Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-15
Gov. vance. and President Davis.


Davis had learned tina: Gov. Vance and the Stand
ard differed the subject Of peace, tho former IN
vited the latter to Richmond Gov. Vance vent |
What conversation took place, and what was agreed
upon between them, will never be known. Soon
after Gov Vance returned he wrote and addressed
q letter to John Il. Haughton, Esq, Of Chatham, OF
the most ultra war character, the main object OF
which was to repress and silence the peace feeling |
in this State. This letter never saw the light 1t
was submitted to us, and we earnestly advised
agains its publication. We told the Governor that
it was not required by any thing our people had
done or omitted to do-that they weretrue TO their
CO. Confederates submissive to lawful authority, and
were pouring out their blood and treasure like wa
ter in the common cause-that its publication was
not only uncaIled for, but that it would produce
the impression among our enemies that we were d.
vlded among ourselves, whereas we were not divided
on any material point; but We told him at last that
in our opinion he ought not to decide on its pub
cation until he submitted it to friend, one of the
wisest and most distinguished Conservatives in the
State, aud obtained his opinion in relation to it
We also told him that, in opinion its publication
would injure him seriously, if it did not destroy
him politically with the Conservatives of the State
He adopted suggestion and submitted the lette,
to the distinguished gentleman referred to, and the
result soas tho letter soas not published.
But Gov Vance was no doubt under pledges tt
President Davis, and the next thing was his proca
nation of September in relation to the peace meet
ines. He seemed to labor under the conviction
that large portion Of people were disloya-that
they were concerting plans to resist the laws or to
secede from the government and that it was his es
pecia business to lecture them, and threaten them
and thus control them and saoe them from them
selpes A herculean undertaking, truly, for
"young Governor" MEANWHILE though the Stan
ard office was mobbed and the peace meetings had
pretty much ceased still the peace feeling was on
the increase; and so about the last of December
Gov. Vance addressed to President Davis the letter
We publish to day. What other letters he wrote ill.,
mis- capacity Governor, and what priO"ts letters
&c wrote to the President, and what pricate replies
he received, will aeyer be known.
The noticeable feature in Gov. Vancc's speech is
!he fact, that he is not SO intent on peace as or
removing the discomfort in North Carolina
That monster, popular power, seemed to be con
stantly before him. 1t was in all his dreams ano
in all his thoughts. He could not bear that tht
people should speak out, especially for peace III
his anxiety and alarm lest the people should make
their wishes known, he runs to the President with
bis appeal to aid him in the crisis that was upon
him, feeling no doubt, as he declared at Wilkes
borough, that the Kings name is tower of
| strength" The "disconteat" in the State is SO
| great that the President must be informed of it.
and must do something-not for peace, for that
was not the principal matter but to induce the
dear people to be quietI "Though statssmen might
then he adds, "the effort to obtain peace is the
principal matter" You and know, Mr.. President,
for we are STATESMEN" that all this talk about
peace is nonsense, or worse the evidence of dis
content" "-ue know, Mr.. President that it is not
possible to negotiate and therefore have suggest.
| ed neither the "method" nor the "terms," but
the people Of North Carolina must be deceived and
cajoled, and SO the "e6ort" must be made. That
is the " principal natter" AMI Mr. Davis replies,
and such replyl Gov. Vance pockets the reply
and makes no answer, which shows he was pleased
with it Mr.. Davis agrees with Gov. Vance tha,
North Carolina is in very bad way, and he offers
to aid him with troops, if it should be necessary t.
shoot any Of our people in order to remove the dis
content" Reason and Cancellation are regarded
| by Mr. Davis as out Of the question. The "trai.
tor" must be summarily put down. It may be
that these "traitors" are "sound at heart rt"-they
are 30 regarded by some in North Carolina, thu
Governor included, but "they arc more Man sus
pected elsswhere." That is, they are suspected
in Virginia, whose soil their sons and brothers ar,
defending, and in South. Carolina the author in
secondary sense Of this awful war. They u,o.t b.
put down, and if necessary they must be shot down
To all of which Gov. Vance makes no reply, thu,
showing that he agrees with the President.
We shall dwell more at length on the President
letter hereafter. ~t
Another noticeable feature in Gov Vance's con
duct is, that about the time he wrote this letter
Mr. Davis he endorsed the Johnston County resolu
tions, sshieh contained tho first proposition for
Convention made by aay public meeting in th
State. Facts ere stubborn things. The Johnston
district meeting referred to wss held on the ett
January, 1864, and Gov. Vance's letter to Mr. Day,
bears date December 80. 1868. The fact that h
endorsed the Johnston County resolutions is posi-
lively stated by DrJ. 7. Leach, the author Of them
in his "Appendix to the Life and Times of Duncan
Z. McRae." So it appears, and is actually prove.
that at the very time Gov. Vance was writing t
Mr. Davis aooat the "disesntent" in this State, an,
urging him to aid him m putting it down, be wa.
endorsing the Convention movement, which he ha:
since declared was one of the most dangerous sign
IF the discomfort" referred to. 3 -, :.
Will his mercsnary organs 10 this City attemp
IL inest these facts ~ = - Vs. =
j The army correspondent Of the Montgomery, Id
uertiser states that few days since soldier cried ou
to Gen. johnson, +" General don't fall back an,
further, We are getting mighty tired" 81 am no
retreating," said the General the enemy is on GU