Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-06-17
The Peace Manifesto,

We publish to-day the Peace Manifesto recently
adopted by the Confederate Congress in secret ses
sion, which deserves to be regarded as one of the
important documents Of the day. While we
do not agree with this document as to the origin of
the war So far as the States south of US are con-
cerned yet the picture it presents of the aggressive
conduct of our enemies, and their disregard of all
constitutional restraints in their efforts to subju
gate our people, is founded in strict truth; and the
appeal which is made for peace, going out to them
and to the of Christianzed humanity elsewhere,
is we'll conceived, we'll expressed and cannot fail,
sooner or later, 10 produce good results.
1t is noteworthy fact that the Congress Of the
Confederate States has at length made appeal
for peace This appeal is not only to the world
but to our adversaries themselves The great truth
is at length recognized and acted upon by the Con-
gresS that fighting merely will close the war,
but that negotiation must be resorted to IN ordS
to secure this desirable end. The recognition of
this truth is practical triumph, far as it goes,
Of the views and feelings of the Conservatives CT
Georgia and North Carolina. The voice of the
peace men of these and other States has at last
made itself heard through the Congress at Rich
mond. Twelve months ago, when we commenced
to urge in this paper the adoption of some plan
which would lead to negotiations and treaty of
peace we were assailed and maligned and at length
mobbed OH account of our sentiments. But truth is
mighty and will prevail. We have lived to see the
Congress itself take up the subject, and in an able
dispassionate, and imposing manifesto present an
appeal for peace which cannot fail to interest the
public judgment of the world, and materially in
fuence the result of the pending elections in the
United States Let the good work go on. The
action of Congress may not be all that We desire,
but that which has been done shows disposition
on the part of that body to take some steps stop
the effuson of blood and restore peace to the
try. All that is needed to give increased vgor and
potency to these steps, is the machinery suggested
in the resolutions of the Hon. j. I. Leach, the re-
preventative of the Sd District of this State. Let
the SOgereign States be heard in this mOmentous
business through their Commissioners regularly ap-
pointed, either in Convention or by their Legisa-
lures and let these Commissioners, making common
cause with the Confederate Commissioners, be en-
powered not only to make known condition, feel
ings expectations, and rights to Europe and to the
United States, but agree upon atyefpeace with
federal Commissioners-the treaty to be first ap-
proved by the President and Senate, and then sub
mtted to the people of the States for their approval
or rejection.
Our people, while they win continue to support
the government and while they are ready to spare
every man that can be spared to aid in repeng the
enemy are nevertheless tired and grievousy oppres
sed by this war; They desire tosee itstopped soon
as possible, on just and honorable terms. They be
!ieve it can never be done solely by tighting-that
the North cannot conquer the South, nor the South
the North-that we may fight twelve months or
forty months longer, and lose thousands ofveS and
millions of treasure in addition to these already lost
and still we shall be no nearer the end than We are
uOw-that we may not grow stronger but weaker
with the lapse of time and therefore, taking this
common sense view Of the whole matter, they most
earnestly desire that n0U and not the next month
or the next year-some steps should De taken for
negotiations. The people do not agree with Gov.
Vance that the "ef0rt to obtain pence is the prn-
cipal matter" The principal matter" is peace.
Efforts which may be'made to repress dscontent,
or to deceive the people by empty forms, would re
alike idle and wicked. They demand that their
servants shall be in earnest in this matter, which
involves their property and their very lives, and
the lives of their children; and that the PROPOSE
ton for peace on fair basis should be pre- Sed with
as much ardor, and constantly, and determination
as is shown in the conduct of the itself against
our enemies.