The Richmond Whig some time ago predicted that the fall of Vicksburg would bring a political as well as military crisis in the confederacy, and that there would then be a clamor for peace. It is clear that Davis must now abandon the Southwest, and that the entire defeat of Lee would compel his retirement from Virginia. But Rosecrans sits at the gate of his interior mountain region, where he threatened to retire and fight, to the last man, when defeated elsewhere. The question with him now is likely to be, Where can I go? Not only is be losing his strongholds and incurring defeat on all hands, but there is disaffection in North Carolina, in Texas and elsewhere, and his subjects are beginning to remind him significantly of their right to withdraw from the confederate concert when they choose—the doctrine which is the very shaky corner stone of his political edifice. In connection with these signs and omens there has been a mysterious attempt at negotiation by the rebel leaders. The confederate vice president, Alexander Stephens, who never had any faith in the rebellion nor love for its leaders, attempted on the fourth to get to Washington under a flag of truce, with & letter from Davis, containing an important proposition. This extraordinary attempt was repulsed. The president very properly declined to receive the distinguished messenger of Davis, and sent word back that his communication could be forwarded in the usual way. But Stephens and his fig of truce had started back up the James river, as mysteriously as it came, before the reply of the president had reached Fortress Monroe. Perhaps Stephens heard of Lee’s repulse for the first time, in Hampton Roads, and thought it no time for such negotiations as he had been entrusted with, the nature of which is a theme for shrewd guessing, and likely to remain so for some time to come.
Springfield Weekly Republican, Springfield, MA
