Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-02
The Letters of Messrs. Beyce and stephens.


Mr.. EDITOR The above named letters have been
before the public for some days, and have created
considerable sensation, especially the latter pro-
pose with your consent to make some comments up
on them through your bold and independent paper
will just notice that Of Mr.. Stephens 1t is not in
my opinion such paper as was to have been ex.
pected from SO great q statesman as Mr.. Stephens
is on all hands acknowledged to be. The fact is,
suspect he was hampered by his situation. have
he was made Vice Presidentfor the purpose of muz-
cling him. His spirit is high, and his hatred Of
tyranny such that the secessonists were willing to
get rid of him on any terms as an opponent Of their
measures.
Mr.. Stephens avows himself in favor of peace
what kind of peace he does not distinctly inform
us, but we think any man of ordinary intelligence
can. guess. 1t must be patent to every man, that in
our present situation, no proposition which We may
make for peace stands the smallest chance Of beng
considered by the federal government unless made
upon the basis of reconciliation. To accomplish
this, no plan promises fairer than Convention Of
all the States-North and South. To this plan the
Vice President gives in his adhesion and the thanks
of the country are due him for it, as his name is
tower Of strength to any project which hs endorses
Whether such convocation of the States can be
obtained must be determined by the events of the
next four weeks. We are glad, however, to see
that many able statesmen Of the South are coming
to their senses sufficiently favor 1t if attainabe
We are afraid that Mr.. Stephens expresses con-
flence in our prospects which he does not feel He
endeayors to convince himself and others that our
cause is far from being hopeless and refers to the
struggle Of our ancestors in the old revolution to
Justify his opinions. hope the opinion of the Vice
President may be correct but can find nothing in
the history Of Sur revolutionary struggle with the
mother country calculated TO give us much encour-
agement. l think that no false lights should at q
time like this, be held up before our people, but
that the naked truth should in every instance be
told therefore propose to give brief history Of
the circumstances under which the thirteen Colo
MES obtained their independence from Great Britain.
To understand the history of that struggle fully,
it is necessary to go back twenty years to what
known as the seven years war;" In that war;
the armies of England guided by the vigor and TIT
genius of the elder Pitt were every where success.
full by sea and land. On the Continent of America
she effected the conquest of the Oanadas from the
Frepch, and Florida from Spain, She also CONQUER
ed from Spain the island Of Minorca in the Nediter
ranean; from France, Senegal and Goree in Africa.
and several Of the West India islands. If she was
thus successful in the West she was even more so
in the East There Give, by bus great talents both
civil and military wrested from France all her DOS
sessions and founded the magnificent English Em-
pre in India England has never before or since
been engaged in any war which terminated SO plori
ously for her. France and Spain were humbied in
the dust For twenty years they were silently
brooding over the recollections of Quebec of Ore.
veldt Of Minden and Moro awaiting day Of retri-
button. -'..-
At length after many years Of peace and prosperi.
ty, England was torn BY internal dissensions 10
discomfort In Ireland was added the rebellion of her
American colonies. English subjects took up arms
to defend their liberties against English eacroach.
ments. Instead of conciliating them ~ she might
have DONE she declared them out of her protection
Then came their Declaration Of Independence, and
their determination to maintaiu it By the sword
france and Spain now saw with exulhtiou and De.
hgnt tnat the DAY OF vengeance was at hand Franol
acknowledged the indepeadence Of the Uoited Sstss
and entered into treaty offensive end defensiy,
With them and her example was soon followed BY
spain: This act made them parties to the war which
now ragged with great fury in every quarter of the