The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-03

ton for peace which did not concede our
| absolute independence would have been en-.
tertained for moment. 1t did hot seem to be
| wise 10 give our enemies the moral and mate.
rial benefit to be derived froma position they
were not honestly entitled to occupy.
Had we returned the answer which has
been suggested, the friends Of President Lin.
coin could have appealed to The letter of Mr..
Greeley as proof of bis willingness to open
negotiations on the most liberal basis. That
letter wholly abandoned the attitude which
the Government of the United States had
maintained since the secession of South Caro-.
lina and to which, according to the declara-
Auburn, 1t has returned of mo negotiations
with rebels in arms" II expressed q readi.
ness to open negotiations and attempt to set.
tie through diplomacy the questions which
had been 30 long In vain submitted to the ar.
bitrament of war. It did not even announce
that the restoration of the Union was an in.
disoensable condition of peace, but proffered
free and untrammelled conference. Had
the correspondence closed at that point, 1t
must have added strength TO the administra-
tlon of Mr.. Lincoln, and thus increased Its
capacity to carry on the wsr. Within our
own borders 1t would have nourished the de.
luBive and dangerous hope d compromise
with our enemy on terms consistent with
liberty and seli-respect. A renewed pressure
would have been brought 10 bear on the Presi-
dent to send commissioners to Washington
with the view of opening negotiations at the
hazard of fresh indlgnitles 10 the Confed-
eracy.
In framing our reply to the leller of Mr..
Greeley. we endeavored to shape IL so as to
compel such new developments from Mr. Lin.
coin as would disclose the true policy OF his
administration, or such an adherence to the
position assumed In that letter as would ena-
ole our government to act upon 1t with safety.
This purpose was fully accomplished In CALI
ing forth the celebrated document addressed
ITO whom it may concern" No paper proba-
bly, ever produced 80 great q revolution OF
public sentiment In The same space of time.
Although a gross delusion as to the extent of
their recent military successes has Induced q
reaction and secured the reelection Of Mr.. Lin.
coin, 1t ia destined TO exercise an enduring
influence for good. Ithas permanently weak
ened and distracted the war parry Of the
North, and there is much reason to hope that
before many months intervene it will wholly
deprive 1t of Democratic support However
this may be, 1t has united and animated our
own people more than any political acLlon OF
our adversaries since The commencement of
the war.
It has been suggested that the effect of this
correspondence, Dy rendering probable the
defeat of Mr.. Lincoln at the polls, WAS un-
favorable in the Northwest by represslng q
lrowing tendency TO revolution In that quar-
ter. This was, no doubt, to some extenI, It's
temporary effect; but 1t has worked no In
iury to our cause. The revolutionary ele
ment has been hitherto too feeble to be EN-.
poyed in on. service with any advantage.
Before this u 'respoDdence took place our
sanguine friends In that region mad fixed
upon various periods of revolutionary out
break. but they were deferred at their own
instance from time to time, as the conviction
gradually dawned upon tbeir own minds Of
Inc extent to which they had exaggerated
their strength. From all the developments
that no explosion could have taken place
previous to the election which would not
have resulted In permanent Injury to our
cause. The Northwest Ia not now. and
without the systematic and possibly long
continued application of the agencies which
control the popular mind may never be, ripe
for revolution. But 1t Is fermentlng with
the passions out of which revolution have
been created. In Illinois, Indiana and possl-
bly, Ohio, majority Of the population are hos
tile to the present admlnisl ration.
TO tho vvuCrary, fUr, win a large body OF the
peace party, Mcclellan was held lu as much
odium as Lincoln himself. The bitterness be-
tween these hostile factions is Intense. The
one has received from the other every outrage
which the strong can penetrate on the weak.
It would be fatal mistake, In my opinion, TO
abandon all effort to separate this section from
the United States, because no results have yet
been achieved commensurate with our eXpec'
tations. The hope of closing the war by nego-
Liation has been eXtlngulshed. Our resources
are diminishing more rapidly, for obvious
reasons, than those of our enemy. To Keep
alive such degree OF apprehension as Will
lead to the concentration Of large bodies oi
troops to repress Insurreclion within their own
limits will, of liself, be en- important diversion
In our favor. We should employ money and
talent Without stint 10 give this broodlng re.
sentiment the proportions OF anarchy and Civil
strife.
Let us preserve our communication with
eur friends In the North. Warned by our past
experience, let us introduce arms more grad,i-
allY and cautiously, as far as practicable suosl-
dize leading presses, and through the ordina.
ry channel of newspapers, as well as ol
campaign documents, enlignten and influence
the public mind. Enlist public men OF charac.
ter aud influence, whose principles and sympa'
thies are with us, by lndemnllylng tnem
against the hazards to which bold and decisive
aclIon may expose them. with arms, leaders
aud an opportunity. we could strike deadly
blow.
It ia proper to add that have expressed
only my Individual opinions, and do not know
TO what extent they would meet the concur
renee of Messrs. Clay and Thompson.
have the honor to remain, very respect
fully. JAMES p HoLCoMBE.
Richmond, November l6, 1864.