The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-24
REREI. REPORT.
JET. Davis on the Peace Question
Important Letter 10 the Members OF
the Georgia Legislature.
RIcHNloND. Va, Nov II. 1854


Wing introduces it as being very appro-
pirate just now:
RICHNioND, Va, Nov II. 1854
To the Honorable Senators from Georgia,
Messrs A b Wright, President of the
Senate, Y l.. Cherry, J. NJ Chambers,
Thos E. Lloyd, Frederick X West,
Robest B. Nesbet
GENTLEMEN: | answered, by tcle-
gram this morning, you letter of the
llth inst, AS requested, and now re
spectfully comply with your desire that
| should express my views on the subject
to which YOU invite my attention. In
forwarding 10 me the resolutions intro
duced into the House of Representa- ives
of Georgia by Mr. Stephens, of Hancock,
YOU state that yOu are not inclined 70
favor the passage Of these or any similar
resouticns believing them 10 have n
tendency to create divisions among our
selves and 10 unite and strengthen our
enemies; but that it is asserted IN Mil
lcdgcyille that favor such action TN the
part of the States, and would be pleased
to see Georgia cast her inhuVce in that
way. Iou are kind enough to say that
if this be true, and if the passage OF
these on similar resolutions would in the
slightest degree aid or assist me III bring
ing the war u successful and speedy
close, YOU will give them your earnest
and hearty support | retum yorr- my
cordial thanks for this expression of con-
tidcncc, bHt assure y0u that there is no
truth IN thdt Uhich yOH mention, and pre-
snme that YOU will already have seen by
the closing paIt OF my annual message,
which must have reached YOU since the
date of Your letter, that ] have not
contemplated the use Of amy other agen-
cy in treating of peace than that estaE-
hShcd 10y the Constitution of the
Confederate States. That agency
seems to me 10 be very we'll adapted
10 its purpose, and free of all the injuri-
ous consequences that would follow any
other means that have been suggested.
The objection 10 separate state action
which YOU present in yonr letter, ap-
pears to be 80 conclusive - To admit Of
no reply The immediate and inevitable
tendency of such distinct action hy each
state is to create discordant instead Of
united councils, tO suggest to our enc
mics the possibility of dissolution OF
the cOntederacy, aud TO encourage them
by the spectacle of our divisions, u more
determined and united action against
us They would readily adopt tire false
idea that some of the states of the con-
federacN are disposed to abandon their
sister states and make separate terms of
peace for themselves, and If such sus-
piclon, however untouuded, were once
cngendered among our own people, it
would he destructive of that spirit of
mutual confidence and support which
forms our chief reliance for success III
the maintenance otour Cause When the
proposal of separate state action was first
moved 1t appeared 10 me go impractical
hle, so void Of any promise of good, that
| gave no heed to the proposal. But
upon its adoption hy citizens whose pO-
sition and ability give weight 70 theeX-
preSSioH OF their opinions, was led to q
scfOus consideration of the subject -
Nv first impressions have NOT been
changed by reflection If all the states
Of the two hostile federatiOms are TO
meet in convention II is plain that such
meeting can only take place aft ter an
agreement a. 70 the time, place, and
terms on which they are To meet Now,
without discussing the minor, although
not tritiing difficulties of agreeing as 10
time and place 1t Is certain that the
states roaid Herer consent 10 a con-
reAtiOR TithOW preUioHs agree
nept as 10 The terms on Which thsg ioers 10
meet The proposed contention mast meet on
fi.e basis either hdt no State should against
Us O,rH lriV, BE- bound by he decision Of the
contention, o. hat Il should be 80 bosRd =
But il is plain that an agreement OH the
basis that no State should be bound,
without its consent, by the resalt Of the
deliberations ropld be an abaad0EBest, os
The part Of the North. Of lie pretended right
ot coercion ,coald be an absolute TecogaifiOR
OF the independence Of the sererGI. Stairs 9f
fhs Coafedeacy, ,cOHld be, in a H0rd, 50
oomplete concession Of ths riJhtfhlsess Of
our cause, that the most visionary oasa0t hope
for such dH dgreemeat iH GdrdRce " the
meeting of a cORreRtiOa The only other
possible basis of meeting is that each
State should agree beforehand to be
bound by the decision of the Convention.
And such agreement is but another form
of submission TO Northern dominion, as
we we'll know that in such convention