Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-08
Union of the north the FFect Of the

Union Of the North the Effect Of the
Recent Peace Negotiations.
When Mr.. Lincoln condeseendedtogo go to
Fortress Monroe and confer with the rebel
commissioners, it cannot be denied that in
many individuals there was a feeling that
he was lowering the dignity of the Repub-
lie. We did not look upon it in that light
To lower the dignity of the Republic we're
no easy task. Mr.. Lincoln showed great
wisdom in thus mARifesthg strong desire
to eoncede everything that could honora-
bly, be conceded to that large number of
people in the North who believed that an
opportunity to confer, once having been.
given the rebels, would result in peace
To show Just how much of truth or fAlsity
there was in this opinion, Mr.. Lincoln wise
ly consented to present in person the only
possible terms of peace. The result of that
interview has been to unite public senti-
ment in the North. 1. has convinced the
Democracy that Davis will have nothing
but separAtion.u It has compelled them
either to scquiesce in the division of the
Union or to unite with the Administration
against Davis and disunion. That such has
been and will continue TO be the result, is
evident from the following language of
Fernando Wood, of New York, than whom
nobody has been more confident that ne
gotiation would result in peace and Union.
On hearing that the rebels insisted on
separation as preliminary to peace, Mr..
Wood said:
Rumor said the negotiation has failed.
1t was to be regretted. But II II failed in
consequence of the indisposition of the reb-
Ell authorities to return to allegiance and
duty on the basis of the common Consti-
tuition, they might as s5eU k1aot0 as far as
he represented the peace sentiment, that he
lOo1tJd not sustGia them in their position.
He lOas opposed to the sOar, because he l0as
opposed to dissolution, and it had been one
of his complaints against the Administrs-
tion that so far from making overtures, it
had prevented propositions of peace by de-
nying the sdmittance of commissioners
from the Southern Government. But if
the door had now been thrown open by
the President, and if the answer to that
was that they DouLd accept recognition and
separation, and nothing else, then he desired
to say NTH his humble efforts, he should
aid the coHquering armies of hls country to
obtain By force lOhat It has been unable to
obtain By peace.
We have ho doubt that the same feeling
will be shared at large by the mass of the
Democratic party. The craven hearted
men that are ready to yield to Davis are
exceedingly few in the North. When the
issue is squsrely stated, of further war or
separation, there will be a reunion of the
masses of the North. The effect on the
South will be directly opposite. When it is
known there, as it must soon be, that Mr..
Lincoln proposed the Union alone as the
sine q'sG non of peace, distractions will fol-
low among the Southern people. The ef-
feet of Mr.. Lincolns visit to the front
will therefore be excellent. In the Ian
guAge of the Washington Chronicle:
IT. 1t will show that the President of
the United States of America, the sover-
eign head Of ths greatest Government on
earth, voluntarily treated with the mis-
guided foes of our country.
II. 1t will show that he was ready to
yield everything for the restoration of the
old Union but the abolition of slavery, now
Consititutionally secured"
On this ground we can have a united
North, irrespective of former opinion or of
party.