The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-12
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

ference have made report Of their work to Gov
Ellis, which Report We publish in another column.
Geo. Davis, Esq, one of the commissioners, ad-
dressed his fellow-citizens of Wilmington OH the
I'd inst, the subject of the action of the Con-
ference. We find notices of Mr. Davis speech in
the Wilmington Herald and Journal He went
/ to Washington Union man, willing to take Crit
tendens propositions as a settlement, but he came
home a secessionst because he found the Republi-
cans not disposed to make fair settlement Five
distinct times they voted down the vital principle
of Crttenden's resolutions and refused to acknow-
ledge property in slaves.
Mr. Davis said he was opposed to the fifth Sec
ton of the compromse-that prohibiting the i'm
portation of slaves-because according to the con-
struction put upon it by the Republicans, IA man
might be held guilty of piracy for removing a
slave from South Carolina or any other State of
the southern Confederacy into North Carolina.
He said the object of the last sentence of the 7th
section-viz: Congress shall provide by lazy for
securing to the citizens of each State the privi-
leges and immunities of citizeus ia the several
States, was to allow northern free negroes to
come to amy southern State and there claim and
exercise all the rights of citizenship. The Re-
pubcans refused to make the clause read Stree
tchue citizens' instead of "the citizens" One of
the Massachusetts commissioners, in reply to a
question of Mr. Davis, said that he would insist
that a free negro of the North, coming to North
Carolina, should have all the privileges and i'm
munites of citizenship.
MIR Davis concluded his speech by declaring that
the South could never obtain any better terms
while she remains i'll the present Union and for his
part he would assent to the terms adopted
by the Peace Conterence-they not in
cordauce with the honor or interests Of the South.
The South must 60 with the South, and not with
any new-tanglecr Central Republic, or as the tail
end and victim of tree-soil North.
Much respect is due Mr. Davis vews-he was
for time opposed to secession, and was chosen
commissioner by the Legislature account Of
his conservatism and moderation.
Gov. Naturalization John NJ Morehead,
another one of the Commissioners from this State,
has also expressed his opinion of the action of the
Peace Conference and we deem it but just that
our readers should know what his views We
copy from theGreensboro Patriot the following:
Hon. JOHN NJ MoREHEAD. The Peace Conference
having finished their aboTS and having adjourned Gov
Morehead reached home on Saturday evening the I'd.
The Governor found i'll waiting at the station
ious crowd desiring to know what had been done, and
what the prospect for peace In order to lmpart
this information i'll the satisfactory manner to ALL
GOV. Morehcad repaired at the Court House,
which was i'll short time nearly filled. Having been
travelling all day, the Governor declined making a
speech but taking the bench where ali could
see and hear, he proceeded in a way
detail briefly, what had taken place in the Peace Con-
ference 1t composed he said of some of the
distinguished men OF the nation. Many of them quite
old feeble; and who had retired from public life.
committee of one from each State appointed at
the beginning of their session prepare business
Hon. Thomas Ruffin this committee from North
Carolina In this commit eethe Governor said, there
was much able debating Che Governor spoke in the
highest terms of Mr. Ruin; that he exerted great ii"
not greater influence than any other member of the
Conference; that he did how they could have
got along without Judge RuHin. That the Conference
was composed of great many distinguished lawyers
all of whom Mr. Rufin was known by reputation
having served long Chief Justice of our Supreme
CourA The Governor said that when they first met
neither New York nor Massachusetts represented
and that every thing went tremendously until the
delegates from those States took their seats; that
soon the members from New York and Massachu-
came, that they commenced throwing fire brands
among them. New York had nine delegates, FIVE of
whom. seemed determined to oppose all compromise
but that the other four disposed to bring about
adju That the four Union delegates dared
the other five submit the matter the people of New
jorty. When the final voting came, the of New
York cast either way of the ant-compro
mise delegates for other present
which made tie and the of the State was not
cast.
Rhole Island said the Governor, stood by the South
from the beginning So did New Jersey The delegates
from Ohio, headed by Thomas Ewing very
sentative and did all they could to bring about add
ustment That the vote of North Carolina cast
against the proposition passed, but that Mr. Ruffn,
and he, Mr. Morehead, voted for them. The Gov thinks
that the South should be satisfied with the plan
adopted and that it is every thing had any
hope for. He did not think that the present Con-
gresS the time short, and as much bad
feeling had been gotten up would be able to carry the
plan through. The Gov. however seemed quite
guinc that time would bring all things right but that
if nothing could be done that the border slave
together with the border free states, would form
Constitution for themselves and take possession of the
United States That they would never go out of the
Union, but would stay in the Union hold on to the
Capitol and Mounts Vernon, and let the New England
States slough off.
GENERAL TwIGGs-The following is the order
of the Secretary of War, dismssing Gen. Twiggs
from the U. S. Army for surrendering the Federal
property under his care in Texas to the Texan