Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-10

themselves not high ana dry, Dut ury oNerheau anu
wet under foot, in Hampton Roads.
Tho kipg came 10 meet them and llls primo
minister came too, il is said, to repress MS mas
ter's Jokes While showing our Commissioners
great courtesy, they presented them the aiterna-
tive to submit or perish. -
The conference referred to was held ON the 3Oth,
and, On the Slst, seven weak cd Democrats, ~
the Yankee House of Representatives, hitherto
refractory came over to the Republicans and aided
in passing the abotion'bill
In reply TO the question propounded by 'he ei"-
ouent chairman Of the meeting, Mr.. Hunter, astc
/ what we should do, he would say, for one thng,
put Semmes in command OF another Alabama, and
len him again 20 forth, terrier to the enemys con-
merce on the high seas. If another hearsa2e sum-
mons him to surrender his reply, as we all Know,
will be--'Boys clear the decks and prepare ior ae-
iion % Let this be our reply Ia the arrogant de-
mand of lincoln for the uncOrulohal suFreh-er'oi
our rights and liberties.
| Mr. =. had no dread OF our falling in the present
struggle because women are ylrtuousi ahdscorh
and despise the wretch who, with sackcloth ABOUT
his loins aud ashes upon his head, would conde--
s>end To ask pardon Of Abraham Lincoln. Further
more he felt that lust Providence who rules the
world and holds the destinies OF nations in his hands,
will see that the right prevails. He thought
that the patriotic frenzy which We have witnessed
would subsde, unless We followed patriotic impui-
SEES with patriotic action. Our PLAN duty Is now 10
give life talents and even money, TO the cause
We must. IL we would succeed, trast the Presi-
dent not because he is intallble, but as man OF
sterling virtues whom We have chosen and placed
al the helm Of our ship of state. While tempests
roar and breakers ahead, woe " the crew that
rises in such an hour ana oyerdes their COM
mander. 80,
Mr. Sheffey was not afraid Of usurpathn OF
power by officials in whom generous people had
reposed confidence.
Iincolns, reply is a specific for al weak.
kpeed politicians If Representatives, the; could
A. In md
eminent even half OF your property TO prevent
Lincoln from possessing the whole.
lie paid high tribute to the women of the Con-
federaey and asked the large numscr present II
they were doing their full duty IN mnistering 70 the
necessities and comforts OF the sick and wounded
soldiers aud unuring in the performance OF those
acts OF kindness and charity toward tpe soldier In
the field, which make him think, while on the lone
y beat Of the sentinel that his services are appre
ciated and his wants cared for. Have you ceased
said he to point the finger of scorn at the skuker
and strageer III so, you have fallen far short Of
your duty. Ever encourage your fathers, brothers
and husbands TO the strict performance ofrevery
duty imposed upon them as patriots and soldiers.
Mr. Shelley closed with glowing picture Of the
future our country. ..1
Mr.. BENJANrS's SPEECH.
Mr.. BENJAMIN was then introduced. He said: The
animation that pervades the meeting, the cheers
with which you greet the defiance OF our foeman,
the flush that tngles in your cheeks at the propo-
stion that We ireemen, should bow the neck TO the
conquerOr yoke-all gives assurance that the hres
of freedom burn unquenchable in your souls. How
great the change Of q week ago Then dependency
and gloom pervaded all things. Men, querulous at
disappointments retful at reverses, asked whether
pcace was attainablc but by continued warfare
then the wish being father to the thought they
held that it indisposition TO negotiate rather
than the Objectionable terms OF the foeman, that
was in the way. Now, cheerful voices are heard ali
| around now, hope beams upon all countenances;
now, the cheering, the ennobng influence OF our
glorious women sheds its influence upon our cause
and leads us on in the paths OF duty and honor.
What is the cause Of this sudden change IN our
affairs
Have we found allies, as our fathers didi Has
any European ship of State swung loose from the
lev letters of timidity and Indifference Just the
reverse Our gallant Beauregard is still struggling
with Sherman. Men are specializing upon the pro-
liability of abandoning beleaguesed Charleston
Our enemy goat at the prospective possession Of
the coveted prey. There comes across the waters
no voice that any aid is 10 be had. What. then is
the canSe of all this change 1t is the knowledge
which has at last come home TO the hearts OF the
people that they must conquer their freedom OF
die To live a slave never entered in the mind OF
| a Southerner. (Cries of never y Thank God that
the path of duty clear before us now and that this
people knows one man that we must follow II OF
perish Our Commissioners went not as the Neni-
tian ambassadors with piece of blank paper, but
L Win q paper upon WHICH was Noiu WIN W
President and that word was Independence and
selGgovernment. (Cheers.) The single plain issue
before ms is TO live free and independent, and not
subected-and slaves
The facts preceding the going of our commits
sioners we're as follows Emperor Lincoln sent us
this message towards the close of the last year -
(IIe read letter from Ligcon touching reception
| of commissioners. In December Lincoln declared
that he willing 10 negotiate with u.s. lie knew
that the one thing needtul was severance nom
that hateful people to whom We owe the desOlalon
of our land and the slaughter OF brothers Lin
coin knew it, Six weeks afterwards came an init
mate OF Lincoln's one OF his trusted conidents.-'
He had private interview with the President and
/ took letter from him. Read the letter.. Mr..
Blair said he was messenger from Mr. Lincoln,
aud as he said that, he tBenjamin) could draw no
other conclusion than that he was his messenger, as
he took great pains To reiterate it several tmes.-
| Laughter. The transactions the part OF the
President was carried on on the basis OF TWO
countries or the part of Lincoln on the basis of one
| and common country. When Blair came here,
| there was a prospect of some arrangement. There
was some hope that if by magic wand, the
| struggle could have been staid, and everything
made to remain in its own condition. I nder this
| condition of things, was II strange that our
President, who is tender hearted man, should
strive to stay the flow Of blood by an at
tempt 10 effect peace Confident was the Presi-
dent in the theory of our Vice. President, what
better could he have done than 10 have sent him to
strive TO secure this peace. He had sent him and
he had failed and the people knew what they could
expect Now, ia il enough TO make resolves, to say
that we will perish or be ffee7 Talk can't win bat
ties resolves can't fill treasures, good intentions
can't feed men. Everything in this country belongs
| to the Confederate people or the Yankees. Every
thing held here is held in trust for freedom What
should we take from the peopetake all the cotton.
lie would give all that he had and he still had some
| left in his far Southern home. What was the scene
that greeted Farragut's eye he rounded the Cres
cent upon which stands New Orleans? The lurid
glare Of burning cotton. Did men stop to ask to
whom il belongedY No. II sufficed that the Yam
KEGS wanted il that they should not get II. How
was it when Sherman advanced through Georgia I
The cotton on allacious pretexts was left to 60 and
feed Lincoln's treasury. With these examples, has
any man holding bale of cotton the right Of with
holding il from the country (Nol no) He asked the
same of the tobacco lie wanted more, he wanted the