Year: 1865

nc u lhhC AhuS NOhmcs


There are those pretty high in authority,
who say, "There Is no use in offering terms
to the Rebels, for their leaders will never
submit to the authority Of the Union, and
they only negotiate to gain time!viaW do
not believe this; but, il we did, at would
not at all weaken our faith that the .Presi-
dent should promptly and frankly appeal
to the insurgents in depreciation Of the fur
ther prosecution Of their hopeless struggle.
giving them substantial reasons for desis-
ting fcrthwith,,, Whatever may be the
malignity or desperation of the leaders, it
is clear that the masses do net. share 1t.
Davis persistent efforts, and more en-
phatically his recent elaborate endeavor, to
prove our Government implacably ayerse to
negotiation, and immOvably resolved on
universal confscation and devastation, in
dicate beyond mistake the drift of opinion
In Dixie toward submission and peace.
What use in showing, toa people infexibly
resolved on independence, that our Govern
ment would grant no conditions? What
motive for the recent attempt to open nego-
tiations with Gen. Grant, if IL were not
deemed necessary at least to make afeintof
n1ssSSTo55iating 1sST on lower plane than that Of


We fully credit our recent information
from Richmond that Lee has confidentiallv
apprised Davis that he cannot hold ont
against the hosts now gathering for his
overthrow. We believe what is left of the
Rebellion can and will be crushed any now ;
but we are utterly averse to the needless
shedding of one drop of human blood. So
long as War is essential to the life of the
Republic, let War rage, though it whelm
cities in blood ana cover the land with ruins
and ashes; but let Peace be secured at the
very first moment compatible with the uni
ty of the Nation and the freedom Of all her
people, AS we have shown the Old World
how free people lavish their money and
their blood when the existence of their
country is at stake, so let us give her rulers
lesson in magnanimity and cemencyto
vanquished insurgents. Let not the victory
OF the Republic be stained by a single act
of vengeance-by one wanton infliction of
pain. Blood has flowed in rivers-let it flow
on if the necessity shall be found still to
exist; but let not the National ensign be
stained by one drop shed to punish rather
than to save.


What we would have President Lincoln
do is simply to set lucidly and briefly before
the Rebels the terms on which he would
have them lay down their arms and sub
nit TO the National authority. These terms
should convey his ultimatum on the follow
ing points: ......


/. Union-Disunion. .+"4


IL. AmneSCy-1reaSOn. t.h.'.' 'at


Ill. onfscation-Property. sala-aa


". ancipation-Slavery. .r..


" Reconstruction-State subversion.


VI. Representation in Congress.


1t may be urged that some of these topics
lie without the sphere of the Executive;
but this is rather specious and technical
than practical and vital. In matters of
War and Peace, the President stands for
the People, and may count with confidence
on their ratification of his acts. Jefferson
knew and avowed that he exceeded his con-
stitutional powers in purchasing Louisiana,
but he was eminently justified in taking
the responsibility. So let the President
proffer such terms as he thinks proper, and
never doubt that he will be sustained in so
doing. The country sighs for an honorable
and lasting Peace, and such seems now
within reach. Woe to the hesitancY or
peryerse counsel which shall prevent its
realiZationl


"But suppose the rebel chiefs are still OBJ
durate?" riH ras ppt


We answer, they can damage nobody but
themselves. Let President Lincoln now
make specific, circumstantial, magnani-
nous public overture, and the great body
of Southern whites will insist on its accept
ance. They have long enough submit
ted to famine, nakedness, misery and
death, at the beck of unchastened am
bition. Proffer them an alternative, and
they will be dragged or pushed no further
in this wretched course. Only give them
"a place whereon to stand" and they will
speedily compel the leaders to submit or
maintain the struggle unaided. Half the
insurgents would come over at once: what
could the rest do without them?


Once more we exhort the President to
offer terms to the insurgents without delay.
We do not mean to suggest or hint at any
bases of pacification, since we desire that
the conditions proffered shall be emphatic
ally the Presidents own. We know that
his heart is right, and we are confident that
the terms it will prompt him to offer are
such as theinsurgents ought to oaccept-such
as large majority ofthem will choose to ac-
cept. Let not another day ofcarnage antici-
pate proffer which is morally certain to
paralyze the arm of Treason and quench the
torch of Rapine. Let this long devastated
land speedily rejoice in the unspeakable
blessings ofPeace! r.g