The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-01-16
~ We s.ill are sala,ed with the or,

~ We still are salated with the G
Of "Pesce, Pesce.". Far be it from AZ
ssy that .4there is no peace" The ve
cradle gentleman stilled in negotiatio
who appears in our dispatches. gives it
!. his opiaion that cessation of hostili,i
and negotiations for pekcs viii fall with
the inner line of ten days. The opinit
Of the skilled and venerable peace negot
ator may be worth more or less than II
opinion Of any other man. Does be kno
the feeling aud views Of Mr.. Liccoln an
Cabinet and Of Mr.. Davis and Cabine,
and has he been behind the scenes and be
come posted as to the true status of tn
military and peace situation? Then b
may know more than outsiders; oherw;s,
the chances are against him.
Ii may be H G.. He is neither Glow
nor simpletos. He has experience il
politics, 10 a shrewd dthinker-a grea. man
Hs deserves credit for bis efforts to stay
the Tide Of war when peace can come
without the loss of the national unity and
honor. But IL. G. isn't sagacous and
practical statesman. We appreheud. lie
is champion Of human rights as
such We honor him. but It's doubtful
whether his peace position at the COM
mencemeDt OF this contest will ever be
50 thoroughly justified as to bring popular
opinion upon that plank of H. G's plat
forma Besides. certain negotiations of
his last summer with WIN. Cornell Jew.
ets and Saunders, that didn't bring peace.
are still fresh in the memory Of persons
now living. His opinion may be correct
in this case, but gold will not go down
on account Of it. His diagnosis may be
infall,bIS;and yet he isn't good or sue
cessful physician
Bat the Judgment of the venerable gen.
tleman "skilied in negotiations' is neither
here nor there SO far as the question Of
peace is concerned. The evidences upon
which most persons will come to an indi.
vidual opinion con cerning the truth or
falsity of the rumors found in the dis
patches for The last three or four DAYS,
and concerning the nearness or remote
ness of a termination of tie war, do no.
include that geptlemau's opinion.
So long ago as last spring We hazarded
the augury that the 4th of March would
see MIR. Lincoln re-inaugurated as the
President of whole Union with his au.
thOri,y undisputed. We are less disposed
than ever to retract the prophecy.
The strength of the rebellion is aud has
been its military power. Il was a rebel
lion for slavery, and not against il.
FVuoded ON no moral basis. claiming no
enfrancbisement from thralldom, asking
No alliance with justice, and opposite to
ii ght, it secured no earnest sympathy
abroad; exiorted by force the consent Of
its subjects. and found its sole strength
and shield in its armies. These broken,
and the Confederacy would perish.
That the military power of The rebels
has been fast waning, has been patent to
everybody. The constant advance made
by the Government since the commence.
ment of the war, in the reoccupation Of
the South by the National arms, with no
further ,reverses than we're necessary Tor
our discipline. aud to force us to give up
slavery without which the war would lie
without slgniGsance or justice - had
brought US to that condition at the
commencement Of last springs and
summers campaign, that i. was
apparent that il our immense ar
mics were successful 10 the work b sfore
them, the scepier Of power would pass
from the JEFF. Davis Government At
lsnss and Richmond, LEES army an "a
H,ad's army, and as acc .s>ory to Rich.
uond, Early's occupation Of the Shenau.
doah valley, were the vital points Of the
Confederacy. Fsrragut, Sherman. Sheri-
dan, Thomas and Curtis settled the mat
ter pretty eiftc,ualIy in their several de
psrtments Lees army and Richmond
alone. remained as unit of military
6Asnaeth 10 the e,els, and tliat-army had
Ne ppwerless for aggressive action
(A~xb battles of the Wilderness
= not wish 10 be understood az
cag1oS the South are exhausted OF
ru1a Ssd HI rcer. But We do not be.
Iisvs thst Inv N gather force to effsc
iu2llg rests h:ce hundred lhousand
men uhieE ADMINISTRATION proposes
. add eooG ~ large armies. And
~ Il mUut ~ kpt to, the rebels, rs to
~ ss1s q ri rId, that the Govern
uost u detsFt = suppress ths rebel
! M, ~ Is = ! question ~ 10 the
1nrsss u ~ ~ ltion Of the South to
~ ihs ed Ses16 bese consideration,