Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/348

340 If he does, it seems to me our true policy is not to make such development, or receive commissioners unless they come duly accredited to make peace, and in that event to demand their conditions and respond to them without suggesting ours. It is well enough to let the North and European nations believe that reconstruction is not impossible. It will enflame the spirit of peace in the North and will encourage the disposition of England and France to recognize and treat with us.

Most of our true friends from the Chicago Convention whom I saw, thought it would be very unwise in the South to do anything tending to the defeat of McClellan. They argued thus: "Peace may be made with him on terms you will accept. At all events he is committed by the platform to cease hostilities and to try negotiations. That is a great concession from him and the war Democracy. An armistice will inevitably result in peace—the war cannot be renewed if once stopped, even for a short time. The North is satisfied that war cannot restore the Union, and will destroy their own liberties and independence if prosecuted much longer.

"If McClellan be elected, the real indebtedness of the Government will be exposed, for his own sake and to damn the Republicans. The war must stop when that is known." (Judge Black says it is not now less than five thousand millions, and such is the common opinion expressed to me).

"Again, your showing a preference for McClellan will aid him, Increase the desire and disposition for peace in the North, and will foster the revolutionary spirit in the Northwest in case of Lincoln's election—which may be effected by force or fraud."

The platform means peace, unconditionally; Vallandigham and Weller framed it. It is recognized as satisfactory by nearly all the delegates at the Convention and by the New York News and other peace papers. McClellan will be under the control of the true peace men. Horatio or T. H. Seymour is to be Secretary of State; Vallandigham Secretary of War. McClellan is privately pledged to make peace even at the expense of separation, if the South can not be induced to reconstruct any common government.

They also assure me that the speeches and the prevailing sentiment of the people at Chicago were for peace, unconditionally, and this was the impression of the escaped prisoners there—of whom there were near seventy—with whom I have conversed. They say McClellan was nominated for his availability.