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THE G u u rrit Y MAH.
94
TJBNWOLl), GA. } FEBRUARY 14, 1865.
Peace Negotiations.
“ Richmond, Feb. 5.—The commission
ers returned from Fortress Monroe, last
night.
They had an interview with Lincoln,
*nd Seward, and were informed, substan
tially, that peace could only be obtained
by unconditional submission to the consti
tution, and laws of the United States;
and that the slavery question had been
disposed of, by the action of the federal
congress, adopting the proposed amend
ment to the constitution, abob -lying slave
ry in the United States.
It is understood that an Ylflicial state
ment, from the commissioners, will be
laid before congress, tomorrow.”
The above is the report which the tele
graph makes of the denouement of the
peace negotiations. These, it would seem,
from the above, are suddenly cut short.
Lincoln’s conduct admits of two con
structions—one that he means to subju
gate us at all hazards—the other, that ho
intends to drive off the union men,
south, with all their union plans, at
all hazards. The latter may be the
true solution of his conduct. We hardly
think the peace negotiations are at an end.
Lincoln may only intend to show us that
we can have no union with his empire, as
slave-holding states. It may then be his
purpose to recognize us, and seek a treaty
with us. It is very certain that the abo
litionists do not want a union with men
who will unite with the northern demo
crats, all the while, in voting them out of
power.
The southern people have gone upon
the idea, lately, that Lincoln, in inaugu
rating negotiation, was moved to it, by
European pressure. If this view of the
case be right, then peace negotiations are
not at an end, but Lincoln only intended
to show the southern people that he
would have no union with slave-hold
ers, and will proceed to recognize
our government, provided he cannot find
abolition tories enough at the south, to sus
tain his policy among us.
But perhaps the southern people are
wrong, in supposing that Lincoln propos
ed to negotiate, on account of European
pressure. Perhaps it was only a grand
stretch of yankee generosity, which, im
agining us conquered, invited our commis
sioners to come up, and take the yoke up
on them easily, instead of waiting to havo
it affixed by further force. Perhaps they
thought we would be very thankful to
them, for allowing us to take the yoke
meekly, instead of trampling us under
foot, as they placed it upon us.
Time, only, can show which of these
two views is the correct one.
Of one thing, we are certain : If the
; late interview between Stephens. & Co.,
j and Lincoln, & Co., shall have succeeded
j in convincing the latter that the former
are true-hearted southerners, and will re
sist degradation to the death, then we
may yet expect success for the southern
cause. But if Lincoln becomes more than
ever imbued with the belief that Stephens
and Brown are prepared to submit, then
we shall pass under the yoke. For if Pr.
Davis, besides fighting the hordes of yan-
keedoni, and Europe, for independence,
has, also, to fight the influence of the
Stephens’s, and the Browns, and such
yankee editors as control the Chronicle &
Sentinel, then southern patriots would do
well to prepare, at once, for the halter-
Our own neck is ready for the noose, if
the time has come when yankee tyrants
can command southern executioners.
We speak bitterly, because we feel bit
terly. We know, very well, ihat if our
young nation is in a strait, the hand of
treason, and of faction, has done the
work.
We await, with impatience, the conduct
of Stephens, and Brown, and Toombs.
God grant that they maybe Washingtons,
and Henrys, instead of Catalines, and
Arnolds. If they prove the former, no
heart shall swell with bigger gratitude,
than ours. If they turn out the latter,,
then, thank God, our bosom can diaw as
deep a curse, as that of any other hum
ble patriot.
The Editors’ Hats.
We would inform our editorial brethren that
We have completed the lot of hats designed for
them, and if'it be true that we are soon to have
the express running to Eatonton again,, we cau
send them off, at an early day. We hope*
therefore, that every Georgia editor, who has
published our advertisement, will send us the
size of his head, immediately, if he haa not
already done so.
We have been delayed in making the hats,
owing to the difficulty of procuring fur, since
the invasion.
Cut off from all railroad communication, and
with our mules all stolen, we were not able to
procure such trimmings as we would have pre
ferred, for the hats. We have done the best we
couid, under the circumstances. And we havo
no doubt our brethren will excuse any short
comings, when they know our surroundings-
fn addition to other difficulties, we had our best
hatter taken off bv the yankees. With the ex
ception of oue whito man, we have, from the
beginning, worked only corn-field negroes in
our shop.
‘Life is a beautiful night, in which,
as some stars go down, others rise.’
No Mails.
We have had no regular mail to Eatontou,
since the yankee invasion. A gentleman, in
Mauison, has a contract for delivering a daily
mail in our village, but seems to have no no
tion, whatever, of complying with hia contract.
He brings us a mail, when he wishes to do so,
and when he does not, he lets it alone. Yet,
we presume, when he calls for pay, he will
want no reduction made for his remissness.
The people of Eatonton ought to hold a meet
ing, and bring this matterto the attention of
the authorities : and especially should they see
to it that the mail contractor do not get pay for
what he does not do.
Charleston, Jan. 27.—“A yan-
kee gunboat got aground, in the Com-
bailee, yesterday. Our batterries
opened upon, and set her on fire. She
was burned to the water’s edge. All
the crew escaped, except a lieutenant,
and five men.
The prisoners brought to the city,
today, report the monitor sunk off
Sulivan’s Island, recently, by a tor
pedo, was the Patahaho, and only
five out of three hundred of the cr.ew
were saved. All the rest drowned.
Nothing important from below.”
Charleston, Feb. 5.—“ On friday
afternoon, the enemy crossed the
Salkahatchie, between Broxton’s, and
Rivers’ bridges, -also above Rivers’
bridge 1 , outflanking our forces, who
fell back to another position. A
sharp fight took place, lasting sever
al hours, at Rivers’ bridge. (Jen.
Wheeler checked, and damaged the
enemy considerably.
There were no other movements of
importance.”
From the Front.—The Augusta
Constitutionalist, of the 7th, has the
following:
‘We have no intelligence, of inter
est, fiotn the South Carolina front, this
morning. The trains hence to Charles
ton, and Columbia, have been stop
ped by the authorities, though the
road is yet intact.
The following despatch from Maj.
Burford, a gallant and well-informed
officer, of (Jen. Beauregard’s staff, will
be read with pleasure :
‘Midway, February 5.
To D. A. Murphy :
No dangei for Augusta. Sherman
striking for Charleston, and Branch-
ville. E. J. Burford.’ ’
The Independent Press.—This
is a new paper, lately staited in Ea
tonton, Ga., by J. A. Turner, Esq.
It is devoted to literature, politics,
religion, and agriculture. In politics,
it is democratic. It is a large, and
handsomely printed sheet, and we
wish its proprietor success. Terms,
$2 a year.— Cassvillc Standard, 1854