Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-31
Executive oTTIc-.

Richmoro, Jan. S-h, 1854 !
Dear sr-I have received your better Of The Sch uli
containing suggestions OF the measures to BE- adopted
Tor purpose OF removing 'e sources OF dsconteutn
in North Carroll g. The contents Of she letter are sub
antiay the same these OF the lot;eF addressed by
You 10 Senator Dorch, extracts of which were by him
read 10 me. l remarked 10 Bic. DOrtch thai you were
probably not aware Of the ob5AOes the courss you
indicated, and, githoui expUssiug Sn opinion on the
| n rts OF the proposed lobcy, desired him, in au-
sseriDg your letter, 70 WTi.e Suggestions 10 the
method OF ope ing negotiations. sad TO the terms
which you thought should DC offered TO the enemy.
'et persuaded you would appreciate the diniJules as
soon as your etteu tiOl called to the necessity OF
considering the suit CT in detail. As you HAYS made
20 uggstcns tOucniIg tho manner OF overcoming the
bs &C e. INFER thss you we're no. aTprised by Mr..
Dogtch Of nv rem,rs5 20 him.
Apart from insup3-sole objections to the line of
. cy you propose (>as % which II presently sd
vert cannosseo how tbs more material obstacles are
o b. Fugmounted Wa have msde three distinct efforts
t, comuu leae with the authorities at Washington
aud have been Invariably unsuccessful Commissioners
we're sent beofe hO,tises we're begun, and the Wash
ington Government: refused 80 receive them or hear
what they bad to say. second time sent military
officer with q communication addressed by myself to
President Lincoln. The letsr received by General
Scott who did permit the cfcer Mr.. Lincoln
bat promised that would be sent No answer
oas ever been received The third tins, few months
ago, gentleman seat, whose position, character
and reputation were spCu - 70 ensure DIS reception
4 the enemy were not de ermlned to receive no pro
posals whatever from the Government Vice President
stephens made patriotic tendsr OF his services in the
hope OF being able 20 promote the ctuse of humanity
and although litle beisf vas entertained Of his
cess cbeerfaly yielded TO his suggestion that the
pertinent should be tried. The enemy refused to let
dim pass through TIER lines to hold any conference
With them. He stopped before he reached Fortress
Monroe on hls way to Washington. To attempt again
I'm the face Of these repeated rjectOns Of all confer
sncs with us) 10 send Commissioners or Agents to pro-
pose peace il to invite insult and contumely and to
u6ees ourselves - ind gnily without the slightest
chance of being listened to.
No true n, no man who has our cause at heart,
can desire this and The good people OF North Carol
EOud be the last 10 approve OF such an attempt if
aware o. all the facts So far from removing sources
o. scontent," such course would receive it would
me l. the condemnation Of thogs patriots who have
given their blood and thsig to maintain the free
dOn and ndsp endencs which descended to them
from the immortal heroes OF Kiugs Mountain and other
battle fields of the Revolution. II then, these propo-
sll Canlo be made through enVoys BECAUSE the enemy
would not receive then how is it possible to communi
clts our desire for peace erSse than By ths public
announce onss anvd II Almost every message ever
semitic CsogressY
l cannot recall at this time oae instance in which
bave failed 20 announce tast cur o9ly desire pesCe
and the only terma ca formed sine qua non, were
D1ecisey those taas you suggested, namely, demand
only 70 Be let alone" Bat suppose itTere practicable
IN Obtain conference through commissioners with the
Goverpm MT of President Lincoln is it at this moment
that We are 70 consider desirable or even at all sdms
nleP Have We not just been apprised by that despot
thst We can only expect his gracious pardon by emsn-
eipa.ng al our slaves swearing allegiance and oos-
| dienco to him aud biz proclamation, aud bscsnlng
i IN mint Of fact the slaves OF cur OWL negroes =
Gan there DO in North Carolina titzsn so fallen
| beneath tie digny Of bis ancestors as to accept
~ N spte into conference on the basis Of these terms
That there arc few traitors in the Siae who would DC
;re 20 betray their felloE-otzsnl TO such degra-
dej condition. 10 hope Of beng rewarded Tor ireaehsrJ
by An cape lon thu common doom, may De true bu'
dNnot b,isve that the ylest wretch would accept
1oh terms fos himself cannot conceive how the peo
ala of vouf STATE vhoh more has sent nooler OF
moe sant soldiers 70 the td Of battle, Zone OF whom
\ q Sonr honor 20 BEL can have been deceivedb by any
b;-. =, bich you reler il "the recent action OF the
Federal House Of Representa- ives have seen no &C
tioa of that H'a,e that dos nos lnaicate oy veI
S;6 m iority sae purpoe Of the enemy to refuse al
-, of he South exosp. stso.ute, unconditional
sphiug.tion or ex ermoa Ion. Bus e wore otnerals
how, are We 70 ii the House Of Repre- entau .
n h wih Lincoa alone that Ne ever couii eoalef'
and bs oWn iarHsaDs nc tae North NoN un
e-,ivooallv tuat lis purpose in his mes@g
IL roosm,ton vas 10 shat out oil hope that ne could
svs freas with Is or any forms. Il We VII break "
-. Covsrnmsns dissolve the Jontederaey, dsoA1 9
our asmts emaucipsse cur slaves, 'sAe an vNsn y
,Iegisuca bnding Ives 20 oosdence 70 MN, ~.
Of disl0yaily - onr own . a"s ~ -
10 pardoo us and ret 70 plumber Us O anytasg norS
han the proosriy AREA olen from Is, and 'uef
dawes as still .smsn In order to render MS proposals
90 insulting as to secure their elton, ne joins 90 teen
promise 20 support With his arny one-tenth OF LHe
peope If anyS ate WOO viii Atsem5t 20 se' up goV-
srnuent over ohsr nice enshs, thus seskng 70 SOW
dscOrd aud susolcon among the people OF the seyers
States and 10 excite item civil in furherance o.
bis ends. know vel i y old be impossible 70 g.
yo1r people if they possessed full knowlege OF thesC
acss 70 consent that proposals. should now be made By