The Peace Conference is like the Senate,--powerless to mature any system of harmony. And the question of enforcing the laws and retaking the forts,--in other words, _of our existence as a Government_,--when presented, must increase the discord. If Mr. Lincoln _stands firm_, I do not doubt that our cause will be saved. All that we hear testifies to his character. _But he is a man._ The heart-burnings and divisions showing themselves in our party a few weeks ago are now less active. Those fatal overtures will fall to the ground. Oh, that they never had been made! God bless you! Ever yours, CHARLES SUMNER. NO SURRENDER OF THE NORTHERN FORTS. SPEECH IN THE SENATE, ON A MASSACHUSETTS PETITION IN FAVOR OF THE CRITTENDEN PROPOSITIONS, FEBRUARY 12, 1861. During weary, anxious weeks, while the Rebellion was preparing, and Senators were leaving their seats to organize hostile governments, Mr. Sumner resisted appeals to speak. An earnest character in Philadelphia wrote to him, January 31st:-- “May we not look to have _you_ speak once more for us,--as a statesman, not as a politician,--as a philanthropist, not as the representative of a prospective Cabinet? Mr. Sumner, you know that Kansas was yesterday admitted. God bless her, and God bless you, to whom under Him she owes her deliverance, and the country owes the turning of the balances _against_ Slavery for all time to come. Now, if the whole country is on the eve of a similar struggle, why should we not know it and act accordingly?” Another zealous friend, writing from Massachusetts on the same day, said:-- “Why do we not hear your voice uplifted, in this critical, this dangerous hour?” It was hard to resist such appeals. But there were good friends, agreeing with Mr. Sumner, who counselled silence. An incident unexpectedly occurred which compelled him to speak, although briefly.