The New York herald., 1865-04-11


Terms ersurrsndextheP Polscy Sbr Presi-
dent Lincoln.
We are momsntarily expecting the announce
ment ofa proclamation from President. Lincoln
to the people Of the rebefiious States which
will bring them to the saving alternative Of sub
mission and to the good work Of the restoration
Of the Union. We cannot doubt that the gener-
Gus terms Of surrender accorded to General Lee
by General Grant were the result Of previous
understanding with the Presidents. We are sure
that no better basis for conciliatory procla-
nation could be adopted; and we trust, there
fore, that in liberal amnesty, and in fra
ternal spirit Mr.. Lincoln will enlarge upon the
good example Of his sagaoious and patriotic
General-n-C Chief
We are told, however, that the laws Of Con-
gress, and their pains and penalties Of treason,
death, imprisonment or exile, and the confs-
cation Of the property Of the parties prescribed,
with the forfeiture Of their political rights, are
the impediments which stand in the way of
broad and general amnesty. From the numer-
ous bills banded about between the two
houses Of Congress during the last three years,
we know that various provisions reach the
penalties indicated, although we find It difficult
to get at the laws actually in force. II is suf
fcient for our present purpose that they do not
debar the President, in the exercise of his mill
tary discretion, from extending to all concerned
in the rebellion the terms Of surrender extended
to General Lee. We believe, too, that Mr.. Lin
coin, in new amnesty proclamation, widening
the scope of that Of December, 1868, 80 as to
include the leaders Of the rebellion in its bene-
fits, can now, without further bloodshed secure
the capitulation and dispersion Of all the re-
naming fragments OF the rebel armies ftom
Virginia to Texas.
The confusion worse confounded" resulting
from the various Executive and Congressional
experiments Of confscation and reconstruction
can be remedied only by Congress itself, and
to this end the occasion suggests not only the
expediency but the necessity Of an extra ses-
sion of Congress. This necessity, we expect,
will be recognized by the President in his
forthcoming proclamation. As for the South
institution Of slavery, 1t is dead, and may be
quietly left to the burial provided in the con-
stitutional amendment upon the subject, which
now requires the ratification Of only seven more
States to make it part and parcel Of the su-
preme law Of the land.
The debt of the "so-called Confederate
States" is simply out Of the question. Were
there no positive and absolute declaration Of
Congress against it, there would soon be very
positive and absolute protest from the loyal
States against any recognition Of this thing
in any shape whatever. This national
debt Of JEFF Davis must share the
fate Of his confederacy. A gigantic armed con-
spiracy, striking for the destruction Of the gov
ernment may be pardoned when thrashed to
tie point of submission; but the payment Of
sun. In casting his Confederate bonds" by
the cartload into the streets Of Richmond, with
his evacuation Of the city, the followers Of JEFF.
Davis recognized them at their true value.
Payable, upon their face, by the rebel trea-
sury, one year, three years, or i've or ten
years cater . treaty Of peace between the
Confederate States and the United States Of
America" !" 20 let them stand. Let the present
insurgent generation Of the rebellious States
bear the burden Of their so-called Confederate
States" debt for the next generation will owe
them nothing.
But a. immediate peace-adopting the pow
erfhl language Of General Grant-will be the
saving Of "thousands Of lives and of hundreds of
millions Of property not yet destroyed" we
cannot doubt that in their present situation the
masses Of the Southern people, including their
soldiers still in arms, will hvorably respond to
magnanimous peace proclamation from Presi-
dent Lincoln. No fears need be entertained
that by -giyi-s me rebel leaders q chance for
thsir lives they will remain In the South to
trouble us hereafter. The fearful wrongs which
they have committed among their deluded fol-
lowers will bring their own punishment in .
fearful reaction of Southern public opinion.
That is the tribunal to which the leaders of this
mad rebellion may now be most wisely turned
over by President Lincoln.
military DipiomseyIfhs 6o1T.ssiponaenee d
Between Grant and Lee.
The brief, concise and decisive correspond
enee between Lieutenant General Grant and
General Lee Is not less admirable IN its tone
and style than it is glorious in the news which
Il conveys No unkind or insulting word can
be found in the dispatches Of either general
The letters are completely characteristic Of the
men. On the one side Grant is simple, frank
and soldierly on the other side Lee IL not less
soldierly, although he appears to be rather less
straightforward. The two generals understood
each other perfectly. Grant knew Lees char
acter and his predicament Lee knew that
Grant meant just what he said, and that un-
less his terms were accepted, he would at once
"move upon the enemy's works" This mutual
understanding quickly resulted in the surrender
Of Lees army.
Grant began the correspondence on the 7th
inst with noble letter, clearing himself Of the
responsibility Of any further effusisn Of blood
by summoning Lee to surrender Lee replied