Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-06-10
Gov. vance and Pre,ldent Davis.

the want of space.
Early in August last and as soon as President
Davis had learned that Gov. Vance and the Stand
ard differed on the subject of peace, the former in
vited the latter to Richmond. Gov Vance went
What conversation took place. and what was agreed
upon between them, will never be known. Soon
after Gov. Vance returned he wrote and addressed
letter to John Fl. Haughton, Esq, of Chatham, of
the most ultra war character, the main object Of
which 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 omitted to do-that they were true to their
coConfederates submissive to lawful authority, and
were pouring out their blood and assure like wa
ter in the common cause-that its publication was
not only uncalled for, but that it would produce
the impression among our enemies that we were d
vIded among ourselves, whereas we were not divided
on any material pont but we told hun at last that
in our opinion he ought not to decide on its pub
licaton until he submitted it to friend one of the
wisest and most distinguished Conservatives in the
State, and obtained his opinion in relation to it
We also told him that in our opinion, its publication
would injure him seriously, if it did not destroy
him politically with the Conservatives of the State
He adopted our suggestion and submitted the letter
to the distinguished gentleman referred to- and the
result soGs the letter SoaS not published.
But Gov. Vance was no doubt under pledges to
President Davis and the next thing h;o r-~-l-
nation of September relation to the peace meet
ings. He seemed to labor under the conviction
that large portion Of our people dsloyal-that
they concerting plans to resist the laws to
secede from the government and that it was his es
pecial business to lecture them and threaten :hem
and thus control them and SaUe them from them
selUeS. A herculean undertaking, truly for q
"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 ether letters he wrote in
his capacity as Governor and what PrivGte letters
he wrote to the President and what priUdte replies
he received, will never be known.
The noticeable feature in Gov. Eauce's speech is
the fact that he is not SO intent on peace as on
removing The discomfort in North Carolina." -
That monster, popular power, seemed to be con-
stantly before him. II was in all his dreams and
in all his thoughts. He could not bear that the
people should speak out, especially for peace. In
his anxiety and alarm lest the people should make
their wishes known, he runs TO the President with
his 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
hat he proci6ant ho &C II
and must do something-not for peace, for that
was not the principal matter but to induce the
dear people to be quiet Though statesmen might
regard this as useless, the people will not" And
then he adds, 1.-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, worse. the evidence of dis
content "-Soe 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
caoled, and so the "efart" must be made That
| is the principal matter" And Mr. Davis replies,
and such reply Gov. Vance pockets the reply
and makes no answer, which shows he was pleased
| with it. Mr. Davis agrees with Gov Vance that
North Carolina is in very bad way, and he offers
to aid him with troops, if it should be necessary to
shoot any Of our people in order to remove the "dis
content" Reason and Cancellation are regarded
| by Mr.. Davis out of the question. The ''trai-
| tors must be summarily put down. It may be
that these traitors are "sound at heart they
are so regarded by some in North Carolina, the
| Governor included, but "they are more than sus-
Pected eLSeUhcre." That is they are suspected" ="
in Virginia, whose soil their sons and brothers are
defending, and in South Carolina, the author in
secondary sense of this awful war. They must be
put down, and if necessary they must be shot down.
| To all of which Gov. Vance makes no reply, thus
showing that he agrees with the President
We shall dwell more at length on the Presidents
| letter hereafter.
Another noticeable feature IN Gov. Vance's con-
duct is that about the time he Orote this letter to
Mr.. DaUis he endorsed the Johnston County resolu-
tions sOhieh contained the first proposition for a
Convention made By any public meeting in the
| State. Facts are stubborn things. The Johnston
| district meeting referred to was held on the 9Th
January, 1864, and Gov Vance's letter to Mr. Davis
bears date December so, 1868. The fact that he
endorsed the Johnston County resolutions is posi-
lively stated by Dr. j. T. Leach the author of them
in his Appendix to the Life and Times of Duncan
K. McRae." So it appears, and is actually proved
| that at the very time Gov. Vance was writing to
Mr.. Davis aoout the "discontent in this State, and
urging him to aid him In putting it down, be was
| endorsing the Convention movement which he mas
since declared was one of the most dangerous signs
| of the discomfort" referred to- &.
Will his mercenary organs in this City attempt
| to meet these facts?
4.
| Let it be remembered that this great array of
talent and craftsmanship is the sequel of not the
logical sequence, Of the manly, yet modest, efforts
of Gov. Vance against the suspension of the Great
| Writ ofGRight - COnserUGtiue
And let it also be remembered that Gov Vanne,s