The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-05
nI,ef LIS HnYn Peace.U

thew will make no further opposition TO i'm
partial suffrage, il coupled with universal
amnesty. When we state that Johu B. Bald
win of Augusta ths Hon. A. IL. II. Stuart
(Mr, Fillmore's Secretary OF the Interior),
Thomas s. Flournoy (who was the "Amerl
can" candidate for Governor against Henry
A. Wise), Wyndham Robertson, ESD,
George w. Boiling, General John Eohols,
James +. johnson, and Frank c. Ruffin are
among those who participated in this confer
ence and concur in its conclusions, we say
enough to convince intelligent men that the
better, and We think the more numerous, por-
tion of the late Rebels are represented therein.
A committee of nine, chosen in good part
from those named above, was appointed to
visit Washington, and solicit action in &C
cordanoe with these views.
We profoundly trust that hearty welcome
will be extended to this deputation by the
Republicans in Congress. 1t may DO that the
plan which they submit will require modihca-
lions; and we urge that those VINO may see ft
to demur to it shall also be accorded a patient
hearing. We only insist now, as we have so
often insisted already, that the bearers of an
olive branch are always to be received with
courtesy and heard with an earnest desire to
find their proposals admissible. So much is
but the simplest dictate of that faith which
blesses peace makers and affirms the essential
brotherhood of the human race. So much, we
cannot doubt, will bs freely accorded.
But our wishes and hopes take wider
range. We ardently desire to see the whole
American people once more united in aspira-
tion and affection. We have had tremen-
dous, bloody, desolating civil war. 1t has
covered the whole land with victims and
mourners. We would most gladly have
averted that war at any sacrifice but that of
human liberty. But slavery said, "Divids
with me the Federal Territories, or | will
divide the country against you" The Re-
public nobly answered, 81 will not divide
with you the Territories, and you shall not
divide the country" On the issue thus
made up slavery made war, which the Repub.
lie accepted, and fought it out TO the end, as
it was in duty bound to do.
Slavery and Rebellion are dead. The integ-
rity and paramount authority of the Union
are established beyond cavil. The very last
throe of the Rebel spirit was the effort to con-
sign the blacks to perpetual vassalage as a
legally inferior, powerless race. This we have
resisted and defeated. Toe present action of
the Virginia Convention is a natural cOnse-
quence of General Grants election.
1t will be said that the enfranchisement of
the blacks is secured, no thanks to the con-
servatives, and that they propose to make
terms when they have no course left open
save submission. But that is false conclu-
sion, founded on superficial view CT the case.
1t is probably true that we can carry suffrage
for the blacks of Virginia over the heads of
the conservatives. But what is won by party
victory may subsequently be lost by party
defeat; whe rras impartial suffrage, once estab-
lished by agreement between parties hitherto
at variance, is placed under the moral guar
antee of their mutual good faith. Suppose the
enfranChiSement OF the blacks of Virginia car
ried through the Acknowledgement OF a portion
of the leading conservatives; every year will
see portion of those conservatives pass off
the stage, while their sons rise up to take
their places-sons fully imbued with their
passions, embittered by years Of prescription,
yet not themselves subject to that proscrip-
tiOn; who can fail to see that our defeat and
prostration is merely question of time, and
not of long time either?
Virginia has to day a population of about
one million of whites to half a million blacks.
In 1900 she will probably have three millions
of whites to less than one million blacks. He
who would expose the latter to the reproach
of having kept the ablest and most intelligent
tenth of the whites disfranchised, or even
merely ineligible to Office, so long as they
could, may be a Jealous friend of the blacks,
but he surely is not considerate, discreet one.
Of those who took part in the Rebellion,
very large share "went with their State" be-
cause they deemed it chivalrous and fraternal
to do SO, without at all concurring in the
necessity or the wisdom OF secession. They
went into the war as they would have espoused
brothers. quarrel, without considering the
| justice of his cause 80 long as his life was in
| danger. Nearly all these, with thousands of
original and repentant secessonists, now echo
General Grants aspiration, "Let us have
peace" They have had strife and destruc-
tion to their hearts content. They want to
stop fruitless wrangling with their neighbors
and cavilling at the acts Of their Government
and return to building, planting, clearing
| lands and starting mills and factories. They
see as clearly as We do that antagonism between
the white and black races in their States is
ruin to both, and they mean to have an end
| of it forthwith. 1t will be blunder as well
as a crime on our part If their new access of
sanity is not generously responded to.
We hope to see Constitutional amendment
| framed and adopted which will couple uni
versal amnesty with impartial suffrage, and
make them a part of our fundamental law.
OF course, the Republicans of West Virginia,
Missouri, and Tennessee will not like to be
voted down in their respective States, or in
portions thereof by tue now disfranchised
Rebels; but no more will the now dominant
Rebels of Maryland, Kentucky, and Delaware
relish the enfranchisement of their black
| neighbors. No comprehensive settlement of
| great controversy ever did or ever can help
exciting some local grievances, real or
imaginary, as in this case. Statesmen will
disregard selfish and short sighted clanor in
the contemplation of general, enduring re-
suits.
"Agree with thine adversary quickly,
while thou art in the way with him. is a
most wise injunction. Where no vital
principle, no dictate of honor or duty, is in.
volved, he who comedies most to secure an
adjustment will do better than though he
biggled and stickled for the utmost that could
possibly be exacted. Friends in authority al