The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-24


we should be outnumbered nearly two to
one On the very Threshold of the
scheme proposed therefore, we are met
by an obstacle whichesnnOtbe removed.
Is not the impfdcticdble, character Of the
project apparent .You viii observe that
/ leave entirely out of view the sugges-
ton that convention of all the states
of both federations should be held by
common consent, without any previous
understanding As to the effect of its de
cisions s-shouidmastl AleFel y to debate
and pass resolutions that ars TO bind no
one 1t ais'not supposed that this can
really be tire meaning attached to the
proposal by those who are active in It's
support, although the resolutions to
which you invite my attention declare
that the functions of such a convention
would be simply TO propose plan of
peace, with the consent OF the two bel
hgerents, OF. in other words, to act rs
negotiators in treating for peace. This
part of the scheme is not intelligible to
me. Ifthe convention is.aily to lie held
with the consent of the two 'belligerents,
that consent cannot he obtained without
negotiation The plan then would re-
solve itself into a scheme that the Two
governments should negotiate. an agree
ment for the appointment OF negotiators
TO make proposals fur a treaty. Ii seems
much more prompt and simple TO nego-
tiate for peace at once than 10 negotiate
for the appointment Of negotiators who
are to meet without power tn do any
thing hut make proposals
If the government of the United States
is willing to make peace 1t will treat for
peace directly. If unwilling, il will re-
fuse to consent to the convention States.
The author of these resolutions and those
who concur in his views appear ca Ine 10
commit the radical error of supposing
that the obstacle to obtaining the peace
Which all desire, consists IN the difficulty
of finding proper agencies for neSotiat-
ing, 81 that the whole scope OF tho reSo-
mtions ends in nothing hut Suggesting
that if the enemy will treat, the best
agency would be State delegates to con
ventiOn. Whereas the whole and only
obstacle is that the enemy will not treat
AT al, or entertain any other proposition
than that we should submit to their yoke,
acknowledge that we are criminals, and
appeal to their mercy for pardon After
this statement of objections, it may ap-
pear supertiuOus to add Others Of less
gravity, hut, IL You invite fuil expire
sion of my views, / will add that history
is replete with instances Of the intermin-
able difficulties aud delays which attend
the attempt to negotiate on great and
conflicting interests, when the parties To
the negotiations are numerous. If this
has been the case where the parties pos
sesscd full powers to conclude treaty,
what can We hope from an assemblage OF
negotiators from thirty or forty States,
who, in the midst of an eXasperatingwa war
fare are to meet without power to con-
clude anythingl In the history of our
own country, we find that, in q time of
profound peace. when the most cordial
brotherhood of sentiment existed, and
when long and bloody war bad been
brought to a triumphant close, it re-
uuired two years TO assemble conven-
tion and bring its deliberations TO an
end, and another year to procure the
ratification oftheir labors With such
war as the present III progress, the views
Of the large asscmblage of ncgotiators
proposed wouldundergo constant change
according to the yicissidudes of the
struggle. and the attempt To secure con
c0rdant views would soon he abandoned,
and leave the parties more embittered
than ever, less hopeful of the possibility
of successful negotiation. Again, how Is
the difficulty resulting from the conflict
inc prctentiOns of the two belligerents i'll
regard to several of the States to be over
come. Il is supposed that Virginia TOuh
enter into convention WiH delegation
from Whdt Om enemies choose 10 term the
state Of Hest CUgiuio, and thus recognize
an iiis0Iept and yi0ieRt dismeabermsm other
tcrritory' Or would the United
States consent that West Virgin
ia should be deprived of her pretcn-
sions to equal rights, after having form
ally admitted her as a State, and allowed
her to vote at Presidential elcctioni-
Uho rouM send ddclegdtioHtrOm Louisiana,
Tennessee, Reafackg, Missouri! The enc
my claims 10 hold the governments of
those States, while we assert them to be
members of the cOntederacy, Weuld
delegates be received from both sideS!-
If so there ,roMh s0oR be disrWpti0p Of the
coRrenti0n Ifdrlegates are received from
neither side, then a number of the States
most yitally interested i'll the result
would remain umepresented, and what
value could be attached to the mere re-
commepdations of a body of negotiators
undersuch circumstances. Various other
considerations suggest themselves, but
enough has been said TO Justify my con
clusion, that he proposal Of separate State
action IS mrisc, iRpractioabIe, and offers no
prospect Of good TO comtrbdtdnce its mani
fold injurious consequences 10 ME cduse OF
our country
Very respectfully, yours, &c,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.