Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1864-06-09

HABEAs CoRPUs-Gov. VANCE to
President DAVIS.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Executive Dept, Raleigh, Feb. 9, '64.
His Excellency, JEFFERSON DAVIS
My DEAR SIR Since receiving your
letter OF the 9Th ult, to which it was my
intention to have replied before this, re-
ports have reached me from Richmond,
which, if true, would render my reply un-
necessary. hear, with deep regret, that
bill is certainly expected to pass the
Congress, suspending the writ OF habeas
corpus, throughout the Confederacy, and
that certain arrests will Immediately be
made in North Carolina. OF course, if
Con gress and your Excellency be resolved
upon this, as the only means of repressing
clsatfection in this State, it wonld be
mere waste Of time for me to argue the
matter. And yet should not hold my
self guil.less of the consequences which
tear will follow, did l not add yet another
word Of expostulation to the many | nave
already spoken. 1t the bill referred to,
about which [ can form no opinion until
see it, be strictly within the limits OF the
Constitution, I imagine the people OF this
State will submit to it-so great is their
regard for law. If it is adjudged, on the
Contrary, to be in violation OF that Instru-
ment and revolutionary in itself. it Will be
resisted. Should it become law soon,
earnestly advise you to be chary of exer
cising the powers with which it did invest
you. Be content to try at least for while,
the moral effect of holding this power over
the heads OF discontented luen before
shocking all worshippers of the common
law throughout the world, by hurling
treemen into sheriffiess dungeons for opin-
ION sake. | do rot speak this tactiously,
or by way of flourish. Nor do believe
that as an enlightened lawyer, and a chris
tlan statesman, you could feel any pleas
ure in the performance Of such an ungra-
cious task. | am, on the contrary, con-
vinced that you believe it to be the only
way to secnre North Carolina in the per
formance OF her obligations to her Confed-
crates The misfortune of this belief is
yours, tile shame will light upon those
un worthy sons who have thus sought to
stab their mother because she cast them off.
If our citizens are left untouched by the
arm of military violence, do MOI de-
spair OF an appeal to The reason and pat
riiotism Of the people at the ballot box.
Hundreds OF good and true men now act
ing with, aud possessing the confidence
OF the party called conservatives, are at
work against the dangerous movements
for . Convention and whilst civil law
remains intact will work zealouslyr and
with heart. / expect myself to take the
field % soon as the proprieties' OF my Po-.
sition will allow me aud shall exert every
effort TO restrain the revolutionary ten
dency of public opinion. Never, yet, sir,
have the people Of North Carolina refused
70 listen. I'd their public men If they show
right and reason on their side. / do not
fear to trust. the issue now to these potent
= weapons in the hands of such men as will
WELD them next GUNNER. I do fear TO
trust bayonets and dungeons. endeay-
ored soon after my accession to tae thief
Magistfacy' of North Carolina, to make
you aware OF both the fact of disaHection
in this State and the cause of It,. In addi-
i ton to the many letters to you, / have
twice visited Richmond, expressly to give
q you Information on, this point. The truth
is, a have often said before, that the
great body of our people have been s4s-
pectcd by, their government, perhape be-
'canse of the reluctance with which they
3 g ase.ao the old uaipn !. and ..l ! know you