Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-07-20
Propositions for Peace.

Others, that every effort has been made by Presi
dent Davis to pave the way to negotiations TO:
peace. It is stated, FIRST that the Montgomery gov
eminent sent Commissioners to Mr.. Buchans n, nd
that he refused to treat with them secondly, that
Z letter was written with this view by President
Davis to President Lincoln, about the time of the
first battle of Manassas: and that the letter en-.
trusted to the hands of Gen. Scott was never re-
piled to; and thirdly, that Mr.. Davis made an effort
in 1868, through Vice President Stephens to treat
for peace. The first and second statements We
dismiss unworthy of serious consideration. Even
if they amounted TO anything at the time, the main
thought then was s0ar, and the peace feeling, now
70 deepsested and widespread in both sections was
very feeble.
But Whist IF tho third statement, 1t is asserted
that President Davis made effort III 1863, through
Mr.. Stephens, to treat for peace. We deny it. We
give below in full the letter Of Mr.. Davis to Mr.
Stephens on the occasion referred to-
RICHMOND, I'd July, 1868.
Hon. A. q. Stephens, Richmond, Va.
Sir:-Having accepted your patriotic offer to
proceed IS Military Commissioner, under flag of
truce, to Washington, you will receive herewith
your letter of authority to the Commander in Chief
Of the Army and Navy of the United States.
This letter is signed by me, as COMMANDMENT.
Chief of the Confederate land and naval forces.
You will perceive from the terms of the letter
that it is 80 worded as to avoid any political diff
culties in its reception. Intended exclusively as
one of those communications between belligerents
which public law recognizes as necessary and prop
er between hostile forces, care hes been taken tc
give no pretsxt for refusing to receive it on the
ground that it would involve tacit recognition of
the independence Of the Confederscy.
Your mission is simply one of humanity, and has
no political aspect
If objection is made to receiving your letter on
the ground that it is not addressed to Abraham
Lincoln, as Presidsnt, instead of COMMANDMENT.
Chief &C., then you will present the duplicate let
ter which is addressed to him, as President and
signed by me, Is President 10 this latter, object
ion may DO INSIDE on the ground that am not rec
ognized to be President of the Confederacy In this
event. you will decline any further attempt to con.
fer the subject Of your mission, as such confer
enee is admissible only on the footing of perfect
equality.
My recent interviews with you have put you SO
fully in possession of my views that it is scarcely
necessary to give you any detailed instructions,
even were /, at this moment well enough attempt il.
Ny whole purpose u.s. in one word, to place this
war on the footing of such as are waged by civil
lied people in modern times, and to dvest it of
tho savage character which has been impressed
on it it by our enemies in spite of all efforts
horrors under all its its aspects, to justify, and
even to demand, Of any Christian rulers who may
be unhappiy engaged in carrying it on, to seek to
restrict its calamites and to divest it of all un-
necessary severitiea You will endeavor to es-
tablish the cartel for the exchange Of prisoners
on such basis as to avoid the constant difficult
ties and complaints which arise, and to prevent,
Al .I.k- r
Of our enemies in the delivery of the prisoners
who fall into their hands in retarding it by send.
ing them on circuitous routes, and by OBTAINING
them sometimes for months, in camps and prisons,
and in persistng in taking captive non combatants
Your attention is also called to the unheard of
conduct of Federal officers in driving from their
homes entire communities of women and children.
KS we'll IS Of men, whom they find in districts oc.
cupied by their troops, for no other reason than
because these unfortunates are faithful to the al
egiance due to their States and refuse to take an
oath of fidelity to their enemies
Tho putting to death of unarmed prisoners has
been ground of just complaint in more than one
instance, and the recent execution of officers of
our army in Kentucky, for the sole cause that
they were engaged in recruiting serylce,in State
which is claimed as still one of the United States,
but is also claimed BY US as one of the Confede.
rate States, must be depressed by retaliation if not
tfy the like execution in every other State of the
Confederacy, and the practice is barbarous USE
lessly cruel and can only lead to the slaughter of
prisoners on both Sides result too horrible to
contemplate without making an effort to avoid it.
On these and all kindred subjects you will con-
slider your authority full and ample to make such
arrangements as will temper the present cruel char
acter of the contest, and full confidence is placed
in your judgment patriotism, and discretion, that
UhS ia kka III ooc
will take care that the equal rights of the Confed
eEacy be always preserved
Very respectfully,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
There ID no allusion to peace in this letter. On
the contrary, Mr.. Davis distinctly informs Mr.
Stephens that his mission has no political aspect"
The letter of Mr. Davis is all war, and no peace
He says he wants to place "the war" on proper
footing but not one word about peace Read the
letter carefully, and then say if we are not correct
in our Interpretation of it.
The mission of Mr.. Stephens failed and why p
Because We already had Commissioner on the
subject Of exchange of prisoners, and the federal
government refused to confer with another or new
Commissioner. All, but We are told it was the o5-
jeet Of Mr.. Davis, if he could have got hearing
for Mr.. Stephens to treat for peace. Then why
was not the object avowedi Why propose one OBJ
jeet with another in viewi We hold that nations
in their intercourse as much bound to be candid as
individuals If government has an object in view,
and if the object be good one this occasion,
it can lose nothing by avowing it Was it pride
We will not say wicked human pride-that kept
Mr. Davis from openly avowing what his object
VAST VAST TO be expected that the federal govern
ment could be trieked into negotiationsr Again,
Dr. Leach, Of this State at the last session Of
Congress- Introduced resolutions looking to peace,
which, if they had been adopted, would certainly,
IN our opinion, have opened the way to negotia.
tons. But they were rejected by Mr.. Davis's !
friends They would listen tn no plan which looked