Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-07
5rtui-Wepklq 5tuuhara.
REMARKs or HON. .Ios1Aa TURNER,

- =
'--@.s OF NORTH CAROLINA, ...-r .
On the Resolutions Proposing Negotiations for
Peece Nth the Enemy.
Mr.. Turner of North Carolina, under suspension
of the rules introduced The following resolutions:
ResoJved That the President of the Confederate
States by and with the advice and consent OF the
Senate, be and he is hereby requested to appoint
thirteen commissioners, one from each OF the Cons
federate States to tender TO the government OF the
United States conference for negotiating an honor
able peace and, failing in this, the commissioners
be instructed to all proper Efforts to obtain an
Immediate exchange of prisoners and, II possible,
to come to such understanding with the enemy re>
eardng he future conduct of the war as may tend
in some degree to mitigate its horrors and atrOci-
ties, .sss..--
= Mr. Turner said he had weighed well the conse-
oueAces of this resolution both to himself and to his
country The scorn and indignation of the Demo
cratic party in North Carolina would be his portion
He thought he had sufficient fortitnde to sur
vive it. y. ~
When he attempted in 1860 to rouse the people
and put them on their guard against the decisions
and dangers of peaeeable secession, this same party
we're indignant, and not spsrng in coarse dennncia
ton such as submissionis" "abohtiouist traitor
and coward"
The history of this War had proven that such ar
gumeuts were used only by towards, for those who
had proudly Strutted ino peaeeable secession, de-
uounciug him as coward bad meanly sneaked out
and set themselves down at home infamous and con
,emnrd manfesting no zeal for the war except how
10 keep out oft.
When young man he unWisely thought that no
one but coward could refusea challenge to single
combat; now he satisfied that It required more
courage to decline challenge than 1t did to accept
ne. And half the duels fought were the result OF
want of moral courage
He was prepared for Indignation and denunciation,
even for hsses from the gallery, such as he heard
when his colleague, the other day moved to negoi-
ate with the enemy.
The country aeto understood such demonstrations
md such deuuuciatoas as the arguments of the vuL
Ear coward. When his colleague introduced at the
last session, resolutions for negotiations twenty-five
t25) memb rs voted against laying them on the ta-
bIe The gentleman from Kentucky Mr.. Marshall,
said & 1t was not respectful to the member fIom
North Carolina to lay his resolutions the table
without debate" He (Mr. I voted against laying
his colleagues resolution on the table and he voted
against rejecting them the other day. As the con
sritution points out but one way OF making peace he
had never declared for any otter. Separate State
action was one of the many great errors of the De-
mocracy, and as he thought it unwise he had never
declared for it. If il be cowardy TO profier to ne
gntiate according to the constitution tbeu he claim
ed no exemption from such cowardire.
If 1t be cowardiy to propose to mitigate the hor-
Tor Of war then he claimed no exemption from such
cowardice. Mr.. Turner said the President had
secure exchange of prisoners. He read from the
Presidents message as follows:
On he subject Of the exchange of prisoners l
greatly regret to be unable to give you satisfactory
information. The Government of The United States
while persiSting in failure to execute the terms Of
the cartel make occasional deliveries of prisoners
and then suspend action without apparent cause. l
confess my inability to comprehend their policy or
purpose. The prisoners held by us in spite of hu-
care, perishing from the inevitable effects
"fimpriSonment and home sickness produced by the
kopeiessaess of release from confinement. The
spectacle of their suffering augments our longing
desire to reHVe from similar trials our own brave
men, Wis have spent so many weary months in
rrHe and useless imprisoD ment endured with heroic
eenStancy. The delivery, after suspension of some
weeks. has just been resumed by the enemy; but,
they give assurance of intent to carry out the
c,rte, interruption of the exchange may at
any moment.
The President has given us the best argument
Why he should attempt to mitigate the horrors ofthe
war. Mr.. L. read from the Presidents message as
follows:
The uni Just war commenced against US, in viola.
ton OF the rights of the States and in usurpaon of
power not delegated to the Government OF the Uni
led Staes is still chara cterised by the barbariSln
with which it has heretofore been conducted by the
{ nemy Aged men, helpless women and children,
spgeal in vain to the humanity which should be in
spired by their condition. for immunity from arrest,
der and devastation of the property of non-conbGt
ants, destruction of private dwellings, and even of
e1ices devoted to the worship OF God, expeditions
organized for the sole purpose of sscking cities
eonsgnmg them 10 the flames, killing the unarmed
inhabitants and inilrting horrible oureges
soen and children, some of the constantly
ring atrocities of the invader.
Mr. Turner said judging from Lincoln's message
and tie nature of man, he could not negotate upon
the bass of independence, either with the Confeder
ate States any of thetContederate States, act
ing separately. President Davis would not make
peace without independence.
With these two it is question ofendurance as to
who can suffer the longest.
1t is not in their nature, or the nature of any two
men similarly situated, to make peace as long
they are able to fight. President Davis is now pre-
pairing the public mind to continue the struggle
~heG he is not able to command white army sufi-
elent fer his wants.
Negotiation between the two Presidents is then
of the question. for each demands terms that the
other woad never eencede.
If either could be convinced that humanity and
the best interests of his country demand peace upon
other terms than that which he had laid down, and
for four years had been fighting for, his pride would
forbid his making peace on any other than his own
terms.
So far as the two Presidents are concerned the
war is indefinite, and has end so long they can
command armies.
Mr.. Turner desired to see the pnblic men OF the
two governments come together and with
each other, our statesmen backing Gen. Lees blows
with arguments.
Some good might come of it certainly no harm
could. He had heard that Gen. Grant had express
ed desire to talk with Gen. Lee, or any Of the
leading men of the South
He, Mr.. T., had always been for cultivatng the
peace men and peace feeling at the North, and ma
king the war strictly defensive with view to con-
ciate them.
But let US admit that Lincoln would not negotiate,
and upon that point he had no dOub Shall we do
nothing to restore quiet to The public hind at homer
Shall we do nothing to remove the just complaint
against the administration, because they hsVe made
no open and anequivoc-ll tender of negotiation?
Thousands of honest and true men in North Caro-
lima and Georgia think that Lincoln would ncgUti-
ale, and that there is no humility in our government
taking the first step in that direction.
Georgia and North Carolina have fought enough
and suffered enough in this war to entitle their
oniniOns to some consideration