The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-02

are row ready to admit that il would have bee
far better for u 10 have accepted the terms o
fered to u and preserved peace and the Union
than TO have plunged this once happy countr
into the horrors Of this desolatns war. whic
has spread a pail over the whole lsud-ha
brought mourning into every iamily-nas ren
dsred hundreds OF thousands Of besrthstone
desolAte-has filed the land with mained al,
disabled, Niih Wid - and orphans aud sqnah,
pOverty-has cf0wded our poOrho4>es and aims
hOuses-nas sporteG a~sy hundreds of Thousand
of lives and many hundreds OF millions OF treas
ure only 10 hud the institution for which shel
profess 20 have goae to the war, in d Thousand
times greater jeopardy than ever before.
Such being the condition info which they hav,
brought the country. the question presents IL.
self :. l. there auy remedys" A fall. compleI,
and adequate remedy, there is not; for what Cal
restore the loved ones ost-repair al once The
desolation, or remOve Immediately the mourning
from our land, Yet there i a remedy, which
with the energy that usually follows desOatine :
wars, Will perhaps, remove most OF its traces IN
half ceuturS This refueGy l. PEACE. speedy
peace But they say that we are 50 situated
that no proposition for peace eau be made by us
that having proclaimed our independence we
must fight until it s voluntarily acknOw ledged
by the United States, or until we are completely
subiugated. On the meeting Of the British Par
lament, which took place on the 18th of De
cember, 1872, the King in his speech 10 the two
Houses intmated his intention OF going to war
with the French Republic On moving the sd-
dress in answer TO the speech, memorable de
bate arose. On this occasion, Chas. JAS. Fox
delivered one OF those powerful speeches which
have made his name immOrta-Which have for
ever stamped him as the ablest OF British deba-
tiers and the first OF British statesmen. IN the
course Of that speech he said: But We nov
disdain to negotiate. Why, Because we have
no minister at Paris. Why have we 10 minister
theres Because France is Republic And so
we are to paw in blood and treasure OF the peO
pie for a pUnctiiO The road Of com
mon sense is simple plain and direct. That OF
pride and Duncti{iO is as tangled as il is serpen
tine" In the impsssoned language OF Mr. Fox
l would ask, are we to pay in blood and treasure
OF the people for psnctjlioY Shall We pursue
the path ofprde and punctilio, which is as tangled
as it is serpentine, or shall We take the simple
plain and direct road OF common sense, which
NAV lead 10 the hsppiest results? FOur-6fths
of the people Of that portion OF North Carolina
bordering for many miles on the Yadkin River
and believe OF the whole State, are in favor OF
the latter course.
The one great demand Of the people of this
part of the State is peace; peace upon any terms
that will not enslave snd degrade Us. They may,
perhaps, prefer that the independence of the
South should be acknowledged, but this they be-
lieve cannot now be obtained, Ror in viewing the
situation of Affairs, 10 they much to hope
for in the future. They naturally ask, if with
no means OF recruiting to any extent, we cannot
hold out eur own against the armies which the
Yankees have now in the field, how can We
meet them with their 500, 900 new levies which
will soon be in readiness, while they can keep
their army recruited to great extent, if not up
to its maximum number, from adventures
which are constantly arriving in their ports
from every country III EurOpeg But if inde-
pendence cannot be obtained, then they are for
any terms that are honorable-any terms that do
not degrade us. They would be willing to com
promise upon the amendment proposed by Mr.
COrwin from the Committee OF Twentg-sx
Slavery in the States, to which |
have before alluded But in what precise way
overtures shall be made. or the movement inAu
gursted, | leave to wiser men and abler states
men than myself to propose. | would, however
suggest to the people TO elect members to the
next Congress who are in favor of an armstice
of sx menths and in the meantime, OF submit
mitting all matters in dispute to convention of
delegates from all the States North AMI South
the delegates to be elected BIZ the people them
seiVes, il such a manner as NAV be agreed upon
by the two parties. Others there are, who de
sire that the people of North Clrolina should be
consulted in the their sovereign capacity through
a convention-that the Legislature should sub
nit the question of Convention or no COnven
ton" to the people as was done in February,
1861. Such a convention would undoubtedly
speak the sentiments of the people Of the State
citizens as well as soldiers, as all would be con-
suited. But propose nothing definite, and on
ly make these suggestions to bring the matter
before the public. l would, however, most
earnestly appeal 10 the friends of humanity
throughout the State to use their utmost efforts
to procure as speedily as possible an honorable
peace. In the name Of reason, of suffering hu-
manity, and of the religion which we profess,
would | appeal to the public men and statesmen
of North Carolina, and especially to that emin-
ent statesman who possesses in greater degree
than all others the confidence of the people OF
the State, and who has been recently elevated
to high place in the Confederate Government,
to lend helping hand and use their influence
10 bring about an honorable peace. And, lastly,
/ would appeal TO the ministers and professors
of our holy religion to pray constantly-wthout
dictation of terms-to Almighty God fer an hon
orable peace.
Having but recently occupied large space in
your columns, feel that l am intruding, and
will, therefore, after expressing nv obligations
to you, close for the present.
DAVIDSON.
CLNoSsrvILLE, \. c. July ls, 1868.