Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-11-18

tO8C, tuG N WOuiu w VASt0usSAy
cult to institute negotiations between Presidents
Davis and Lincoln, representing as they do the ex
reme men of the two sections and secondly, itw
anprehended that Mr. Davis would not relnquish
Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri and West Virginia
unless required so to do by the sovereign States
1t was not considered material how negotiations on
proper basis were brought about, so the negoda-
lions themselves could be reached. But the Obser-
Der goes further and assumes that the object of the
peace men of North. Carolina was to make peace
on the part Of North Carolina Alone leaving her sis
ter States to wage the war themselves without her
help, and indeed as it would inevitably have result
ed with her help given to the yankees against her
sister States for if North Carolina were to 90 out
Of the Confederacy, she would at once be overrun
by the yankees, and her men forced into the yam
kee army, fight against their Southern brethren"
This statement is also uufounded. The "peace
men," as the Observer calls them, did not propose
that North Carolina should "go out Of the ,Confed-
eracy", On the contrary, they proposed joint &C
ton through the Congress, and by the sovereign
States, in the Confederacy, with view to negotia-
tions. But now mark the language Of the Oh
seroer: '--'--
ITO prevent such disastrous result THAT is,
the secession Of the State selfpreservation would
obiige the Confederate army to take sd hold armed
possession of tie State North. Carolina would
thus become the battle ground of the two hostile
nations and her own sons would be arrayed IN
deadly hostility to each other"
No considerable portion Of our people have even
intimated wish to secede from the Confederacy,
nor SO far as we are concsrned have We entertsin-
ed or advocated such step; but according to the
theory Of our present form Of government the State
has right to secede whenever she may choose to
do so. But the 06ss-oer steps in with the suggcs-
tion-and horrible one it is-that if North Caro-
lima should, in any event. attempt to part company
With her sisters and set up for herself "THs Con-
FEDERATE Army WOULD TAKE AND HOLD ARxED Pos
SESSION" OF her SOIL, AND INACCURATE IN OUR MIDST
CIVIL WAR BETWEEN SOUTHERN MEN Selpreser-
walton on the part of the State is not to be thought
Of says the O6serser when t comes in conflict with
selfpreservaton on the part Of the Confederate
States. Mr.. Davis is to do just what Mr.. Lincoln
is doing-he is to coerce and trample down the
State, on the pretext thst the welfare Of the whole
must not be put jeopardy by the action Of asingle
member. 1t is nothing more nor less than Lincoln
doctrine, and il carried out it would make North
Carolina one vast graveyard. We insist that Mr..
Davis would have right in any eosnt to turn the
Of Confederate soldiers against North Carolina
and the suggestion that he may or will do it coming
from respectable source like the 0bssresr, is well
calculated to excite and alarm our people. Wede-
nounce the suggestion as bloody, nefarious, inhu.
man. fratricidal, and as frsught with woes immune
rable, il ever acted on or carried out. ...~-
But the 06serrer says the Peace Conference of
1851 vas an utter failure, any action Of the States
would be now, though the Conference referred to
"was the spontaneous movement of the people of
all the States, anxious to preserve peace and the
+; Union" Mistaken again. The members Of that
Conference were net chosen by the people, but were
appointed by Governors and Legislatures. A ma
jorty of them were party hacks, committed on one
side to aggression and on the other to disdnion-
This nsjority met not TO make peace but war
Hence their efforts lailed but if tie people had been
allowel 10 elect delegates to national convention,
after full discussion Of the issues, and such body
had met and delibersted all our difficulties would
have been adjusted and we should have had no dis,
union and no war.
The 0bssrrsr next refers to the subject Of the
Confederate debt, and says: -,
But. turning from this subject the Standard
next makes an assault upon the :. avorite scheme"
OF somebody or other that the States shall assume
!ne confederate debt We are not aware that this
ls the favorite scheme Of any body. Some indeed.
and we among the number; would have been elad.
an earlier period Of the struggle see the States