Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-02-15

Weekly 6 months, 20
months, 10
p.1EIGH: WEDNESDAY, FEB. Is, 1865.
rhe late Attempt at Nesotiatioa-.spsscnes Of
Inv the President and Mr.. Benjamin.
We have already published the statement Of
Messrs. Stephens. Hunter, and Campbell in relation
"a their late interview at Fortress Monroe with
uocsrs. Lincoln and Seward We have had the
soutbern accounts of this interview, and tie North
arm accounts are now reaching us. The New York
Times says: =.
1.-THE conference lasted four hours, and was per.
fectlv friendly and good tempered throughout
Not word was said on either side indicating any
Int .micabe sentiments. On our side the converse
ION was mainly conducted by the President on
theirs. by Mr. Hunter, Mr.. Stephens occasionally
taking part -.
IF their personal views or Wishes but spoke solely
and exclusively for their government, and at the
outset and throughout the conference declared their
entire lack of authority to make, receive or con-
slider any proposition whatever looking toward
close of the war except on the basis Of recognition
of the independence of the Confederate States as
preliminary condition. The President PRESENTED
the subject to them in every conceivable form sug-
costing the most liberal and consi6erats modihca.
ton Of whatever in the existing legislation and &C.
ton of the United States government, might be
regarded as especially hostile to the rights and in
terests, or wounding to the PRIDE of the Southern
neople: but in no single particular could he induce
them to swerye for moment from their demand Tor
recognition. They did not present this conspicu-
ously as resting their own convictions or wishes
Int as the condition which their government had
made absolutely indispensable to any negotiations
or discussions whatever concerning peace.
President Lincoln, on the other hand, informed
them, at every point that such recognition was ut.
terly and totally out Of the question that the UNI
ted States could stop the war, and arrest even te
porarily the movement of lis armies, only on the
condition precedent that the authority Of the na
tonal gapsrn,nent sAould BE- recogni.s3 and obeyed
Deer tile nhole territory of the United Stntes-
This point conceded, he assured them that upu1
every other matter of difference they would be trea
ted with the utmost iberality; but without that
recognition the war must and would, 60 on"
1t is clear from the foregoing as we'll as from the
statemen. of our commissioners and the recent
speeches of the President and Mr.. Benjamin in
Richmond, that Mr.. Davis was fixed in his purpose
to take nothing less than separation, and that Mr.
Lincoln was fixed in his purpose not to agree to
speech in Richmond on Monday night last that "any
thing honorable, and recognizing our Independence
as basis, would have been gladly accepted ~
And Mr. Benjamin, in bis speech on Thursday night,
says, tour commissioners sent to confer with the
enemy, went with piece of blank paper, filled
With one word written by the President indie.
pendence!'" And Mr.. Benjamin goes further and
says he did not expect the attempt at negotiation
would succeed! The attempt was made, not with
the hope Of success, but merely for effect! He
says I'VE knew its failure would be the signal for
grand uprising Of the people, which was the only
element necessary to success" 1t is apparent,
therefore, that the people have been triaed with in
this most vital matter. We" did SO and so for
effect, and then sue" determined to do so and SO
without for moment consulting the people as to
their wishes! That is the English of the whole
business. The prediction Of Mr.. Boyce is again yer
flied, to wit that Mr.. Davis and Mr. Lincoln rar
never make peace The only hope for peace shor
Of subjugatlon, as we have uniformly declared j
in the action of the sovereign States.
The Presidents speech is very hopeful. HI
makes the same predictions in relation to Grant ant
Sherman that be made at Macon, when be declares
that Hood would soon have Sherman ION anothe
Moscow retreat But the speech is that Of Mr.
Benjamin. He says that unless some "radica
measure" be adopted Richmond must be abandon
ed; that " there are not enough able bodied whit
men in the country" including all in the bomt
proofs, to fight the battles; that the "radcal mes
sure" is, take the negroes-say to them, go an
fght-you are freel" He says if we press thet
they will 60 against US; and he admits that tn
States must be consulted and must agree to il
before they can be taken.
But Mr.. Benjamin goes still further, and say
~ would take every bale Of cotton in tho land.
And further still, and says, "Isay the same thin
in regard to tobacco-take all the cotton and to6at
co." And he goes still further, and says, II WAN
ALL THE BACON" And he goes still further, an
says, "after you have given US all the means an
all the men we want"-observe it is 500" all th
time and the people never" the croakers shoul
be hanged. They should be put in the trenohe
and the soldiers should inflict capital punishmer
on them. Put them in tie trenches, and let Ii
soldiers come to town and take their places" TIL
is certainly extraordinary language from the Seer
tary Of State of the Confederate States. The Poop
are first to be robbed of their property the negroe
are to be armed, and then every citizen who ma
differ in opinion with Mr.. Benjamin is to be hanget
What do the members of Congress from North-C IA
DINA think ofthat? The history of the first Frenc
revolution perpetuates on its bloody pages no MOI
radical" or desperate character than Mr. Secret,
~ Benjamin.
Mr.. Shefey, Speaker of the House Of Delegates
who preceded Mr. Benjamin in speech on the oc
caslon, said among other things, ITO Congress
would say, tax heavily and feed and clothe the SO
ders who stand between US and subjugation, thong
INC teeth Of the people chatter With staroation"-