Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-02-20
From the Now York Word.l
WASHINGTON, February IL.


From the Now York World.l
WASHINGTON, February IL.
Inconlestably, great change has taken
place in public opinion here within the past
few days regarding Mr.. Lincoln. When the
arrival Of tho Southern Peace Commissioners
Mt General Grants lines was announced, the
attention of the people was instantly directed
toward the Ohiei Magistrate aud they weited
with painful anxiety some sign on his part
which might indicate desire to turn the
priceless opportunity to gnntioual aeeount,
| With the departure Of the Secretary Of State
| for Fortress Monroe, admittedly for the pur.
pose of comforting with Messrs Stephens,
Hunter and Campbell, a hope sprang up IN
out breasts that the President did indeed
comprehend the situation; and this hope was
so strengthened as to amount 10 actual belief
when Mr.. Lincoln himself went down to meet
the Commissioners. Democrats and conserv-
ative men Of all parties and factions hailed
the event az the possible forerunner of peace.
None but thetradicals were dspleased aud
this dissatisfaction on their part only stiilened
the hopes of all true Unionisls.
The significant articles in the Washington
Chronicle were considered as 20 much nddi-
tional weight to the testimony liat tho Pres
| ident really desired peace But when Mr..
|
| inkton, and the rebel commissioners returned
to|Richmond, and the result of the confer
ence was authoritatively announced as no
resdh then the swelling tide of grateful hope
which had been surely lifting the President
to the highest place in the affections of the
people, began its relux, and has at last
stranded him upon lower shore of popular
contempt than amy on which the inGapacities
Of his administration have yet cast him.
Thinking, men are now beginning to recall
the fact that Mr.. Lincoln, ns President, never
yet succeeded in anything he essayed. But
for him even Mr.. Seward might have averted
the struggle through the negotiations OF 1861 .
When, after the war had really set in, the
President undertook its conduct, everything
went wrong-7lrom the very instant that he
assumed the responsibility OF setting aside
General McClellans plans, the adoption of
which plans by succeeding commanders has
gained us all our victories The Presidents 8
seheme of compensated emancipation fell
stillborn His proposal for gradually remov-
ing slavery before lhe year 1900 was quite
unhotced BY Congress- The plan for eX-
palriating or colonizing the negroes misera.
lily failed His foreign policy has consisted
il squarely backing down when any other
) government has assumed trnculent demean-
ur---as WllneSR The trent AuAlr- ... .
Under General Dix while Lieu Col. Lud-
( low was commissioner, the exchange Of prs-
oners proceeded regularly and smoothly, Al
though at that time some OF the most delicate
questions hecanse entirely novel, arose bui
after Mr.. Lincoln assumed the command Of
that office the exchange was entirely blocked
and no relief was obtained until the whole
matter was placed in the handa of General
Grant. The result OF the lieutenant generals
, assumption Of the affair ia described by thai
officer himself AZ Il complete success. IL
everything, IN short, which the President has
undertaken he has proved himselfa living ex
ponent of the fundamental principle OF th'
crcumlocuti0n oHice.-how not to do IT, = !.
i The fireeaters have sneeringly commented
A upon the subject ofpeace by The declarailol
z that Gen erals Grant and Sherman are "on
best peace commissioners Conservative
men here accept the statement, and are will
ing to place the entire question with those
officers For General Grant, in his dispatc
of Feb. I'd to the Secretary of State, clear
showed that he knew how 10 manage the mat
ter-that he could make peace upon the basil
of the Union. He obtained more from ih
commissioner in bis brief interview will
them, than either Mr.. Lincoln or Mr.. Seward
did in their four hours OF useless or tricky
gabble He found out that Messrs. Stepheni
and Hunter were acuated by "sincere de
q. sire for peace and union" The President ant
, Secretary OF State declare that they could only
discover that the commissioners were inilexi
BILE in the demand for separation.
In view of these things, people bere do poi
hesitate TO declare that the Presdeut is re-
sponsbla for all the future bloodshed of the
war--that every man killed hereafter will have
been unnecessarily slaughtered Thoy indig
nantly assert that Mr.. lincoln has never been
able TO rise above the nero petdfngger; that
his sole object has been, not how TO do, bul
how not 10 do that he has thrown every OBJ
! slacle in the way Of honest attempts to end
1 the war and retain our country; and that hay
ing neglected the golden opportunity which
rightfally employed, would have secured i'm
mediate peace and union, he has demonstrated
his utter inability TO obtain those blessings
Hence the bitter indignation which is fell
! against him here, not only by Democrats, but
by all honest and practical men in his own
party. SPEcrAToR'
The New York Tribune frankly says '
"The time il at hand when questions o
economy and dfetrenchmeni win bein order
nay, when The weigh. Of public burdens vii
compel their consideration. lIst those who
care TO outlive the storm which is plainly
brewing look we'll 70 their record r. q.
The causes which have produced higf
prices, and led maAy people to believe tha
the country was prosperous, have been piung
ing us into ruin.
Thurlow Weed in alluding TO "a case in wliiel
the government Was cheated out Of million
of dollars by a eofIsacontract for 80 900 bag