, 1864-06-10

ever from Inc GofeInment Y1Qe-ffe6ldeut
Stephens made patriotic tender Of his serg-
f'cauBe Of humanity, and although little belief
! was entertained Of his success, Echeerfully
yielded to his suggestion, that the expert
| ment should be tried. The enemy refused to
| let him pass through their lines or to hold
any conference with them. He was stopped
bis way to Washington. To attempt again
I'm the face ofthese repeated rejcctione Of nll
conference with us) to send commissioners
oragents to propose peace, is to invite In
suit and contumely, and TO snbject ourhe1Ves
being listened to.
Notrue citizen, no man who has our cause
| at heart can desire this, and tho good people
Of North Carolina would be the last to ap-
prove Of such an attempt, Il aware Of all the
facts. So far from removing sources OF dis
content, such Q course wou1d receive, as it
would merit. the condemnation Of those true
| patriots who have giyen their blood and
their treasure to maintain the freedom, equal
ity and Independence which descended to
them from the Immortal heroes Of Kings
Mountain and other battle.felds Of the Rev.
olution: II, then, these proposals cannot be
| made through ENJOYS, because the enemy
would not receive them, how is 1t possible to
communicate our desire for peace otherwise
than by the public announcements contained
in almost every message ever sent to Con-
gresss
cannot recall at this time one instance in
which I, hayo failed to announce that our
only desire was peace, and the only terms
which formed sine qua ron, we're precisely
those that you suggested, namely, "a demand
only to be let alone" But suppose It were
practicable to obtain a 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
admissiblef HIVE We not just been apprised
by that despot that re can only expect his
generous pardon by emapcipating all our
slaves, swearing allegiance and obedience to
him and his proclamation, and becoming in
Can there be In North Carolina one citizen so
fallen beneath the dignity of his ancestors as to
accept, or to enter into conference On the
basis Of these terms! That there arc few trail
tors In the State who would be willing to be-
tray their fellow-citizens to such degraded
condition, in hope Of being rewarded for
t1eachery by an' escape from the common
that The yilest wretch would accept each
terms for himself. I cannot conceive how,
the people Of your State, than which none
| have sent nobler or more gallant soldiers to
the honor to be), can have been deceived by
anything to which Jou refer in "tlle recent
! action Of the Federal House Of Representa-
I uvce." have seen no action by that House
! that docs not Indicate, by very decided
majority, the purpose of the enemy to refuse
all terms Of the South, except absolute, un-
conditional subjuSation or determination.
| But If 1t were otherwise, how are we to trent
! with the House Of Representatives?
1t is With Lincoln alone that we ever could
| confer, and his own partisans at the North
| ayoW unequfyocally that his purpose In his
ali hope that be could treat with US many
! terms. Il We will break up our. Govern.
| ment dissolve the Coufederacy, disband our
armies, eanancipate our slayes, take an oath
! Of allegiance binding ourselves obedience
to him and Of disloyalty to our own
| plundcr Us Of anything more than the proper
! ~ already stolen from us and such slaves as
| still remain. In order to render hIa propo-
| sails so insulting as to secure their rejection
! he joins to them promise to support with
his army one-tenth Of the people Of any
State who y III attempt to set up a govern
ment over the other nine tentas, thus seek
ing to COW discord aud suspicion among the
| people Of the several States, and to excite
1hem to civil war in furthcrauce Of his ends.
I know well it would oe impossible to get
your people, If they possessed full knowl-
eals should COW be made by us to those who
| control the government at Washington.
Your own well known devotion to the great
cause Of liberty and independence, to which
| We have all committed whatever we have Of
earthly possessions. would induce you to
take @ 1I the lead adm in rspelling the bare thought
peace on other terms Is now impossible. To
obtain the sole terms to which you or could
listen, this struggle must continue until the
enemy Is beaten out Of his win confidence
In our snbjugatlon. Then, and not till then,
will It be possible to treat OF peace. TIL
| then all tender OF terms to the enemy will
4 be received as proof that We arc ready for
submission, and will encourage him in the
atrociors warfare which he is wagiug.
1,fcar from the tenor Of news receive
from North Carollna, that IN attempt will be
| made by some bad men to inangurate move
ments which must be considered as cqufva-
lent to aid and comfort to the enemy, and
! which all patriots should combine to put
down at any cost You may count on MY
aid In every effort to spare yonr State the
'6cene Of civil warfare, which will devastato
I Its homes, If the designs Of these traitors be
suffered to nuke headway. know that yon
ton In thelead OF those who will not suffer
the name Of the old North State to be black
eued By such stain. VIII you pardon me
| for suggesting that my only source Of dis
! Quietpde on the subject arises from the fear
that you will delay too long the action which
| now appears Inevitable, aud that by IN over
earnest desire to reclaim by cancellation, men
I whom you believe to be sound ut heart, but
whose loyalty Is more than suspected else
where, you will permit them to gather such
| strength as to require moro violent me ,suses
:, than are now neededs with your influence
and position. the promoters OF the
unfounded discomfort now prevalent
| in your Suite would be put down withon-
the use Of physical force Ii yon would aban
don policy Of eonciltntion and set them at
dcdance. In this course, frankly and firmly
! pursued, yon would rally around you all
that Is best and noblest in your State, and
| your trinmpls would be bloodless. II the
contrary policy be adopted: much fear you
! treason. In either event, however, be as
sured that you will haye my cordial concur
renee and assistance In maintaining with
You the honor, dignity and fair namo Of your
State, and in: your efforts to crush treason,
whether incipient, as believe 1t now to be,
or more matured, as believe, Ii not, firmly
met, 1t will In our future inevitably become.
I have the honor to be very respectfully
yours: JEFFERSON DAVIS.
His Excel1ency, 2. B. Vance, Governor Of
North Carolina, Raleigb, N G.