Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-05-25

pernicious in the extreme, &c.
There is nothing Of this am desirous OF taking
away or adding to. Ny earnest remonstrance against
the passage of the present act is herewith transt-
ted together with divers Other letters to the Confe
crate authorities relation to the execution OF the
civil laws rights of the people, de-, and which will
convince you trust, that have been equally ZEAL
Gus to guard against the inner as well the outer
dangers which threaten us.
MANY recurring dangers Of serious conflict with
the Confederate government especially in relltion to
the seizure of principals of substitutes after discharge
~ a Judge, have been upon me since your sesson.-
They were fortunately avoided however but their
solution would have been easy could but haye'had
the assistance Of the Supreme Court. greatly re-
greet that you did not see proper to comply with my
recommendation, when You were last in session, to
authorize some one to c.nvene that body 10 cases 81
great importance, and which admit Of delay. lean
but repeat it now, for many obvious reasons.
Nor have !, amid all the embarrassmeuts and per-
plextes of the situation, been unmindu Of the great
object of all cur blood and suferng-peaee, or neg
lectful of all proper and honorable efJrs to obtain
it-khowing the great desire of our people to save
the precious blood of their children, il by any pos
sbiity an opening might he found for the statesmen.
to supercede the soldier, approached the President
on the first opportunity presented by the cessation of
hostities last winter and urged him to appoint COM
missoners and try what might be done by negotia-
i
siopers being received by the government of our
my, but thought it our duty, for humanity sske,
to make the effort and to convince own suffering
people that their government tender Of thtir lives
and pr perty and happiness.
My letter to the President last December and his
reply are sent herewith for your information.
/ respectfully recommend that you, as the repre-
sentatives of the people Of North Carolina, should lay
down what you would consider fir basis Of peace,
md fafi in and
those to whom is committed the power of making
treaties, by the Constitution, IT, neglect fitting OPP
por.unty of offering such to the enemy. These terms
in my judgment should be- nothing less than the in
dependence of those States whose desiuies have been
fairly united with the Confsderacy by the voice Of
their people, and the privilege Of Tree ,ice to those
which have been considered doubtful.
presume that no honorable man or patriot could
think of any thing less than independence. Less
would be sutjugation, ruinous and dishruorable.-
Nobody at the North thinks of reconstruction SIM
ply because it is impossible. With constitution
torn mo shreds, with slavery abolished, with our
property cun6scated and ourselves and our children
reduced to beggary, our slaves put in possession of
our lands and invested with equal rights, SOL ial aJd
political, and great gulf yawning between the North
aud South filled with the blood of ous murdered sors
aud its waves ladrn with the debris of our ruined
homes how can there be any reconstruction with the
authors of these evils how it be dcsiral lie If
it were possible? Lincoln himself says it is not Dos
sibe-so docs Mr.. Fillmore, a MN whom We once
respected and so do plneenths Of tt cir orators and
presses. The only terms ever offered us containedn
Mr.. Lincolns Infamous proclamation, were alike de-
grading IN matter and Insulting in manner being adj
dressed not to the authorities, Confederate or State
OF the South but to individuals who by the very act
Of accepting its terms would make from themselves
the vllest OF mankind.
canno: too earnestly warn you, gentlemen, and
the country against the great danger of these usid-
os attempts OF tue enemy to seduce our people into
treag With him for peace, individually or by the
formation of spurious States parts of States In
deed might add, that look upon any ATTEMPTS to
treat for peace, other than through tn. regular chan
neis provided ny our constitution, 50 long gov
eminent is maintained, as aims equally dangerous.
1t is the real peril of the huur. The long continu-
auce and bloody character of the war, have so cx-
hauSted tho patience tf our suffering people that
many of them are in condition to listen eagerly to
terms of peace, without duly considering what the
results would be, or how they are to be acquired
An example Of this great danger is to be found 10 the
attempt OF the British ministry in 1778 to seduce the
loyalty of our forefathers, from the cause of indie
pendence, by sending peace commissioners to the COL
onics with the propositions contained in Lord North
formulating bills" These bills proposed to abolish
all taxation whatever upon the colonies except what
| might be necessary for the convenience of commerce
the nett proceeds of which were to go to the use
OF the colonies, to suspend the operations of all obnox-
ous statutes 10 reference to said coouies passed since
1853, and authorized these commissioners to pardon
all such persons as they saw roper and to treat with
"the existing governments or individuals" Here al
NEST all the principal matters Of dispute were COZ
ceded; but our fathers had organized government
and had set their hearts on independence. Yet the
terms offered were fair, that but for tho frmne<s
and wisdom Of the great aud good George Washing
ton, and tho unancbirg patriotism Of Congress the
fate Of this continent might have been changed; so
great was the WEAKNESS Of the people and gloomy
were the prospects. The danger Of allowing commits
siobers to adore IS themselves to anybody but Con-
gress great as well as such violation of the
laws cf'war ard international courtesy, that that
body, after promptly rejecting the propositions and
declaring that sthe only solid proof" of disposition
the part of the crown to make honorable pcao1
with the colonies, "would lie an explicit acknofl-
cgement of the independence Of these States ofthe
withdrawal vi the fleets and armies'-went ont soi-
emily to declare the ''to be contrary II the
law OF nations and utterly subvcrsive Of that Icon
fidence which could alone maintain these which
had been inyented to alleviate the horrors of war
and that therefore, the persons oyed to distribute
such papers not entitled the protection of
flag"
General Washington was so astonished aud indig-
nant that on its FIRST appearing, he was induced to
ieSo'a do IoIery anu III d i'ttei W 'e L Iest-
dent of Congress, he used the FLOWING language
remarkable for its severity, coming from him: "The
enclosed draft Of bill brought to Headquarters
yesterday afternoon by gentleman, who Informed
that large cargo Of them had jast been seut ou
of Philadelphia. Whether this insidous proceeding
genuine and imported in the pockets or coatrivei
in rhiladelphs, is point undetermined and imme
terial bat it is certainly founded q principles of the
must wicked, diabocal baseness ana meant to poisor
| the minds of the people and detach the wave,ro a
feast from our cause" Aud again; "The necessity
If putting the army on a respectable footing, boil
as to numbers and Constitution, is now become NOR
essential than ever. The enemy are beginning t,
play a 0me more vigorous than their Efforts by
arms Though these will not be RENTED in the small
est degree) which threatens fatal blow to the Jude
perdence Ct America, and Of course to her. liberties
They are endeavoring to ensnare the people by spe
cious aluremeuts # peace. It is not improtabl
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