The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-25

to guard Washington, and the Electoral College,
Lincoln set out for his Capitol.-My first view of the
''Rail Splitter" President.
The Fourth day of February had special
distinction among its ~eventful fellows OF the
month by reason Of being the date OF as
sembling Of two Congresses, other than the
Federal body, which also was in session; to-
wit, the Confederate Congress at Mont
gomery, and the Peace Congress at
Washington. The latter is commonly called
the Virginia Peace Conference" because
it originated with her resolution inviting the
other States to join her in a National Con
ventiOn to discuss the situation. Such a
conference, while it could have no power to
leglslate, could give expression to concllla-
tory views, and by rOusing the sober-second
thought OF the masses, almost force the hot
heads and Abolitionists to listen to terms of
compromise. At least, such were the
hopes of the cold Dominion" who had
many times previously thrown herself into
the breach between the sections, with heal
ing measures; and though think her efforts
in this instance were futile from the outset,
and damaging to the South by raising false
hopes, and dividing our people at a ~juncture
when only the utmost firmness and unity of
action could avert war, yet l ppo in one
sense 1T is to her honor that she thus begged
for peace till the foe was at her doors.
II CONFERENCE.
The call for the Conference was al first
well received by the country, and twenty,
out of the 80 States, sent delegates. The
venerable John Tyler of Virginia, one of the
fifteen men whom the American MINOR
wealth i'll its best days had called to be it's
President, was chosen to preside over the
convention, and in taking the chair, de-
hvered .. speech Of much power and pathos.
1nyrOLInr fhn cylIrI ~ n 40 70 oo ILL.,.
deliberations. The delegates 1873 in number.
were mainly men of moderate views; but
there were many serpents in disguise, vino
at night went kissing about in dark corners
and secret places, neutra. ling the effect of
any concllatory action OF the convention by
day. lack Chandler, for example. wrote to
one o.. two of the New England Govern
ors urging them to send delegates, but to be
careful IN selecting their men; that the thing
was a mere farce but would amuse the old
women OF the country until affairs were in
trim for blood letting'-a little of which,
he considered desirable for party and other
reasons! In the language of Patiick Henry
Their cry is for peace!' but there is no
peace, and they do not wish any. The
Convention sat for three weeks, and after
much mild discussion and many glowing eu-
logles OF the Union, etc., decided to adopt
the "plan of Adjustment" drawn by Julius
.; Guthrie OF Kentucky, which was virtu-
ally the Crlttenden compromise diluted still
farther by concessions to the onists.
1t IS needless to give the details of the
plan, for Congress instead of accepting it,
fairly hooted at it. The Abolition House
OF Representatives actually refused to
receive it, while the Senate voted
1T down by % to the latter all Sout hern-
ers.
However, by this time, the extraordinarv
conduct of Mr.. Buchanon's new friends.
joined to the insane violence of the Adolf,
%tlonlsts, had destl Dyed all possibility of anv
outcome from the Peace Confer
ence. On the very day the convention met.
a large body of troops with artillery, and
c~amp-equlpage, poured into Washington.
with great display of warlike pomp. For,
tress Monroe, also, was reinforced and her |
turned landward to frown upon Viz
gina, though she had that day elected a ma
l0rlty OF union men to her State Convention |
dhe Governor of Massachusetts, ordered his
state Troops to hold themselves in readiness
NOTE v;r-:-: /