Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-13
GREENSBORO, Jan'y. 9th, 1865.

GREENSBORO, Jan'y. 9th, 1865.
Nessrs. r. ". Lassiter, and others:
GExrLEMEN:- have received your kind letter of
the 22d ult., requesting me to furnish for pu6ca'
ton copy of the speech which delivered IN the
Senate upon the subject of negotiations for an hon.
orabe peace. l thank you for this evidence OF
your confidence and esteem, and herewith enclose
a copy of the speech requested
Wi b feelings of the warmest friendship for each
of you, l am most truly, your ob't seryt,
ROBT. P. DICK.
Speech of RoBr: P. Dick, Esq, Of Guilford, made
r. the Senate on the 20th day Of December, 1864,
utoa motion to take up and consider Afr. Pools
resolutions concerning negotiations for peace
Mr. SPEAKER:-I represent as enlightened and
rs pal rotc constituency as any Senator upon TINS
floor / know the opinions and feelings OF my peo-
pie upon all great public questions, and desire
faithfully and honestly to represent them. They
have 1T all times and under all circumstances, gwen
the highest evidences of their patriotism They
earnestly endeaVored to avert the calamities and
disasters which diSuni0R brought upon their be
loved country and since she has been passing
through the fiery ordeal they have stood firmly
and bravely beside her ; and sacrificed their for,
tunes and their children upon her affairs They
look with sorrowful regret upon the folleS and mis-
fortunes of the pest-but they still hope that wise
couns.ls and unfatering courage may yet rescue
the country from impending ruin. As the rep
reSentatiVe of such people, hope that | may
have The wisdom and courage faithfully and fear
leSSly to discharge my duty.
At time like this, when the peace, prosperity,
and happiness of the country are gone, when her
liberty is in DANGER and her very existence among
the nations of the earth is seriously threatened,
every citizen has important duties to perform.
the soldier in the emp, on the march, in the
trenches, and in the battles stern array, while he
eEdrcs hardships prvations, sufferings and death,
IL in the line Of duty, and the country thanks and
houoss him that he has so nobly and herocally met
every peril and every trial.
The military officer who uses every effort to pro-
vide for the health and comfort of his men, who
treats them with becoming respect and kind
ness who does not rashly expose them to needless
dangers, and in the fercest hour Of the terrible
conflict sustains and cheers them by his presence
and Example, fufs we'll his important trust and
deserves and receives the admiration and gratitude
of his countTymen.
The private citizen, who with strict economy pre-
his resources, with constant labor increases
his supplies, with generous iberalty furnishes
his surplus to the government and his fellow citi
zens and forgets not an open handed charity to the
poor, is blessing to his country, and he will sure
ly have his reward But there no positions of
trust and confidence of such weighty responsibility
as those OF the statesman and legislator. They
hold thsir T. .uds the des,inies of oountFy.-
They should be cool and firm in the midst of vic
tory or disaster-they should be unnluenced by
passion and prejudice, and unswayed by either the
threats or Establishments of power. They ought
to learn wisdom from the lessons of the past and the
teachings of the present, and weigh with calm judy
ment the solemn probabilities of the future. They
should so act as to preserve the Constitution and
laws sacred and invioable; observe with strict de
iy the rights of the citizen, and guard with sleep
less vigilance the public liberty. In word, they
should throw away all mean and selfish ambition,
and with pure and elevated patriotism strive to
promote the public good and secure the honor,
prosperity, and happiness of their country.
In this time of our country's fearful trial and
agony, she calls loudly for such statesmen and ~
iSlatOrs and trust in God that the Legislature Of
North Carolina may have the wisdom and courage
to meet Alright the responsibilities of this trying
hour sincerely believe that the destinies of the
country and the hopes of human liberty are now
dependent upon the action Of the statesmen of this
land If they are equal to their important trust,
then all things may yet be well; but if from any
cause they prove recreant to their solemn duties,
then every thing which We hold dear will be gone,
and the splendid progress of our Christian cvlllza
ton will be thrown baekwar1for century. There
certainly times which try mems souls, and they
are upon US now. Our country is surrounded by
numerous and imminent dangers, and the great
and allaosOrbing question that addresses itself to
the patriots heart is show are they to be averted ?"
and Unsuitable hatred, reply, By blood. In their
tu4tion the war must still roll its desolating tides
wasted fields sacked cities, ruined homes and
broken hearts. The worst passions of our nature
must be lashed into fury-the vest predjudices
engendered, and all the kind and benevolent feelings
which elevate the Christian and civilized man above
the savage, must be crushed in Our boSoms, for
"reace on earth and good will to man" is now the
voice of disl6yalty and treason Such is not the
spirit of my patriotism. l love my Countrywide
beautiful SOuth-with the fondest and deepest de,
vGtion. 1t is the place of my BIRTH of my home,
aud my kindred-the shrine of my sweetest affec-
tiops ard hottest memories it love as the ancient
Jew loved Jerusalem, and most ardently do desire
10 "peaee within her walls and prosperity with
in her palaces" and homes l love not war with
itS CONFUSED noise and garments rolled in blood"
The shouts of victory and the glores of triumph
never make me forget the carnage of'the battle
field, the groans of the wounded and dying, and
the fearful agony of the broken hearted ones at
home War has always been the great desolater
Cfthe earth and the destroyer of human joys hopes
and affections. l love peace, heaven-borR peace
1t was the primal sinless state Of 1t was the
"good tidings" which the angels carried to the
watching shepherds of Bethlehem. The Prince of
Peace" is one of the most beautiful and endearing
names of our Saviour-and "good will to man." is
one of the first and hottest tenets of Christian
faith. Peace always brings q beantiful store of
blessings. 1t warns, nourishes and invigorates ali
the sweet affections and tender synpathies of our
nerves the arm of honest industry-Sn-
dies the fires of intellect and genius-rears the
splendid marts of trade and commerce. and the busy
Of art-builds the schoohouse, the
hospital of charity, and the Church of God-su2-
plies the proud mansions of the wealthy and great
With luxury and ease-and fills the humble homes
# the poor with cantentment and plenty, and with
lonest and joyous hearts. Peace alone can make a
=. truly great and people prosperous and
aEloI- No chief object of the patriotic states
appy: L.. g be to secure the peace of his
an should Away be done with honor. The
untry, when this car. nus-how can we OBJ.
eat question is now befol> fsring eountry2
IN peace with honor for our SUI. lis war can be
rE:o-o ora hut two ways in which u 81 we con-
deS ed The one is to flight it out" unit '-e, be
ar 800 or we meet the dread aftermath. -