Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-04-01

Davis--The people Georgia have follow |
cd the counsels of Gcv. Brown and Mr.. !
Stephens, and they must now protect them
selves.
Johnson-Very well, Mr. President; if you
can do without the people of Georgia, the
people of Georgia can do without you.
Whercupon, exeunt by different doors,
Davis and johnson.
When Mr.. Stephens came back from Fort
rcss Monroe he said to his friends that he
knew before he started it would fail. He
was now satisfied that Mr.. Lincoln would
not make peace with Davis on any terms,
but he was more sanguinc than ever that
Peace was within reach of the country. He
was quite certain we should have peace and
an honorable peace before May 1, 1866
This result, he declared, was in the hands of
the people, and if the people desired peace,
neither Davis nor any other man, nor set of
men, could prevent it.
The substance Of Mr.. Lincoln's language,
as reported by Mr, Stephens; was that ho
could not treat with Davis as the Leader of
a Rebellion. That the so-called Government
! OF tne Confederate States could rot be ac-
knowledged That he could not treat with
the States while the confessed allegiance to
had formed part of the Government. But
that lie was willing TO treat with the States
separately, or with any number of them on
the basis of the Union and the Constitution.
That if peace were restored he would do all
) in his power to remit those pains and pen
alties to which individuals had subjected
Themselves by rebellion against the Govern.
ment. That in no circumstances would ht
recognize the independence OF the Confeder
acy, or treat with it as q separate power
, That he could not enter into any truce oi
armistice with Davis as $50 csiled) President
OF those States.
DAvis's INSTRUCTIONS.
5 were substantially as follows
, First, That negotiations shall be conduct
ed as between two Independent National
+ ties.
/ Second, That pending the negotiations al
armistice of 80 days shall be proclaimed
q These instructions communicated to Mr.
Lincoln, but were not entertained rs Oasi
o of negotiation.
Stephens thought that the negotiation
s might form basis for declarations by Mi
Lincoln in his Inaugural on the Fourth q
Il March, and that the President would the
proclaim = plan which would be general
l. accepted by the States as basis of settle
mcnt. lie (Mr. Stcphens) looks upon an
r, further effort by the Confederate Govern
II ment toward negotiations, or to carry o
the wal as futile, and unjust to the pcopl
: and the States. In word, he consider
the functions of the Confederate Govern
l. ment al an end.
.r STEPHENS PLAN FOR PEAcE.
Stephens proposed.
le First, Let President Lincoln issue an aC
el dress to the Army and people of the Sout
le cmbodyiag in that address what he has b
y fore said as to peace, and also what passe
Ia at his interview with the commissioners.
Second, Agree to appoint COMMISSIONS
il on the part of the United States to met
Of State Commissioners on the part of sue
States as desire to meet at Nashville, Loui
to will or Cincinnati, in april or May, to- COZ
r. suit as to peace, on the basis Of such Stat
ry returning to the Union upon the sole cond
ton of obedience to the Constitution al
be laws of the Republic.
to Third, An election by such States as shs
n send Commissioners to that convention,
Senators and Representatives to the Co
ch gross of the United States, to enter SUI
l Congress upon equal rerms with other mel
sc bers of it, and such States to have equaii
on the floor OF Congress with other States.
l Mr.. Stephens believed this plan would {
IT. cure the appreciation of North Carolir
Georgia, Florida. hlabana, Mississippi, al
en- perhaps of South Carolina and Virginia.
IL lie was quit sure it would command the
MS sent of Mt least six States. In present C
cumstances, he might reasonably hope
". would be still more generally adopted.
to n. y Tribune.