The New York Herald Newspaper, February 7, 1865, Page 4

o 4 « poanneseaniineninions oneness eer tI NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. ™ ont by mail will bo TERMS cash in o atthe'Fisk @fthe wonder, Nuno but bank bills cysrent In Now Fork takon. JHE DAILY HERALD, Foust cents per copy. d@onual subsey!ption price AMUSEMENTS sVENING, poe Etatian Orga Favst. BOWPRY THEATE Eyep Svsay—Wiy vn y Dass Taor—Biace NIBLO'S GARDE tway.-Tum Massauaner, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broudway.—Taw Lave In pian—F WY. i WINTER GARDEN, WAL S THEATRE, Youn ais, 4 OLYMPIC THEATRE, B Youre \ NEW BOWERY THEAT Sexxy Lixp, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. TMOPIAN SONGS, DANCKS, LURLESQUES, £0.—BLACE WOOD'S MINSTREL , S14 Broadway. New Youe—Tux Puar —SrTaEEts OF, THIOPLAN Songs, Dancrs, &@" SALLE DiABOLIQUE, 58 Brondway.—Ropent Hauuzn's Manands or Moves Minaciis VAN AMBURGH & ( S89 and 541 broadway.—O; HIPPOTNEATRON, Fourteenth _ street,—1 Gyaxastic AND AcuovaTio ENTARTALN at Bugmuwskn, AMERICAN THEATI. Pastomines, BuRLKSQU es. ' HOOLEY & CAMP: Bowery.—Sonas, Darcns, GNeEN BAL NEW YORK MU Open from 10. A.M. ul AMMOTH MEN, 4 GERIB, n from 10 A. M. to10 P. e 0 44 Broadway.—B. cers INSTRELS, 199 and 201 Kis Ques, &¢.—How ars You ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— THE siru ATION. Nothing official has yet been promulgated regarding the late conference in Hampton Roads between the President and Mr. Seward and the rebel commissioners; but itis believed that within a few days a full and authoritative Statement of it will be made A resolution soliciting of subject was offered in ght that he will com- the Presidont information on tho Sonaté yesterday, a ply with (he request, It is sa hat the negotiations are not yet concluded, the result still depending on the responee of the Lel authorities to the propositions laid ter und Campbell during the on Roads, The rebel com- | Grant’s lines, on their urday, « Interesting news regarding the progress of General Sherman's movement into the interior of South Carolina is furnished us by rebel telegrams. They state that on the Ist instant the advance of what was supposed bw bea heavy force of national troops reached Whippy Swamp, a point within thirty miles of Branchville, where'the rebel cavalry were driven in, A column of Sherman's cavalry was also paid to be mov- tug rapidly on the Augusta road, upon some Unknown point, The rebels pre confident that Whorman is moving on Branchville, Heavy ekirmish- ing-at places within twenty to thirty miles of Charleston 4s reportod, and it is said that the Unionista came up to ‘Young’s Island tn barges on ihe Ist inst., landed, drove fn the rebel pickets and fired @ number of buildings on the plantations, Three steamers were reported Off White’s Point, on the Combahee river, on the same day, With troops, who were making attempts to land, ME Webb, our Minister at Rio Janeiro, has informed the State Department that the government of Brazil has fesued a decree excluaing the rebel pirate Shenandoah from all its porta, ] Hoavy artillery firing between the opposing batteries in the vicinity of the Appomatiox river took place on last Baturday evening, continuing from seven o'clock till balf-past nue. We havo not learned that it had any im- Portant rest, Included ia our selection from rebel newspapers this mbdraing isthe callin full of General Lee for the de- Avery to the rebel authorities of all arms and military -equipments in private hands, Allusion to this has al- ready been madein the Hxaatp. It shows that the Tebels are beginning to lack arms as wellas men. Gold fn Richmond on tast Friday was quoted at forty-four vandred per cent. premium. The rebel Senate on the 24 inst. voted thanks toJobu Lancaster, of England, for wmeaguing ¢ jn Semmes in the yacht Deerhound, at the ‘Time Caps inslow, of the Kearsarge, sent the pirate Alabama to the bottom of the rea A surgeon and fificen "privates who deserted from the One Hemdred and Thirty-third Tennessee rebel regiment arrived at Cairo, Ill, on Sunday last. They say that the rebel Army of Tennessce bas gone into winter quarters Bt Tupolo, Miss, They contradict the statement that Gonora! Cheatham had abandoned the rebel cause and Advised his men to do likewise. Thy say that he had tmorely granted furloughs to his soldiors. The surgeon States that many of the men who straggled from Hood's army on its retreat are returning, now that they find it has gone into winter quarters. The town of Litchfield, Grayson county, Kentucky, ‘was visited on two consecutive days lately by gangs of guerillas under the frecbooters Williams and Jones, ‘They confined their plundering principally to clothing and whiskey. In tho election held by the rebels im a portion of Ark. fansas, In October last, to choose three members for the Richmond Congress, only three thousand seven hundred and thirty-two votes in all were polled. The free consti- tution of that State was adopted in March last by a vote of over thirteen thousand. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Sumner offered a resolu- tion calling on the President for information relative to the late peace mission Mr. Saulsbury objected, and the subject was laid over under the rules. It will no doubt ‘be adopted to-day, and it is believed that the President ‘will speedily respond in a full relation of all the facts connected with this Important event, A report of the Proceedings of the New York Chamber of Commoree. in favor of the Bankrupt bill wall pretented, A bill incréas. iby (ho Commutation prieg of army officers’ rations, reliev- ing thom from the payment of:imoume taz, and giving them three months $f" om being ‘ mtsteréd oat, was reported by thd Military “ The Prosidemt was ealied pon for~ information as to Whether apy permits to itade mn cotton’ in ‘the rebel, States have beow granted since the 24 of July last, whether they, were paid fpr, under what law they were granted and under What- ini enes they were obtained: The consideration of the biM supplemental to the Barol- Joge) Bopation was atricken out. A end. permite-agents of States to recruit in the rebe \ was tidopted by n voto of twuhty.woven to Jionceforth, therefore, « Avia a va nowulalion. before Messrs. Stephens, I important meoting in missioners passed through Ge return to Richmond, on last 1 States h Stato must ON up it ous amendments Lo the sve NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1,” 1865. punishment for swindling bounty brokers pe ser ta and tho subject was then laid aside. Mr. ‘Sumner offered an amendment to the constitution, pro- viding that representatives to Congress shall be appor- tioned according to the number of male citizens qualified to vote for representatives in State Legislatures. The subject was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The Committee on the Conduct of the War made ar prt in relation to the failure of the attack on Petersburg in June last, when the great mine was exploded, and tive thou- sand copies of the report and testimony were ordered to be printed. An exccutive seasion was held, a*number of appointments were confirmed, and the Senate adjourned. In the House of Representatives, the peace democrats developed themselves in reference to the recent peace mission. Mr, Cox offered a resolution declaring that the President ig entitled to the gratitude of the country for his recent efforts to restore the Union. A motion to lay fan infant child hed beon found frosem to death on a | Miscogemation ef the Times and ‘Trt- | ferences. The vacant lot near the Thirty-firet preeint station house. John Denzlor was yesterday committed to prison to answer the charge of having set fire to his premises, No. 277 West Twenty-cighth atreet. Thomas Moloney and John Williams were yesterday locked up in the Tombs to answer the complaint of having stolen two hundred dollars from Michael Moriarty. After Sunday's rest and fresh the ice was yes- terday again in excellent condition, the ponds were all crowded with skaters. The sky was clear, the air sharp, but pure and invigorating, and, altogether, a finer day for skating could not be desired. According to the City Inspector's report there were four hundred and seventy-three doaths in the city during the week ending on the 6th of February—a docrease of twenty-three as com; with the mortality of the woek | previous, and twenty-two less than occurred during the it on the table was rejected by yeas 31, nays 105, and the | corresponding week last year. Smallpox appears to be resolution was laid over under the rules, Mr, Fernando. Wood offered a regolution declaring “that it is the duty of the President to maintain, in every constitutional and legal manner, the integrity of the American Union, as formed by the Fathers of the republic; and in no event and under no circumstances to proffer or accept negotiations which shall admit by the remotest implication the existence of any cther Federal or Con- federate government within the territory of the United States.” A bill amendatory of the Internal Revenue act was reported. It was made the special order for ‘Wednesday evening next, and evening sessions will bo held till the subject is disposed of, The consideration of the Naval Appropriation bill was resumed. The amend- ment creating a Board of Admiralty was rejected. The amendment providing for an additional midshipman from each Congressional district was agreed to, and the bill passed. Some unimportant subjects were of and tho House adjourned. . THE LEGISLATURE. In tho State Sonate yesterday a bill to ratify the article Prohibiting slavery, proposed by Congress as an amend. mont to the constitution of the United States, was intro- duced; also to authorize a defendant or his eounsel ina criminal case to close the argument to a jury. The bill to prevent the defacement of natural soenory was or- dered to a third reading. In the Assembly a resolution was introduced and adopted instructing Senators and Representatives in Con- gress to favor the paksage of a law crediting volunteers to the locality where enrolled; also for a recess from the ‘18th to the 23d instant, which lies over under the rule, Bills were introduced to authorize attorneys and coun- sellors to take acknowledgement of deeds and other in- struments; to employ watchmen in villages; to increase the capital stock and fix the terminus of the Adirondack Railroad; also the State Bounty bill. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘The Legislature of Missouri adopted the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery—in the Senate by a vote of eighteen yeas to two nays, and in the House by a vote of eighty-three yeas to eight nays—on Tuesday, the 3lst day of January—the same day it was adopted in the na> tional House of Representatives. Thus toa slave State belongs the honor of being the first to vote in favor of the abolition of slavery in the United States. The following nine States have already ratified the amendment :— 1—Missouri. 6—Michigan. 2—New York. 7—Maryland, 3—Pennsylvania, 8—Rhode Island. 4—Massachusetta, 9—West Virginia, 5—INinois, —The following loyal States have yet to act upon it. At least we have up to this time had no announcement of their having done so:— \— Arkansas, 11—Minnesota. Connecticut, 12—Now Hampshire, 8—California, 13—New Jersey. 4—Delaware, 14—Nevada. 5—Indiana. 15—Ohio. 6—Iowa. 16—Orogon. {—Kansas. 17—Tennossee, 8—Kentucky, 18—Vermont. 9—Louisiana, 19—Wisconsin, 10—Maine, —The rebel slave States are as follows:— 1—4labama. 6—North Carolina, 2— ro at Carolina. 8—Georgia, j—Texas, 4—Micaisippi. 8—Virginia. We have received files to the 30th of November last of the two newspapers printed in the English language in Yokohama and Kanagawa, Japan. Their advortising col- umns give good evidence that the business of the foreign merchants in that country igin ® prosperous condition. It is said that the commercial treaty with France has been ignored by the Tyeoon. On the 20th of October re- views took place on the same parade ground of about sixtorn hundred British soldiers and the Japanese na- tonal forces, the troops of the two nations manwuver- ing alongside of each other. Two British difocrs wore murdered by the natives while on an excursion through the country in the latter part of November. The Board of Supervisors met yesterday afternoon; ‘but no business of importance came before them. They adjourned to Monday next. ‘No business was transacted by the Councilmen yester- day, there not being » quorum present The Board stands adjourned to next Thursday. The Tammany Society hold a regular monthly meeting at the Old Wigwam last evening, Grand Sachem Purdy Presiding. The attendance of members was quite large, and the proceedings were mostly of a routine character, with a singie exception—namely, action respecting the death of the late Augustus Purdy. A committee of five ‘was appointed to draft suitable resolutions in regard to the occurrence and to report at the next meeting. The following new mombers were chosen:—Messrs. John jurphy, Wm. Kelly, Adotph Wolfe, John E. Burrill and J. R. Flanagan. The acnual election for Sachems will take place in April next. ‘The Manhattan Gas Company did not turn off the gas yesterday from the street lamps in that portion of the city lighted by them, as bad been anticipated, though no arrangement has yot been effected between the Common Council and them regarding their demand for the in- creased price of fifty-three dollars per yoar for each street lamp. ‘The suit of, Luther C. Tibbete against William H. Fogg, for alleged slander, was commenced yesterday in the Su- preme Court, circuit, before Judge Leonard, After Mr. ‘Tibbets had givon his own testimony he took his case out of the hands of his counsel and conducted it himself. A number of witnesses were examined, and the marvels of spiritualism and magnetism figured in the evidence with narratives of operations on the Corn Exchange and sketches of life inthe Tombs, The case was adjourned over tll to-day. In the United States District Court, Judge Betts pre- #iding, the United States District Attorney yesterday filed a libel against the prizo steamer Blenheim, an English iron-clad vessel, captured by Adiiral Porter's ficet in New Inlet a short time since. The vessel and cargo are valued at one hundred and fifty thousand doHars. A broker's clerk, named John Gill, was yesterday charged before United States Commissionor Osborne with baving passed a counterfoit fifty doilar Treasury note on a boy, named Michacl Cronin. The Commissioner de- cided that the evidence was not sufficient to hold Mr, Gill, and therefore discharged him. The February term of the Court of General Stasions commenced yesterday, before Recorder Hoffman, who, in charging the Grand Jury, made some Observations upon the duties of jurors and the difficulty experienced by the criminal courts in procuring juries in cases of ‘tageer. Tho examination in the case of Sweeny against Brooks, for an alleged libel, was indefinitely postponed, @ civil suit having been commenced by Mr. Sweeny. a ‘The first volume of Mr. Seward’s diplomatic corres. pondence during the plist year, making nine hundted pages, has been printed, and we have received agynopals of ita contents; but as the subjects discussed—the Alex: andra and Chesspeake casos, the construction of iron- clads for the rebels in England, &c.—have been long since disposed of, We refrain from reproducing the feote an ntated officially. On Monday, the 30th ult., it will be remembered, various occupants of the house No. 464 Washington street suddenly became violently ill, and their symptoms indicated that golson of some kind had been éwallewed by them. Of all those attacked only one, however, @ little girl four years of age, died, Yosterday the Coro- her's investigation of the case was concluded. No ovi- dence of potson having been swallowed in the food or otherwise was adduced, and medical gentlomten and the chemist who made an analysis of .the stomach of do- ceased Wore of the opinion that the sickness was caused by inhaling some iniaam in the apartments, The verdict ‘was in accordance with this opinion. An inquost was held yesterday on the body of Mr. ‘Thomas N, Wallacd, who was crushed to death by a loco. motive-of the New Haven Railroad Company corner of Fourth avenvo and & he was endéavoring to place the adjoining track, A vard rendered. at the le Yelght on a tr of accidental death was neither increasing nor decreasing. For the past three weeks about the same weekly number of deaths from it have been reported. Duritig the week ending on the 23d ult. twenty-six persons died from it; during that ending on the 80th ult. the same number, and during the week ending on the 6th inst, twenty-seven. Burley, the alloged Lake Erie rebel pirate, who is now in custody in Detroit, will, it is said, have his trial in the United States District Court im that city. ‘The government schooner Rachel Seaman, from Boau- fort, N. C., on the 26th ult., arrived here yesterday, hav- ing experienced very rough weather during nearly the entire passage. A tripple murder was committed near the town of Coldwater, Michigan, on Tuesday night last. A man, named David L. Bivins, deliberately killed his wife in order that he might marry s young lady to whom he was engaged, and, being surprised by his father and mother ‘while consummating the act, shot them both, threw the three bodies into the cellar and set the hquse on fire. ‘The murderer was arrested, and confessed the deod in the coolest manner possible. It is presumed that he is insane, The stock market was higher yesterday. Governments ‘were stronger. Gold opened at 212, anid closed at 213%. | The high price of gold yesterday rendered the feeling In commercial circles. baoyant, and the merchants gen- ' erally demanded very full prices for all kinds of commo- | dities. But little was done in foreign merchandise, how- ever; but the sales of domestic goods were fair at full prices. On ’Change the flour market was more active and 6c. higher. Wheat advanced 2o. 8 3c., with more inquiry. Corn and oats were quiet but firm The pork market opened dull and heavy, but closed active and firm. Beef was more active and firmer, while lard was | firmer, with more doing. Whiskey was dull at previous rates. Freights ruled steady but quiet, | The True Origin, History and Result of | the Recent Attempt at Peace. The facts stated in this article are derived from such sources as to entitle them to implicit belief, They are correct beyond the possi- bility of mistake. Old Mr. Blair was induced to make his first pilgrimage to Richmond by the conviction on his own part, and in the minds of the friends at the North who prompted him to under- take the task, that he might be instrumen- tal in hastening peace. But it was entirely ® volunteer mission, undertaken without any authority whatever from the President, and barely with permission to pass through our lines. His cordial reception at Rich- mond, and the friendly treatment which he recefved while there, sténgthoned his confi- dence in his ultimate success. Before he left for home Jefferson Davis addressed to hima letter, expressing a strong desire for peace, and offering to waive all formalities in settling our difficulties on the basis of two govern- ments. The letter was adroitly couched in such terms as, to a hasty, careless reader, might conceal the cloven foot—or cloven government—which, on close inspection, was plainly visible at the bottom of it. It seemed to be a cunning effort to place the odium of continuing an unnecessary war on Mr. Lincoln. Our sagacious President speedily sent Mr. Blair back with assurances that he also was desirous of peace, and, in substance, that, without stickling for technicalities, he would listen to what any messenger might have to say if sent by Jefferson Davis or any other prominent rebel, provided the necessity of preserving our own as the one government of the whole United States were first conceded. Thus far, in this diplomatic game, Mr. Lin- coln had decidedly got the better of Mr. Davis. It would not do for the shaking confederacy to leave the matter thus. The astute Mr. Stephens was called to the aid of Mr. Davis. A long conference was held. It was determined that Mr. Stephens, Judge Campbell and Mr. Hunter should proceed North and try their: joint hand at mending matters, They entered Grant’s Vines on the assurance that they came on the basis of Mr. Lincoln’s instructions to Mr. Blair. But when the President and Mr. Seward meb them, it turned out that all they wanted was an ar- mistice, the consideration of the maintenance of the Union to be put off to a more convenient sea- on, when their stomachs should be full of the fat to be derived from our land and their mili- tary stores replenished. Mr. Lincoln again informed them that the preservation of the Union must be a conditign:: precedent to any other arrangements, and-that he would never consent to but one cessation Of hostilities and that would be the final one. Four “houra of good-natured, civil talk en- sued; ‘but it sll resulted in nothing more than we have already stated. The truth is that the rebels are very hardly pressed by our armies. They see that by the sword they-must perish, and #0 they have sought to save themselves by negotiation and diplo- macy. But in this Mr. Lincoln has shown himself more than a match for them. They have found him amisble and courteous, but firm and inflexible as the everlasting rocks, He has now satisfied the clamorons peace men Of the North, who have pertinaciously insisted that soft words would melt the hearts of the ob- urate rebols, «Talk is of no use, All that re- mains is to fight it out, and the quicker that done the better. - Tag Tatiesr Dirtomat or Mopurn Tres. —Old Abe is not only taller than other men in physi- cal stature, but in diplomacy he towers above all ‘his compeers. He conducts diplomatic matters as Napoleon did war, contrary to the teachings of the schools, but ina way to win. He has shown more ability and skill in this " | little byplay with the rebels than is contained inall the ponderous volumes of Mr. Seward’s Notice was loft at the Coroners’ ollie yostorday tuay ; & Plomatig gqusespondenge bune—More Elbows of the Mincio. It is not every prophet who lives to see his realized long after he has given up the idea of their fulfilment, Many months ago we announced that @ scheme was in contem- making one good newapaper out of two dull journals, Weeks passed and the scheme was not carried into effect. Perbaps the notorious failure of the miscegenation principle when applied to the World and the Cowrier and En- quirer caused this unfortunate but temporary delay. At any rate the ides has been revived, and, if we may judge by the utterances of yes terday’s Tribune, it is now in practical opera- tion. The resulta, as seen in its first develop- ments, are caloulated to delight and bewilder the impartial observer. That erudite, brilliant and logical philosopher, who astonished man- kind with his unequalled essay upon “the elbows of the Mincio formed by the sympathies of youth,” shines like a beautiful star in the combinative galaxy. Glorious as he was in the Times, he i still more of a joy forever in the miscegenated issue of the Tribune. We love to do justice to genius, and we can- not neglect to call especial attention to the depth of thought, felicity of expression, aptness of imagery and logical coherence displayed by the writer of the Tribune’s editorial upon Prussia. The philosopher to whoni we have referred, and who was undoubtedly the author of the editorial above mentioned, ‘evidently felt called upon to surpass himself, and brought all his powers to bear upon the work before him. Let others do as they pleased, he was determined to show the Tribune people that, by miscegenating with the Times, they had gained a writer “of whom,” as Montague Tigg sagely remarked, “none but himself could be the parallel of.” He began his article upon Prussia with a brief, business like statement. “The Prussian Chambers,” said he, “were re- opened by # speech from the throne on the 14th of January.” Then he proceeded to give a synopsis of that speech, and here it is:—“ While expressing a hope that ‘the differ- ences which have arisen within the last few weeks between the government and the Cham- ber of Deputies should be brought to a recon- ciliation, the King again announces what pro- positions they would submit or consider. If they would only (as is asserted) make a dis- union peace, why did the President go down?” That is a question which we cannot answer in this connection, and we have no doubt that the Chamber of Deputies will find it a poser. The cing is evidently too much for the Deputies. They had better give it up, if it be a conun, drum. Let the “differences which have arisen” be what they may, the King has achieved a tremendous moral advantage over every other person in Prussia by asking that startling, that unanswerable, that confounding question, “Why did the President go down?” The Tribune and Times philosopher might have stopped here and been immortal ; but the exuberance of his thoughts prevents. He goes on, therefore, to express his views upon Prus- sian affairs, and he does it in this extraordinary style:—“As we have already remarked,”— where and when not stated—“with especial reference to Mr. Blair’s visits to Richmond, we do not expect peace to be made by any such offhand process as the throwing of a handker- chief” This is excessively clear. It is unquea- tionably intended as a reply to the King of Prussia’s conundrum, “Why did the President go down?” Asa bold, manly and ambitious attempt to solve the royal puzzle, it is entitled, we admit, to our unmitigated admiration. The fact is, however, that we shall have to wait for further advices from Europe before de- ciding whether or’ not it is correct. To us the reply appears as incomprehen- sible as the question, and we decline to grapple with either. The Tribune writer, however, is made of sterner stuff. If that be not the right answer he has another quite as mysterious. “But, now that the Presi- dent has gone down,” he continues, with undi- minished pluck, “to understanding with the Chamber can only be secured by the main- tenance of the organization of the army, which guarantees its military efficiency and conse- quently the security of the country.” Precisely so. We understand that as clearly as we un- derstand the King of Prussia’s previous obser- vations. If the President has gone down to getan understanding with the Chamber, we hope that the King will come over here and get an understanding with the rebels. Recipro- cal courtesies of this kind are not atall unusual among rulers of different nations; but how under the snn did the Times and man find out this singular arrangement? Was it from the same source as that from which he obtained the news of “the recognition intrigue” @ few days ago? It were a waste of time to trace the argu- ment of the learned editor of the Tribune through all its phases. The question, “Why did the President go down?” is evidently on his mind,’as it was on tho mind of the King of Prussia, and he struggles with it through seve- ral columns. When such an intellect as his totters beneath this load, why should we try our feeble strength? He has informed us that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the President went down to get an “understanding with the Chamber,” and we are perfectly wil- ling to take his word for it. But, upona closer ipspection, we find that our philosophical friend has spread himself all over yesterday’s paper, and that, not content with elucidating the rela- tions between the King of Prussia and the rip. he throws considerable light upon. the of Secretary Seward and Fortress Monroe. “Governor Seward,” he declares, “was there a day before him”—meaning the King of Prassia—“had met the Confederates, and mast have known Fortress Monroe to con- fer with three Confederate chiefs.” What new and dreadful plot is here? What right has a United States fortress to confer with three rebel. chiefs? If this sort of thing is to be allowed who knows when our fortresses may surrender themsclves to the rebels?" We thank the 7ribune philosopher for warning us of the alarming danger-of such conferences. It is true that Secretary Seward “must have known” of this conference, and he would probably have interfered to prevent the rebelé getting the better of the fortress in any argument which might ensue; but still Secretary Seward may not always know what is going on, and the Tribune philosopher is right to sound the alarm. The best way for our fortresses to speak to the enemy ts through the mouths of their cannon, and we prefer Grant synopsis of t sia’, speech, with which writer for the amalgamated “Why did the President go down”. ls wonder- fully clever and ingenious; but in pointing out the fact that Fortress Monroe has been confer- ring with three rebel chiefs be hae done the nation a real service, which, we, at least, shall never forget. - The Peace Question—The Issue Before the Rebel Authorities at Richmond. The late peace conference, as we anticipated, was ® dead lock from the beginning to the end, between President Lincoln’s condition prece- dent of a recognition of the supreme authority of the Union, and the rebel sine qua non of an armistice and then the recognition of their southern confederacy. The rebel commission- ers having authority to enter into nego- tiations for” except as the represen- tatives of an independent government, the Executive could do nothing better than to dismies them with his ultimatum and his prom- ises of the most liberal treatment if they would lsy down their arms, give up their hopeless cause of Southern independence, and return to their rightful allegiance, What good, then, has resulted from this im- posing conference if it has left the contending parties in this war precisely as they stood before? This is the question which we are now called to consider. In the first place, however, this late conference, if it has done nothing- else, has done much for the cause of the coun- try in effecting a clear, definite and authori- tative understanding on both sides which did not exist before. In the loyal States, for exam- ple, we have had an active, agitating peace faction at work upon the theory that if the leaders and people of the rebellious States could be assured of their rights under the con- stitution, and that no confisoations and none of the pains and penalties of treason would follow their submission, but that they would be welcoméd back again like the repentant prodi- galson, there would be no difficulty in secur- ing a speedy and enduring peace. Now, this mischievous Northern peace faction is disarmed of its weapons and silenced, for all these assurances of forgiveness, absolution and con- stitutional protection have been offered by President Lincoln to the rebel leaders and their followers, upon tho simple condition of their return te the ark of our common safety, the Union. But, again. The results of this late peace mission will do much in the correction of false impressions among the leaders and followers of the rebellion. There is a peace party among them which has professed to believe that the war might be ended and Southern indepen- dence obtained through the intervention of diplomacy with the “Lincoln governmeni. The leaders of this party in the rebel Congress have been very active of late in behalf of a peace commission to Washington. Now, what- ever may have been the motives of Davis in this late peace experiment, the report of its proceedings will compel these rebel peace agi- tators to define their true position. They have studiously avoided thus far the alternative of reconstruction; but we suspect that they have been all the time looking in this direction. If, . after hearing the reports of Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, a single msn in either house of the rebel Congress shall ihdicate a disposition for peace, we may be sure that the end is near. Otherwise, we may accept the issue of this James river peace.conferance as the signal at Richmond for preparations for the most despe- rate and sanguinary fighting of the war. Assuming that the rebel peace party will be temporarily borne down upon the alternative of independence or subjugation, the Southern war party of fire-eaters, on the other hand, will be despoiled of their venom. by anything like candid report from their peace commission- ers. Against such a report all those imflamma- tory jeremiads ffdm the rabid Southern war jour- nals and orators to their people, that submission to the Union means the seizure of their estates, houses, lands and 1 -:;ovs, the dishonoring of their wives and daugiters, and the horrors of Yankee tyranny and bratality in every shape and form, will lose their force upon the South- ern popular mind. From the experience of the people of Savannah, under the acceptable gov- ernment of General Sferman, the people of all the South willbe: prepared to entertain the promises of Abraham Lincoln’ as comprehend- ing not*their gpoliation and destruction, but their salvation and security with their return to the Union. A proclamation to this end, it has been inti- mated, may shortly be looked for from Presi- dent Lincoln “to all whom it may concern.” That the effect of such a proclamation will be good cannot be doubted. We presume, how- ever, that they are awaiting at Washington the reception of the rebel peace agents and their report at Richmond. The issue of peace or war now resta upon Davis and his confederate rulers. They must prepare for peace on the ‘ultimatum of submission, or for another strug- gle of war from which they can be rescued from swift destruction only by a miracle. The clamors of their war party will probably’pre- vail in favor, at least, of a desperate effort to cut the enveloping combinations of General Grant. The rebel chiefs. may also still cherish the delusion of assistance, in some mysterious way, from Louis Napoleon. They may still hope to keep the field through another year, end that meantine our financial system, in a grand explosion, will bring confusion, exhaus- tion and submission upon the North. Our only safety, at all events, lies in imme- diate and powerful reinforcements to the peace- makers of General Grant. We may reat as oured that, in resolving upon another trial of war, Davis and his confederates will drain all the Southern country within their reach of every man, white and black, capable of bearing arms. It is certain that, defested in this impending supreme struggle, their power for further re- sistance will be utterly destroyed. If Grant shall obtain within two months even a hundred thousand men from the new draft, another month will end the war, from the defeat, disper- sion and dissolution of the last reserves of the rebellion. Grant is biding his time. He awaite his supporting colamns and his expected rein- forcements. Let him have them ; and let this idéa be borne in mind in the good work of rais- ing them, that they are wanted, not to fight for threo years, nor for one year, but to enable us to celebrate the Fourth of July in every city, town and hamlet, from Richmond to the Rio Grande. Lot us at once strengthen the lands of General Grant, and we ghall haye this glori- rathor thay Seward io preside gyop gugh you: 4.0us colebrativa, by the daily newspapers, that papers would be seriously affected, and, per- haps, driven entirely out of circulation. It was true we have made the Wxexiy more than @ mere newspaper. We enrich its columns with literature and art, with music and the drama, with agricuiture and the useful sciences. Being an independent paper, ft did not advance by means of political clubs or party machinery, which give to the partisam journals. a circulation; very large during Presidential other exciting potitical campaigns, and falling toa miserable circnla- tion when the excitement is over. These jour nals are mere campaign documents, and they enjoy only"a similar prosperity. We have done our best to make the increase of the Weexty Herat steady and substantial, but the increase was slow. ‘ About the time of the last Presidential etec- tion, and after ‘it, the Albany Regency and the World, with their affiliated. organs, commenced ® series of terrible attacks on us for some reason or other, we donot know what; whether it was something concerning General McClellan, or some private griefs of their own. Itwasa revival of the old war,ppon us of twenty.or twenty-five years ago, which we have lived d@wa and outlived, and was conducted in the same spirit and in the same language. The World and the Regency were vituperative, malicious, frantic, but not original; the style |} was old and stale, They got all the small papers in the country which affiliate with the Regency to pitch into us, and people began.at last to wonder what it was all about, and they eagerly sought after the Herat to see. All of a sudden we found the subscription to the’ WEEKLY going up immense- ly. We could not account for it at first, be- cause of its suddenness; but now we compre- hend that we owe it to the attacks of the World and the Albany Regency. We have, therefore, struck “ile” at last. The probability is that the WreExiy Heratp will soon have the largest circulation in the world, in return for which we’ confess a deep debt of gratitude to the World and the Albany Regency, which we will never forget. The people havo learned Yhat they might expect a good independent Wessty, in which they could find news, not mere partisanship, and hence it is now fast becoming the paper of the people. Nor are its columns, 4s we sald,” confined entirely to the news of the day and, editorial comment thereupon, but itis a literary and agricultural journal also, both of these de- partments receiving the utmost care to render’ them amusing, instructive and useful to eur: country readers. It is the cheapest paper published im the. world. According to our present rates of ‘subscription—two dollars a year for asingle copy, and a greatly reduced price to clubs of three, five or ten, at the respective rates of five, eight and fifteen dollars a year—there is no comparison between it and any other weekly, journal published on the score of quality and cheapness. While all the other weeklies have ad- vanced their rales from twenty-five to two hundred per cent, the price of the WEExLy HeraLp remaing unchanged. It is printed on elegant paper, manu- factured expressly for it, and on clear type, which can be distinctly read from the first page to the last. Every topic of the day, affecting the interests of every class, is treated fully, in a fair and impartial spirit spirit | The Spring Campaign—Peace Only Through War. The negotiations, if they are entitled to the name, recently carried on in Hampton Roads have suddenly dropped down from the high position they occupied in public thought. Peace once more becomes an insubstantial pageant and fades out of view, leaving on men’s men- tal retine so faint an impression that the very finest of all fine lenses cannot photograph ite features or even indicate their outline. Some of the correspondents still seem to insist that this confétence has ‘not been altogether vain, end adhere to the opinion that it has “opened the door” to s practical arrangement of the national troubles, But, on the other hand, the Secretary of State declares that it was a total failure; and the mist and mystery of the whole business we see all the time the offer of & peace not taken, the very ereot figure of Old Abe holding the “door open,” as he has held it throughout the war, and inviting the enemy to enter on ‘the simplest and easiest of all possible teyms—“lay down your arms.” Those terms have always been accessible, and the fact that the enemy still wants to negotiate is the evidence that he wants better terms; and since the coun- try cannot give better terms, that is the evi- dence that “negotiation” does not mean peace. We state, therefore, that the conference was a failure, and we, sdhere to the we have hitherto put forth, man appeals for peace, but, on the contrary, under one who was desirous at all times to set- and that the con- si Lptessa: 3 & aw hag @ good oliwrnative to (ura ta—Gaenh, e