Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-06
FROM THE SOUTE.
Peace ons-Corresponoence 4
tween jeff Davis and Gov. Vance,


tween jeff Davis and Gov. Vance.
The Petersburg Express under date OF IEay
25, l-6f. publishes correspondent ce relative TO
peace propositions which passed oe.1e ca
Gov. Vance and jeff Davis.
Coy. Tance's letter is dated December BIB,
1863, and says after a careful con- nsidera.ioa
of all the sources Of dis COZ tent in NORTH O D.
lima, have concluded that it will be irapcs.t-
BILE to remove it except by making soros ef st
at negotiation with the enemy. The recent ae-
tion Of The Federal Honse of RepreseIta,iy -
the public hope that the Northern mind is took
ing towards peace. And, although our posi-
tion is we'll known as demandipg only - be let
alone, yet it seems to me that for tho SAX, OF
humanity, without having any weak or ~
proper motives attributed to US, Wa mig At
with propriety, constantly tender uego,iGsSoss
Though statesmen might regard this as useless,
the people will not, and think our cause !, III
be strengthened thereby. have not sugas.. d
the method of these negotiations or their ter-as.
The effort to obtain peace is the principal IL y
ter"
Davis replied on the sth OF January, ead
after acknowledging the receipt OF The letter.
and of similar propositions heretofore the .et''r
says:
"Apart from insuperable objections % ihs
line OF policy you propose (and 70 which VII
presently advert) cannot see how the Ia ors
material obstacles are to be surmounted. We
have made three distinct efforts to comrnani.
cate with the authorities at Washington, aaI
have been invariably unsuccessful. Dcnlu1.s-
sioners were sent tefore hostilitie5 were begIl,
and the Washington Government refased 70,
receive them or hear what they had to say \
second time l sent military officer w:ti 4
communication addressed by myself to Presi-
dent Lincoln. The letter was received by
General Scott, who did not permit lie officer 10.
see Mr.. Lincoln, but promised that an neweY
would be sent. No answer has ever Teen
received The third time, few months Ago, q
gentleman was sent, whose position, character
and reputation were such as to insure lis
reception, If the enemy were not determine to
receive no proposals whatever trom the Gov,
Vice President Stephens made patriotic e D.
der OF his services in the hope or being aba TO
promote the cause Of humanity, and although
little belief was entertained of his success
cheerfully yielded to his suggestion, that the
experiment should be tried. The enemy re-
fused to let him pass through their lines or TO
hold any conference with them. Ho was
stopped before he ever reached Fortress Moa-
roe, on his way to Washington. To attempt
again (in the face OF these repeated rejeetons
of all conference with u.s. to send comm isstoa-
ers or agents to propose peace, Is to invite Ia
suit or contumely, and to subject sureelYes to,
indignity without the slightest chance CT being
No true citizen, no man who has our caase
at heart, can desire this, and the good people
Of North Carolina would be the last 70 ap-
prove Of such an attempt, il aware Of ~ he
facts II then, these proposals cannot oe made
through ENJOYS because the enemy woull not
receive them, how is it possible to compi11k
public announcement contained in almost
every message ever sent to Congress
cannot recall at this time one instar % In
which have failed to announce that our only
desire was peace, and the only term. wh,ch
formed q sine qua non were precisely those that
you suggested, namely: "a demand only % 90
let alone" But suppose IL were practicable
to obtain a conference through commissioners
with the Government of President Lincoln, ts
it at this moment tina; we are to con slider it de-
sirable or even at all admissible Have We
not just been apprised by that despct that we
can only expecthis gracious pardon by eman-
cipating all our slaves, swearing allegiance.
and obedience to him and his procamst;on,
and becoming, in point OF fact, the slaves CT
our own negroes2 Can there De "a Hoftn Caf-
olina one citizen so fallen bene6th tas dignity
of his ancestors as to accept, or 20 enter into
conference ON the basis OF these terms That
there are a few traitors in the State who would
be willing 10 betray their fellow.citizens q
snch a degraded condition, in hope OF being
Rewarded, for treachery by AIN escape fror1 tho
common DOOM, may be true. Butt do not De-.
lisye fn at the vilest wretch would accept such
terms for himself Vf
/ fear much from the tenor Of the news rs-.
ceive from North Carolina that an attecc %
will be n ade by some bad men TO inaugurata
movements which must be eonsideret 40
equivalent to aid and comfort tbs enemy, add 1
which all patriots should combine topus down p
at any cost. You may count on my aid In
every effort to spare your state the ecAnes OK
civil warfare which will devasate its homes
il the designs of these traitors be suffered to
m ka hpadIrav