Semi-weekly news., 1865-04-08

| cease, We're slated IN ms Int-Ssag" OF
December last, in which We were in.
formed. that in the event Of our p.ni-
tent submission, he would temper
justice with mercy. and that the
question whether We would be gov
-rned as dependent territories, or
permitted TO have representation in
their Congress, WAS one u.,yu VIII CT
he could promise nothing, but which
would be decided by their Congre "a,
after our submission had been acc.p
ted. II has not, however, been hith-
-yto stated 10 You. that in the course
Of the conference at Fortress Mon
i roe. suggestion was made by one of
or commissioners. that the obJ .c;ion
ent-rta ned by Mr.. Lincoln. to treat
ing with the government o: the Con-
fed.racy, or with any separate State.
by substituting for the usual mod.
Of negotiating throuSI ,mmissiJn-
ers "r other diplomatic agents. the
method sometimes employed. OF a
military convention, to be entered in
to by the commanding Generals of
the armies ef the two beliS r. .nts.-
This he admitted was p wrr pos
sessed by him, though it was not
IN 'ught commensurate with all the
questi .ns involved.
As he did not accept the sugSss-
ton when made, he was afterwards
requested to reconsider his conciu-
sion. upon tn. subject of til" snsprn-
sion of hos:i!iti-s. which h- agreed to-
do, but said that he had maturity
considered Of the plan. and had de-
t.rnin"d that i. could not be done.
S ,h-.queut'y, however, an interview
with Grn. Longstreet wa. asked for
by Gen. Ord, commanding the enc
'nv'- army Of the James, during
winch Gen. Longstreet was i,.forIn-d
by him, that there was possibility
of arriving at satisfactory adjust
ncut VI the present unhappy difficult
ri"s by means Of military CONVEX
ti"n. and that if ien. Lee desired an
interview on the subject, it would
Mt b. d 'c!ined, provided Gen. Lee
IA .d h"rity to act. This cnmmu-
n;cntion was Supposed to be the con
s..Inrnce of the suggestion above re
/ .rr,'d to, and Gen. Lee. according to
h = | of this month. proposing to
;n..,.t hi.n f.: conference on the sub
jet, ani st.tins that he was YES ed
win The r''q ,isit- authority.
G"n. Grants rrpl V stated that he
had no auihnrity to accrd,. to th..
propose! cnnf,-r-nc-: th II his powers
rxt''n ir,i mi V t" making 4 conv..u-
t;on up,r >uhjrcts o, Il purely mill
tarv character. and that Gen. Ovt!
could onI J: have mean; that an in;.r-
view wou!i not ne r-faS-l on any
,ubirct on which n. (tiran,> Il ID tn
rlsht to act. 1t thGs appears that
neither with the Confederate author
i,i"S Of any :>tat". nor through tn
comm lniiLg Genrral-. will the GOV
era.nrnt of the Unit-I States tr.. t
or make an terms or agreement
whltcver. for TIA" c sSat;nu OF EnStii.
iii -. There remains th,n. for lis,
a. choice, bu: 10 continue. this con
'.sr t" ii..ai issue, for the pc 'pl,. of
tie C"n;rd-.acy can be- but little
KNOWN To hi n who suppose- it poSsi-
b!c that they would ever attempt to
parchnse at the cost of i,yraiation
an ! slavery, permission to live in a
co .ntry gnrrison-d by their pwn II.
g-oss, and governed bv riti .,I-s e.u-
! by the c"nJu-rnrS t" rule. owe. thrm
Having ,hns tnllv pirc,.d before
YOU the inform ttion requisite to ,,,la-
! tile YOU I" judge of thr STATE OF the.
country, tn. dlnyrrs to which we
/ are expos .d. and ;he measures ot leg
| iSla'i1r needed for av-rIiIs th IN, it
r,.,ntinS for m but t, invoke I,ur
| attention tn he consiAerari N of those
means by which, above all others, We
| may hop" to ESCAPE the caiainiti"-
| rh,t would result from our failure
! Prominent above ali others. is the
necessity for earnest and cordial CO.
operation between all departments
OF Government, State and Conft.der-
ate, and all eminent citizens through
out the Confederacy. TO You eSpe.
cially. a. Senators and Representa-
tives, do the people look for encour,
agenent and counsel. To your ac.
,ion. not only in Legislative halls,
but in your homes, will their eyes be-
opened for the example of What is
hrtitting men, who by willing sacri-
fees on the altar of freedom. show
that they are worthy to enjoy its
blessings.
teel full confidence that you will
concur with me in the conviction that
your public duties will not be ended
when you shall have closed the legiS
lative laborS of the session, but that
your voices will be heard cheering
and encourag ng the people to thai
| I,arsiStnnt fortitu1a which tI.x, b,v.