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

pressed his readiness To receive commissioner
from what he is pleased to designate the "heads
oil the insurgent forces" while he refuses to re-
ceire one from the President civil magistrate
This may be considered point Of punctilo, but it
is made and insisted upon-and we placed in
the position of demanding full recognition of the
Confederacy as an indispensable prerequisite to the
initiation Of any negotiations whatever.
believe that this position should be corrected
There is general feeling that nothing short Of in
dependence could be accepted, and that any treaty
which did not embrace il would be rejected. But
it is sufficient that independence be required in the
treaty-not as preliminary to opening negotiations
upon the subject of agreeing upon treaty. Should
n conference be opened, our commissioners would
insist upon recognition But there are other ques-
tons upon the satisfactory arrangement Of which
| this concession may depend. The United States
may demand the free navigation of the Mississippi
river, and continue to refuse recognition until this
| can be agreed upon. What of the eoastng trade
Shc} it be free? What of an alliance offensive and
20 ensiVe upon the Monroe doctrine? Where shall
the boundary line Shall the recognition include
Srthwestern Virginia and the States of Missouri
e9tueky? Tho settlement of all these. ques-
11y reasonably be required before they con.
ST. ~ recognition. And other questions Of detail
might arise affecting the main, issue between the
| parties: should they all be agreed on and salts
tactorly adjusted, there might then be no further
| dispute upon the question of recognition. Can we
reasonably hope that the United States will ever
consent to recognition, while these questions are
entirely open? 1t would be gratuitous conces-
| sion Of the main point in contest-pacing US IN
position to rise in our demands, and continue the
war--and would give to foreign nations Gfull justi
hcaton for extending their recognition also. How
| ever desirable 1t may be to us, VIC reasonably
! expect it from an enemy? | am satisfied that it
| will never be conceded. Some plan must be adopt
| ed to avoid this useless ISSUE or this war must
continue, with results that every patriot may de-
plore
President Davis, in his late message says, o. No
| instance in history is remembered by me in which
a nation pretending TO exercise dominion over an
other asserting its independence has been the first
to cOncede the existence of such independence. -
And in another part of the message he says, In
| word peace is impossible without independence,
and it is not to be expected that the enemy will
cipae neutrals in the recognition of that indepen
| dence" Now, Sir, if it is not to be expected that
the United States will be the first to recognize US,
| much less can it be expected that they will do so
preliminary step to opening negotiations-give
up the main point in dispute for the sake merely of
getting our consent to talk with them. upon the
subject There is ntimation that any other ma
ton Is likely to intervene but rather the reverse.
And what is the result, but war; continued and un-
! relenting? How can peace ever come? But diff
! fer somewhat with the President think, it is to
be expected that the United States will be the first
| to recognize US when they become satisfied that it
is to their int: est to do So provide&rother mat
tiers OF detail can be satisfactorily arranged But it
cannot be expected that they will recognize us as
preliminary to opening negotiations upon those mat
ters finterest should point them to the course it
! might be expected that even enemy would be
the first to accord independence-in a treaty-but
! not as preliminary thereto, for the privilege of
| being allowed to treat
The United States may consider its honor IN
volved IN this proposition. 1t would be confes-
sion OF weakness, indeed-a complete receding from
| the whole field of cOntest-a concession Of almost
| everything. Would not such, unqualified ac
acknowledgement Of tho Conisje9lcy embrace Ken
lucky aud Missouri, Wow there be any assu--
rance that it would end q 1Rarf disagreernett
on the question of boundary, and other points,
might still prevent the cessation of hostilities.
| We should seek to make this question of interest
| only to our adversary. Let our terms upon points
of detail be made known, and such concessions as we
can make upon them be offered as an inducement to
secure independence and peace When can we hope
20 See this war end, while even conference upon
the tjvct of peace is made impossible by such
high demands as to involve the national honor of
either party? But it is said the United States has
I forfeited all claim to honor by the barbarous man.
ner in which it has conducted this war. Let us
not deceive ourselves. We miscalculated and IN.
derrated its power and energy, and deceived
our cost Nations are sensitive the subject of
their military strength and prOweSs. Yielding up
on this is the last degradation to which they sub
init Upon it is supposed to depend their national
safety. But the least assailabe of all conduct as
a question of honor, is the manner in which they
execute vengeance upon their enemies. nation
may be disgraced in the estimation of humanity by
acts of barbarous cruelty and wanton desoatiol in
woging war. Such coaduct has too often charac-
terZed the armies of the United States in this strug-
gle. No Que will attempt to justify or even pslate
it. But this affords reason for expecting that
they will concede before the world any acknowl.
edgment of weakness or defeat that would imply
cowardice or dishonor. Humanity and Christian
virtue may stamp them with disgrace for acts of
vandalism and barbarlty. But they will understand
that they can answer the world with recrimination
and defiance They do not fear that it will affect
their status in the family Of nations. What nation
can raise the point against them2 Is Russia the
accuser? She is pointed to unhappy Poland-to
no BILE men and high born matrons periShing among
the icy rocks Of Siberia. Is Austria the accuser
let the voice Of down trodden Hungary answer
The public whipping of women by orders from her
highest functionares-thec OnIiscations and the ex-
ecutions arise in dark array, and hush her voice
Does France raise the point? Remind her of the
simple hearted, priest loving peasantry of La Ven
dee=of the deeds of horror enacted in their quiet
helds-and France must beg that the veil of obliY-
ion be drawn over the seene and that it be no more
remembered among the nations. What n
Spain say? Ask the spirits of the Montezumas-
were they "upon bed of roses ?" Spain trembles
and totters under the continued vengeance of lust
and righteous God. And Mexico, so lately become
monarchy upon our very border-the early fruit
of this unfortunate war-will she raise her voice ?
1t is hushed by the Texian cry, Remember
the Alamow Is England the accuser2 Dear old
England-our mother-the honored parent and pre-
server of constitutional liberty and civil rights
Point to India. Where are the Sepoys-poor. de-
luded, bloody victims upon the altar of their coun-
| try's liberty? The cries of saught cred women and
infants strike England dumb before the tribunal of
nations. And what shall we say-we ourselvesY
| Were we not participants in the cruel determination
of the poor, naked red men of the forest? The
sins of nations, the sins of individuals, are Just
subjects for the vengeance of Heaven. Who can
say that the present terrible scourge of desolaton
and blood upon the American States is not Just
retri6ution for national sinsP Upon this point the
United States well understand that they may DEFY