The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-09-27
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

The-Hon. II. S. Foote [the impetuous and trou-
blosomo man who so often makes great noise
about pothing) has written a long letter to Rich
mond paper in regard to peace negotiations, sug-
estino that the South ought to consent to go into
q Convention of all the States for the purpose Of
discussing terms of peace To this letter the Hon.
James Lyons, of Richmond, replies, objecting to
Mr.. Foote's plan, and proposing another. Mr.
Lyons says:
awe can never enter into such Convention,
but this we may do. Let the States on each side
appoint deputies to separate (tWo) Conventions,
which should meet in Baltimore or Montreal, or
even New York, with proper guarantees, and let
them confer as to the peace, and report their con-
illusions to the Congress and the Executive of the
respective Governments. To accomplish this
would take some time, and, therefore, there should
be an immediate armistce of two years, during
which all armies should be Withdrawn from the
fcid, the men permitted to visit their homes, and
all blockading vessels from the seaports. All pr-
soners should be exchanged, and both parties for
hidden to make any preparation for war; or botA
left at liberty to make such preparations during
the armstice If the negotiation fails, each party
to re-occupy, without resistance, the points held
when the armstice commenced If | rec0licct
Alright, an armistice Of this description occurred
once or oftcner in the vars between England and
Scotland, because, suppose, Of the previous init
mate relations and connexions of the two people,
their proximity to each other, and the peculiar po-
stion Of the points occupied. All these reasons
apply with peculiar force to our cause. 1t would
be impossible to keep an army, for instance, where
Grants army u.s. in state of idleness without the
country becoming infested with bauditti, and it
would be most unjust and unreasonable to keep the
rivers and sea ports blockaded during the whole
time consumed in negotiation, which, from the pc
cuar nature of our institutions, must be unusual
" long Such an armistice would be worse than
continued war, for we shall achieve our indcpend-
ence in less time than the negotiations would con-
sumo. Some may suppose that this plan is I'M
practicable, but say it is not so, if there be will
to make it practicable. If the Chicago Conven-
ton will take it up it will be found to be easily
practicable; in fact, nothing is necessary to make
it practicable but the States to commence it, by
providing for the appointment of delegates aHd
deputies to these conventions, and if the States
in favor of peace they will adopt it, and if they do
Lincoln must concur and co operate.
If you ask me, how these conventions to
work, | reply just the two houses Of Congress or
of State Legislature do. Propositions will orig
mate and be discussed in one, and when adopted,
submitted to and discussed in the other, by which
it will be considered, discussed, rejected, amended
or adopted. | throw out however, the outline
merely-bring your learning and ability to bear
upon, improve aud perfect it. We both desire
peace. We both determined that the South
must be free, and that there be no peace with
out freedom. Let us cooperate to accomplish our
end, and venture to say that We will have zeal
GUS and potent ally in our noble President"
Mir. Foote, in his second letter, says he is will
ing to adopt this plan, Wonder if the yankees
will adopt it? We doubt it very much.