The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-03
CORRESPONDENTS.
Letter from Hon. John B. Brisbin.
r,,. u,air Mission.-Terms OF Peace
..0bstacIes of the Radicals
The slavery Question..Tho
Institution Dies with.
Ous Further TX.
tension.

scuuYLxRvILLE, N. Y, Jan. 16, 1860
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
1t has definitely transpired that the
elder Blair is accredited to the so-calleo
Confederate Government as quasi Com-
missioner to discuss the terms OF peace
The substantial conditions which he ID au-
thorized to propose, are interpreted oy tne
press q believe without dissenD to be:
l. Submission, to the Federal authority.
2. A general amnesty extending 70 oil
Glasses and individuals.
8. The ultimate abolition OF slavery oy
the emancipation Of all persons born I'D
slavery since the rebellion. ......
It's a matter of surprise that PROPOSE
tions 80 frausht with importance as these
unousstionsbly are, have excited so little
comment from the press of the country.
They have fallen comparatively still. The
Democratic papers evidently withhold dis
onsa;on from a doubt of the fact Of such
overtures being rendered, and still
stronger doubt of the good faith which
animates the Administration in submitting
to a peaceful arbitrament of the contro-
versy, coupled with fear that the terms
indicated will be made in such manner,
and associated with such conditions COL
lateral, as will render them obnoxious and
impracticable. In short, that it is nothing
more than repetition of the stale device
which has before been adopted, 30 place
the South technically wrong with the 81.
perfcial, for the purpose Of reviving the
war spirit, which is tagging, notwithstand-
ing the great successes which have attend
ed the Federal armies. 1t must be con-
fessed there is full warrant for this appre-
hension. Mr.. Lincoln's former amnesty
proclamation. The persistency Of aboli-
ton leaders in the complete validity OF bis
emancipation proclamation. His ITO all
to whom it may concern" manifesto. The
Baltimore platform. His last message. The
emancipation reconstruction schemes at this
moment urged thorugh Congress under the
presidential lash; the assent implied by
silence of the radical press and politicians !;
these suggestions and others which might
be enumerated, fully justify at least
feeling of distrust 1t may be, however,
that the financial bankruptcy imminent
over the country has struck even the pur-
blind vision of Abraham Lincoln. 1t may
be that Interpretations of Sherman, char
acterized as they have been by an adop-
ton of tho Democratic policy of concilia-
ton, with what potential efficacy the
country has only partially appreciated; it
may be that the bugbear of foreign inter-
venton again bruited in fresh paro1ysm
of folly one or all of these considerations
may have elevated the administration
from the muck of loathsome politics to the
elevated plane of patriotism and states
manship.
Ii such propositions as indicated have
been made in good faith and in such
manner as to admit of their being deiber-
ated upon and discussed by the people of
the South, the Administration of Jeffer-
son Davis will be coerced into their ac-
ceptance, 1t is true they imply ma
terial abandonment of the pledge which
Congress- unanimously made to the coun-
try in the Crittenden resolution The
war has reached the climac.eric desired by
abolitionsts even at the cost of our Union,
i. e., il has become an anti-slavery war.
1t has already verified the prediction of
Democratic statesmen and the leading
publcsts of Europe, and the fact must be
accepted and dealt with as such by the
North as well as the South. If it can BIO
arrested by negotiation, by the offices of
the statesman rather than the soldier, be-
fore it reaches the crisis of physical ex-
haustiou and financial bankruptcy which
are inevitable if it goes forward with its
present objects and with its presentoouduct,
in the name Of human civilization let it cease.
Although the North from considerations
of policy arising out Of the fact that the
complete subjugstion of great and de-
termined people is more than doubtful
a solecism in the worlds history-thst in
no event can permanent peace be secured
without the maintenance Of standing
army which no republican government
can afford either the expense or the dan
ger of maintaining. Although the North
MIGHT (snd ought in my judgment) occu-