Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-25

In the war of 1919, they were no better.
Indeed, civilized war is but name. War
itself is savage. !
P. suppose you would have rue to
write a letter TO- "sir, my brother" Abe
Lincoln2
F. do not care to treat lightly so se-.
rious matter. You may or you may not
write him letter. But whatever you do,
l want both him and you to know, that
You have involved this country in war long
enough. That blood enough has been
shed, on both sides, to appal you both if
you had the souls to feel it. That both Of
you, in fear of losing regulations which
You never had, are availing yourselves of
the adventitious circumstances Of your po-
sitions, to keepby the ears the bravest
people in the world, who are destroying
one another, and are destroying the last
hope of liberty and of sef-government in
the world. That the noble sentiment Of
Napoleon, of ending war, "that some
less tears may be She'd" never entered
yonr atomic souls And that this war con-
tinues because neither of you can compre-
bend any thing greater than false pride
and obstinacy That both of you have
stood for four long years, stamping like
mad butfaloes, to see which could "set bis
foot down firmest," and below the loudest,
while European hunters have stood in the
distance, to zee when you are sufficiently
exhausted for them to throw the lasso.
P. Suppose you were commissioner,
what sort of terms would you propose9
+. 1t is difficult to say, because | would
be governed by circumstances, and they
are not the same today and tomorrow
In proposing negotiations, I would propose
no specific terms When we came to the
treaty I would propose independence, and
a thousand things honorable to Goth sides.
P. But Lincoln says you shall not have
independence. ..-
T. Yes. but there is both Lincon's and
your mistake, to suppose that it is for him
and you to say, what we shall have. 1t
was never Intended to be the policy Of Ell
tlier government, that its President, by
reason that he is the agent through whom
business is transacted, should so abuse his
position as to prerent the business. But
he and you, in abuse OF your positions,
have undertaken that your wills shall gov,
ern, and both of you have stifed the voice
of instructions by terrorism over the lib
critics OF the citizens and Of the press.
P. Do you really think you could get
independence
F. Do You think we ever can get its
p. Yes, we will haven't:
F. Well then, if that be so, l think we
can get it now. lido not think we ever had
better chance than now. know the
strength of their argument, that they arc
fighting for the preservation of govern
ment, and that, to grant our independence
would be-to destroy their government
But that is an argument which we vii
have to meet, settle it when we may
And we may have to yield something, t.
what we must admit is just pride, and
by diplomacy, get the substance and LOSE
the shadow. ..... ~.
2. How is that2
: E. l don't know howl have nothing
definite to suggest. But for illustration
merely, let us suppose we demand indie
pendence, and they refuse; so that thu
conference must be broken up, cpd wa
resumed. Might not some middle grount
be proposed, which would satisfy aud re
lieve both 2 For instance, might We no
agree to a restoration in so far as all for
eign purposes arc concerned2 But be
cause our domestic interests are in con
fict, there shall be two governments TO
all domestic purposes; allowing the Dor
der States to fall into one or the other, a
they may choose. In this way, each gov
eminent could get on, and close up al
transactions growing out OF the war; AN
then, when they shall have the advantag
Of experience and good temper, settle, il
a statesman-like manner, their future rela
tons.
p And let inc still be President, an
not be hung as a rebels
F. Yes.
P. And keep all our property, and ope
all our ports, and trade with whom W
please9 49,
F. Yes. -..
p. I'll do it,-No 1 won't-let me see
And suspend the habeas coapuss
F. Remember, 1 did not say it must b
settled in that way. I only meant to sho'
that there are many ways to do, what wi
be substantially the same when done.
nave Iound out tnat on my farm.
?. If we send commissioners, / am afrai
they will be rejected, and then, shoul
be mortified.
F. No more oc occasion for mortifcatio
} than our fathers had; or than Napoleo
had. But, there is but little danger
their rejection. Do you not remembe
) that when Saunders, and Clay, and Flo
combe got up that Niagara affair, the
} were told to "come on" -.
P. Yes, but Lincoln took it back, an
} then published some foolishness TO q
, whom it concerned" '#..
} f. True, but that was after they sal
they were not authorized by the gover1
ment. When Lincoln though they wel
the agents Of our government, he said
Z them. como on hnt when he fnnnd q,