Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-25
Mr.. Cobb, of Alabama, said :

Z j
shall he tell them there is no hopoy He
repeated he had permitted himself to be-
lieve that something could be done that
the States of the Confedcraoy might re-
main together. On the 4th Of February,
the Southern Convention will meet at
Montgomery to form provisional govern
ment. Do not let them take the second
step. He trusted before that time the
whole country would once more be in
possession of peace and happiness. He
appealed to his Northern friends to make
efforts to save the country and now,
gentlemen, one and ALL Republicans,
you have this question in your own
hands, you have the power of settling this
matter before the sun shall set Will
you do it? win you let your President
come into power governing the whole
country, or only part of those which once
belonged to this great Union? | trust
you win do something that peace may
reign that we may not be called to shed
one another's blood"
Mr.. Rust, of Arkansas, said:
"If the Union was to be dissolved
he hoped it would be in such way as
would afford an opportunity for its re-
construction.
Senator Yulec, of Florida, said:
4" He was sure the people of Florida
would never be insensible to the blessings
and advantages of the Union, when di.
rectod to the purpose of establishing jus.
tice, and domestic tranquility and safety.
As last resort, the Peace Confer
ence at Washington was called. Twenty
one States were represented. Some Of
the Northern States refused to send dele
gates, and others nominated their mem
bers Of Congress, the recognized leaders
Of sectional party Tho Conference
failed in its objects, and four States
which had just cast Union majorities,
some Of them very large, saw fit to put
themselves in hostility to the Union
These united with the Southern Consede-
racy already formed, dospairing of eff
fecting any terms Of adjustment JEFF
fersoh Davis was chosen President That
be deprecated war-that his purpose was
/ not 70 assail the Government Of the
UDnaa States, Or to invade her territory,
is declared IN his inaugural message Of
Feb, 18th, in which hs said
" We have vainly eadoayorcd to 50.
cure tranquility and obtain respect for
the rights to which we were entitled.
AS a necessity, not choice, we have re-
sorted to the remedy Of separation. If a
just perception of mutual interest shall
permit us peaceably to pursue our sepa-
rate political career, my most earnest de-
sire will have been fulfilled. But if this
be denied us, and the integrity Of our
territory and jurisdiction be assailed il
will but remain for us with firm resolve
to appeal to arms and invoke the bless
ing Of Providence on just cause"
Vice President Stephens said at Mont.
gomery, in terms equally plain:
"Our policy should be marked by a
desire to preserve and maintain peace
with all States and people. If this can.
not be done, let not the fault lie at our
door. While we should make aggrcs
sions on none, We should be prepared to
repcl those made by others, let them
come from whatever quarter they may.
We ask of others simply to let us alone,
and to be permitted TO look after our
safety, security and happiness in our
own way, without molesting or giving
oGeDse to other people Let then peace,
fraternity and liberal commercial rcla-
tons with all the world, be our motto. "
AT the date Of Mr. Lincoln's inaugu-
ration he found Commissioners from the
Montgomery Government awaiting his
accession to Office, to propose negotiations
for peaceful solution Of the questions
in controversy. The Commissioners were
not officially received, ard their over
lures were Indignantly rejected Fur
Their attempts through Judge Campbell,
failed in like manner. Jefferson Davis,
in his message of April 18th, said:
"We protest solemnly in the face Of
mankind that VIC desire peace at any
sacrifice, save that Of honor aad indepen.
dence we ask no conquest. no aggran-
disement, no concession Of any kind from
the States with which we were lately con-
federated all VIC ask is to be lot alone
that those who never held power over us,
shall not now attempt our subjugation
by arms. This we will, this VIC must
resist to the dircst extremity. The mo-
ment that this preteusion is abandoned,
the sword will drop from our grasp, and
we shall be ready TO enter into treaties
OF amity and commerce that cannot but
be mutually beneficial"
Again, the preamble Of the Act Of the
Confederate Congress, recognizing the
existence Of war between the United
States and the Confederate States, reads
q" Whereas, The earnest efforts made
by this government to establish friendly
relations between the government Of the
United States and the Confederate States,
and to settle all questions Of Disagree
ment between the two governments upon
principles Of right, justice, equity and
good faith, have proved unavailing, by
reason Of tho refusal Of the government
Of the United States to hold any inter-
course with the commissioners appointed
by this government for tho purpose afore-
said, or to listen to any proposal they
had to make for tho peaceful solution Of
all causes Of difficulty between the two
governments"
Afterwards, in his message Of July
20tb, Jefferson Davis distinctly denies