Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-03

der the mediation of some foreign power. But Ih6t
is now scarcely to be hoped for And besides 466r6
is some humiliation. and possibly danger. in "a 4
Tor the Intervention Of European monarchies "a 1k
tie disputes between American Republics Rhr|u>
nately, there is an element in our form of gcSvss
ment that may be seized upon to unite this Gdfs -
knot The sovereignty and civil authority fA.Hhes
several States is not yet denied or questioned St
power to ratify and confirm treaties has indeed ben
delegated to the general government aud noliht9f.
terence with that power would be lawful or Rgpref
But the difficulty is not upon the ratification Esik4s
upon the opening of negotiations for the puT oI
agreeing on and reporting treaty. This u3s5 boe
done through the medium Of commissioners afaolnte
ed Tor the purpose. Bot the reception Of ecI7miss
sioners appointed by President Davis is held IN
volVe concessions that cannot be made Yhepb
lection could not attach to- commissioners from the
States: Their reception would imply no Feboenl.
ton of the civil authority or nationality of th Con-
iederate government The United States eotId re.
celIe them without any receding from its asEiIaed
position Negotiations might thus be opened. and.
peace and independence result These resolASio1
propose the appointment Of eommissiopsE By -
States, and to request President Day;S 1c3 3oatSS
the United States conle.enee for
peace through the medium OF these commis9 e
Should the Upited States still resnse, solIst; 9,
neverthelessbe accomplished by t!1sen Of
this measure. 1t will strip President Lpcsn the
excuse upon which he has refused to negotiate With
us and place US in a proper position before the
world 1t will arouse public sentiment at the North
by holding him up, without excuse or pretext, as
deaf to the claims of humanity and civilization. The
condemnation Of mankind could no longer be senc-
ed or parred by the pretence that some implication
derOgatOry to the honor of his government was con-
tanned in the proposition. These commissioners
would be standing offer, on our part, to comply
with all the requirements of the enlightened, Chris
tian sentiments Of mankind, and to stop the etuslon
nt blood aDDeal StateSmanshlD reason.
1t would reverse the position of demanding an I'M
conditional concession of the leading point IN dis
pute before we consent to the opening OF negotla.
tons, and place us in the higher and more hOnora-
BILE position of clearing away all obstacles to the
peaceful adjustment of our differences, and thus
throw upon adversary all responsibility for con-
tinuing to disturb the peace of the world.
But these comni sonerS would probably be re-
ceived and negotiations opened. Every point in
dispute would receive a deliberate consideration
The respective interests and purposes of the two
sections would be presented and weighed. Should
the United States be convinced that construction is
impossible, and continuance of the war but waste
OF blood and treasure, there would be no longer in
the way point of punctiiio-a question of iancied
honor-and it might be most reasonably expected
that they would be the first concede the existence
of our independence. And then peace would come.
But what can come of the present high claims of
the respective parties save ar and ruin ? Fanati-
cism is assuming CONTROL slrd the baser passions of
the human heart are usurping the place of moderaS
ton and virtue The war is threatening the sub
version of the liberties of both sections and il
tinued, must lead to scenes of horror from which
humanity recoS, and the last hope of anxious pa
triots fade away Independence and liberty can be
secured only by negotiations and peace. Let all
formal obstacles in the way of peace be promptly
removed. Let us, at least be free from blame
with every effort exhausted-conscious Of duty done
and then, if the light of republican liberty on this
continent must be extingnished in blood, we shall
escape the reproaches OF posterity:
1t is objected that those resolutions propose an
interference with the treaty making power vested
- the Preside Senate, Ihj minority report
coHsfpses the gogtls "negotiate, Ify aRd confirm"
The distinction between them is 81 obvious as hard
ly to need an explanation. Commissioners may ne
golate treaty, but before can have validity it
must be ratified and confirmed by the President
and Senate. The resolutions propose only b make
q request OF the President that he tender to the
United States conference for negotiating peace
through the medium Of these commissioners" Is
1t interfering with the treaty making power to pre-
fer respectful request to the President? There is
no effort to confer upon the commissioners any
powers whatever, derived from the States. The
President is requested to adopt them, and he may
give or withhold such powers and such instructions
as may seem to him meet and proper. II is ques-
ton of appointment only. Should the President
appoint, ne is met with a refusal on formal grounds
But let the States appoint and the objection cannot
be raised. 1t is no interference with the constitu-
tional prerogatives of the general government
But the minority report" proceeds to deny,
that one State, while member of the Confederate
government, can enter into any treaty or alliance
With another State, for the purpose Of negotiating
treaties with foreign power" Is it an alliance to
ask the cooperation Of our SiSterStates in max
ing a respectful request of the President? The
Governors recently met in Augusta to devise some
concert OF action to place more men in the army
Did We hear that Stgmatized as an unconstitutional
alliance of States? Early in these troubles there
was Peace Congress, composed of delegates from
the several States and it never objected that 1t
constituted an unconstitutional alliance But when
did gentlemen conceive such horror of an alliance
among the States? 1t is still fresh in the memory
OF some, that previous to secession the advocates of
that action, proposed and held conventions compos-
ed OF delegates appointed from the congressional
districts of the several Southern States And after
some OF the States had seeded, they sent commits
soners to the others to secure a similar action
Some of these commissioners, am informed came
to North Carolinia and were received at this CAPT
tai. No gloomy horrors of an alliance seem to have
troubled gentlemen in those days. But now, when
we speak OF peace and propose that more than one
State shall join in a most respectful and legitimate
request directedto the President gentlemen become
wonderfully sensitive to the horrors of an imaginary
alliance between the States
The minority report intimates that thasaasSag
of these resolutions might give "aid and comfort
to our enemies strengthen their hands and to
inspire them with renewed energy" The promul-
CATION of such reason, assigned to influence the
action of this Senate, is far more likely to give
laid and comfort" than anything contained in the
resolutions upon the table. Who is it that is likely
to be swerved from the path of duty by the fear
that his enemy might interpret his action into
confession of weakness or cowsrdice? Not he who
is conscious of strength and confident in the sue
of righteous cause -. Timidity betokens
weakness. A nervous apprehensionb of what an
enemy may possibly think betrays temper far
different from that manly defiance which character
ICES the action of him who is conscious of his
might, and dare pursue his own ways regardless of
his enemy's thoughts. Our revolutionary fathers
were not troubled with such tmid forebodings.-
They did not wait for England to propose confer
ence for negotiating upon terms of peace but