Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-06-08
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Richmond, January oth, 1oo4.
DEAR SIR: I have received your letter
of the 30th ultimo, containing suggestions
of the measures to be adopted for the pur-
pose of removing "the sources of discomfort
in North Carolina. The contents of the
letter are substantially the same as those Of
the letter addressed by you to Senator
Dortch, extracts of which were by him read
to me. I remarked to Mr.. D6rtch that you
were probably not aware of the obstacles
to the course you indicated, and without ex-
pressing an opinion on the merits Of the
proposed policy, desired him in answering
your letter to write suggestions as to the
method of opening negotiations, and as to
the terms which you thought should be of.
fered to the enemy. I felt persuaded you
would appreciate the difficulties as soon as
your attention was called to the necessity of
considering the subject in detail AS you
have made no suggestions touching the man
ner of overcoming the obstacles, infer that
yos were not apprised by Mr.. Dortch of
my remarks to him.
Apart from insuperable objections to the
line of policy you propose, (and to which l
will presently advert [ cannot see how the
more material obstacles are to be surmount.
ed We have made three distinct efforts to
communicate with the authorities at Wash
ington, and have been invariably unsuccess.
full. Commissioners were sent before hos.
tilities were begun, and the Washington
government refused to receive them or hear
what they had to say. A second time L
seut a military officer with a communication
addressed by myself to President Lincoln.
The letter was received by Gen. Scott, who
did not permit the officer to see Mr.. Lincoln,
but promised that al answer should be sent.
No answer has ever been received. The
third time, few months ago, gentleman
was sent, whose position, character and rep
utation were such as to ensure his reception,
if the enemy were not determined to re-
ceive no proposals whatever from tho gov
ernment. Vice President Stephens made
patriotic tender of his services in the hope
of being able to promote the cause Of hu-
manity aud although little belief was enter
tanned of his success, l cheerfulty yielded to
his suggestion, that the experiment should
be tried. The enemy refused to let him
pass through their lines or to hold any con.
ference with them. He was stopped before
he ever reached Fortress Monroe on his way
to Washington. To attempt again Gin the
face of these repeated reflections of all con-
ference with uO to send Commissioners or
Agents to propose peace, is to invite insult
and contumely, aud to subject ourselves to
indignity, without the slightest chance of
being listened to.
No true citizen, no man who has our
cause at heart. can desire this, and the good
people of North Carolina would be the last
to approve Of such an attempt, if aware of
all the facts. So far from removing the
"sources of discomfort" such course would
receive, as it would merit, the condemnation
of those true patriots who have given their
blood and their treasure to maintain the
freedom, equality and independence, which
descended to them from the immortal heroes
of Kings Mountain and other battle fields
of the revolution. If, then, these propo-
sails cannot be made through ENJOYS, be-
cause the enemy would not receive them,
how is it possible to communicate our de-
sire for peace, otherwise than by the public
announcements contained in almost every
message ever sent to Congress
cannot recall, at this time, one instance
in which I have failed to announce that our
only desire was peace, and the only terms
which formed sine qua non, were precise
ly those that you suggested, namely, "a de-
mand only to be let alone" But suppose
it were practicable to obtain conference
through commissioners with the government
of President Lincoln, is it, at this moment,
that we are to consider it desirable, or even
at all admissible? Have We not just been
apprised by that despot that we can only
expect his gracious pardon by emancipatiDe
all our slaves, swearing allegiance and ODE.
dience to him and his proclamation, and
becoming, in point Of fact, theslaVes Of on,