The Placer herald., 1866-11-17
What Geo. D. Prentice Saws.

What Geo. D. Prentice Says. .
In the course of An interview that we had
with Jeff Davis in January, 1865, the subject
of the terms of peace was introduced. Mr..
Davis asked us what was the chief objections
of the North to the recognition Of Soulhern
independence. We answered that the North.
knew perfectly well, as unquestionably be-
did. that, If she should lay down her arms.
and consent to division of the Union into.
two Contederaces. she herself would vevy
soon be dissolved; that State after State.
States sngly and States combinedIy, would
secede, and the whole North be split up into
petty powers or no-powers, all Of them con-
temptible in the eyes of mankind, and not
one of them willing or able to contribute TO-
the payment Of the national debt Mr.. Da-
Wis replied, with his characteristic calm.
ness, that this was certainly true, but that
the same thing would happen, and probably
happen all the sooner, f the North should
continue to prosecute the war; We thought
at the time that Mr.. Davis was greatly mis-.
taken, and told m So We still trust tbat
we were correct in our estimate Of the char
acter of his opinion but just n0k we can.
indulge no over-confidence that We were.
The North continued to prosecute the war.
and the South, after the bravest and most
desperate resistance known in wars annals,
was conquered. But now come the North's
trials. Now we are to see the test of her
internal strength. II, out of the dreadful
war between the North and the South, 4,
Northern civil war arises; if Northern armieA
march against each other, vengeance before,
them, and blood and death and desert behind ;.
many Northern States will very soon weary
and scken Of the horrid work, and will prob,
nbly adopt secession as the suresl aud quick
est remedy, fully relying upon the mighty
troubles and perils of the federal government
as perfect security against coercion.
Most likely the Northwestern States with
90 off first, repudiating, of course, their
proportion Of the public debt and thus piling.
higher the monstrous financial burden upon
the shoulders Of the remaining States.
These will have neither the will nor the,
ability to bear under the crushing weight
and SO others will secede and then others.
till the whole North shall be divided up into,
such poorliltle non.debt.paying, feeble, mock
nationaIites as a citizen Of one of the Next
can States or of the South American repub,
lies or Of one Of the petty, miserable German
prncipalities might look upon with con-
us as to the consequences of the war to the
North, if prosecuted, will be amply vindica-
ted, and whatever resentments, if any, be
cberishes against the North will be abund-
anty satisfied We tell the Northern fanatics.
AS lover of our whole country we solemn
|y tell them that, unless madness has seized
upon their hearts and brains, they will not
insist on pushing the dissensions betw the
President and Congress to the fighting point.
They may est assured, that. if the fight
comes il will be, to them, such a one as they
have no account of in either history OF
tradition. They will find it an infinitely
different thing from the war Of the rebellion.
dreadful as that was throughout all its annals.
They will find themselves a divided people,.
divided almost equally, divided and mutually
hostile, whist the whole population Of the
South will bo unit, able to strike for theip
friends or to stand afar from the flash, tho
crack, and the roar Of war, may seem best to-
them. The thick cloud now enveoping the
South may be partially lifted; but nigbt and
storm, surcharged with blood rain, will close
over the North. We say to the people Of
the North that very large proportion Of
them have acted and are acting most un wise-.
ly. Theirs is "the very error Of the moon."
They seem capable of profiting neither BY
/ the Soulh's experience nor their own.
A Washington dispatch to the Phiiadek
pha Ledger says: "Gen. Howard has or
dered the rents that have accrued upon the
| property of tosepb g. Davis. brother Of
Jefferson Davis, to be paid him from and
since the date of his pardon papers, which
were ISSUED on the 29th Of March last, but
not forwarded to him until early in Septem-
Der. The value of these rents is not far
from $4,000 per annum; so that, in effect,
Davis receives probably as full, or nearly as
full an equivalent, as if the property itself
had been fully restored TO him. The ques'
ton of the restoration Of this property has.
been before Gen. Howard for some tme,.
but be prefers that another, and not himself
shall order its restitution. | am told that
the property Of Jefferson Davis is also in,
cluded in the amount held or claimed BY
bis brother, one title covering tho whole"
CONSIDERABLE feeling lis exhibited through
out Georgia on the subject of repudiation..
1t is thought that an effort will be made al
the meeting of the Legislature in November
to relieve the people from the payment OF
certain debts contracted prior and during tse
late war. The plea urged for repudiation is
the loss of the slaves and the faiure of the
crops. The amount Of fproperty returned in
the State for 1866 is $207, 900 900; in 1850.
il WAS 62O32S.777: loss to TIE State OVER