The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-22
SALEM, N. c., March IS, 1865.

Hon. JOHN A. GILMER =
Ma Dear Sir - y How
ever much your views may have differed
from mine, for the last eighteen months, in
regard to this war, we once agreed OF the
subject. Therefore, trust you will excuse
me for urging you to make an effort to
bring about a termination of this wicked
war, which has spread desoation through
out the land, and is fast depopulating our
country, and which, if persisted in, must In
evitably result in suhjugation.
1t is useless to disguise the truth and de-
ceive the people. am informed, on I'M
doubted authority, that the President him
self has no idea of ever getting an indepen-
dent Confederacy. Then why longer tritle
with the lives and property of the people,
under the pretence of trying to get indepen-
dence, when all candid men know and ad
nit priuately that it never can be obtained.
The lives of tens of thousands of our fellow
beings and the utter ruin of every thing, is
too dear sacrifice to make in an effort to
> obtain "protracted truce" This will never
be obtained to save the pride of the precip-
itators who forced this state of things on
the country against your and my wishes,
and the wishes of three -fourths of the peo-
pie of this State.
There is one plain and unmistakable way
to stop this war, SO far as North Carolina is
concerned, (and the same can be done by
the other States, if they will,) and but one
way short of subjugation. 1t is this: Call
State Convention, repeal the ordinance of
secession, elect Senators and Representatives
to the old Congress of the United States,
and let the State resume her position in the
Union. Then, my dear Sir, the war power
over the institution of slavery, claimed by
Lincoln and Seward, ceases-and the insti-
tuition is under the protection of the State
a laws, by virtue of which it alone ever exist
ed. Outside of the war power, the Republi-
cans themselves cOncede that the govern
b. ment has no power over slavery, unless they
can procure an amendment to the COnstitu-
ton, which from present indications, looks
like they cannot get ratified by three fourths
of the States. But if they should get the
requisite majority, would it not be better to
have peace, and peaceably free the negroes
at the ballot-boX than to sacrifice tens of
thousands more of lives in this unequal and
hopeless contest, beggar and starve our
people, and destroy every species of proper
Iy, duu lHcN lTcc lilt SluVCS. TUT IL lUlS
war is prolonged, it seems clear to me that
it must result in death to slavery, and per
haps enslave the white race.
Then, for Gods sake, use your influence
with our Governor to get him to call togeth-
er the Legislature to provide .torthwith for q
State Convention. If much longer delayed
our State government will be overturned,
and then the only tenure by which slave
property is held will be gone, and we will
be at the mercy of the conqueror. At this
moment North Carolina has the power in
her own hands to save herself and every spe-
Giles of property if she will act promptly
through Convention. If had to die for
q. it these are my honest sentiments, and they
y are the sentiments of thrce-fourths of this
section of the State l therefore hope you
will excuse the frankness with which l have
written. But l assure you the people de.
mand that steps be taken at once to stop
this war and save further sacrifice of life and
property. What way SO fair and so sure as
for the people to speak out and make known
their demands through State Convention
1t will not do to tell them that Lincoln
has declined to treat with the States as vel
as with the Confederacy. The States occu
py the oantage ground. They can, by Stat,
Conventions, end this war, and save thei
property without any treaty, merely by send
ing Senators and Representatives to the ole
Congress, and if the people were consulted
this would be done. hope you will thinl
of this matter, and accept the importano
OF the subject as sufficient excuse for thi
long letter.
With great respect, 1 am truly yours,
.. d. II. STARBUCK.