that the reb-
cl leaders with whom terms will have to
be made are ready to enter into an agree
ment for hanging themselves Who be-
lieves it g.? And suppose they were allow
ed to come back without punishment, what
would be the result? Why, as DAVIS,
/ STEPHENS, HUNTER, TOoMBs, &c, &c, control
the political machinery of their respective
States, they would again take their places
10 the Halls OF Congress, and again become
. Z 4l,rD1 1,,,, IL, II.
people prepared for this ? Shall the great
est criminals that now walk on Gods foot
stool, be American congressman Will
the fathers and mothers, whose sons have
been butchered, and brothers and sisters
and orphans, whose dearest friends. and
only support have been slain by the villain
| Gus work of the accursed rebel scoundrels,
be satisfied with this? Who, in his senses
believes it? The Washington Chronicles. a
leading journal, asks whether we are
| afraid to have them come back p and what
! a question this is to ask. 1t is an insult
to American understanding, and is as wit
less as it is provoking. What has the idea
of fear TO do with the issues between the
law-abiding citizens of the free States, and
the rebels in arms? We should think proof
enough has been given to satisfy all that
the former are not afraid of the latter. But.
1t is not question Of fear, but question
OF right, whether the rebels shall be taken
back without punishment. If a man, with NAL
ice afore thought, kills another, he is hung,
and all the people acquiesce because it is
right and the rebel conspirators, with de-