Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-28

The Ashevile Nsus formerly an ultra Vance paper,
is out for peace in the mostearuest terms See the
article from the Netos in another column. We are
glad to number the Nescs as co,worker IN this
noble cause. 1t says truly that the hearts OF our
people were recently thrilled and animated by the
hope of peace but that hope has been blasted
We 20 further and say that in our opinion at least
one hundred thousand original secessionists were
prepared to return to the federal Union previously
to the recent conference in Hampton Roads, pro-
vided by SC doing they could have saved their
slaves: but alas finding that the federal govern
ment would not guarantee their slave property, they
now want the war to go on, with more bloodshed
and more ruin, in the hope that they will PerPet-
uate slavery by the sword. But they are not going
to the war. Other white men, and part of the
Door negroes themselves must be sacrificed in the
effort to save slavery. With the NetnS, " our voice
is still for peace, niggerS or no -niggers We say
this as a stakeholder We want no more white men
slain to save our negroes. We regret the loss of
our property, and We think the policy of sudden
emancipation is injurious to society and cruel to
the slaves; but we are not willing any longer to
see this species of property placed in the scale
against human life.
If our humble advice had been needed and taken
eighteen months ago, the States could have secured
the privilege to themselves of perpetuating slavery
as long as they pleased. But our advice was re-
jected, we were denounced as traitor, and at last
in the hope Of sencing US, we were mobbed, if not
by the order, with the conniVance of the Richmond
and Raleigh authorities. We predicted in 1860 that
to spread and uphold slavery by force of arms,
would result in its destruction. That prediction,
we are sorry to say, has been verified
The people of this State want peace with or with.
out slavery. When they look at their present con
dition, and contemplate the awful future which
continued war will reveal, they regard peace as
above all things desirable. The man who calls them
cravens or cowards or traitors, does them the gross
est injustice The people of this State have sacrificed
everything to sense of honor, on point of honor
They went to war on point of honor. The State
has maintained this point of honor by the loss o
fifty thousand of her sons and the proofs of her de-
votion, in addition to this sacrifce may be seen in
her ruined credit, her abandoned farms, her de-
stroyed industry, her poverty stricken people, hel
deserted colleges and school houses, and her thou
sands of manned soldiers, destitute widows, anG
neglected orphans. No decent person on this con
tinent will ever say, after all this, 40 matter wha
may be our condition or our fate that North Caro-
lima is not gal liant, faithful, glorious old State.
The mountain region of this State has been es
peciay seourged by this war. 1t is not surprising
that the people of thatregiOn want peace. We trus
the day is near at and when the people of West
ern Carolina will rise up en- mGsse and demand q
Convention, so as to close speedily this unhappy
struggle. 7 he best patriot now is he who is most
devoted to the of peace, and most devoted to
North Carolina.