The National tribune., 1885-01-15
EXCeIIency, 4. q. VANCE,
Governor OF North Carolina.
nnonIlfz III
Extracts from the american annual Cycyopodia for
1864 pugeS 1853

Extracts from The american annual Cyc'op9dia for
1864, pages $3.50
The dissatisfaction with the Government Mt Rich
mond, which existed in North Carolina at the close
of 1868 and the first part of 1864 from the lack
of efforts the part of the Richmond Government
TO seek by negotiations peace with the United
States. large portion of the people of the State
desired peace but instead of witnessing efforts to
obtain il by negotiation, they beheld the war
pressed forward, the exactons of the Government
for men and money constantly increasing and the
loss and destruction of the war unsuspended. = q
1t well understood by those who compre-
hended the true state of affairs that Mr.. Lincoln
could not receive any individuals or commission
ers appointed sent by the Government at Rich
mond, without thereby recognizing the existence
of that Government Doing thus much would
change the issue in the contest between the hostile
parties The advocates of peace, therefore, took
the position that the State alone should at
tempt to negotiate peace with the Federal Gov
ernment. Those who opposed this view took the
position that the State should act in cooperation
with the other States eAgaged with her in the war
This became the issue in the election for Governor
in August. Gov. Vance represented the latter
view and Mr. Holden the former They thus were
both in favor of peace, and became the opposing
candidates. Holden wassigmatzedas the peace
at-any price, candidate III the same manner as
the peace men in several of the Northern States
were designated. The arguments urged in the po-
Iitica campaign show the earnestness of the pso-
pie
On the side of Mr. Holdne IL was said: We went
to war to protect the state sovereignty aud to defend
and perpetuGte the institution of slavery but if il
should appear that we are likely to lose both as
rational beings we should pause and consider we'll
the direction we are taking IL the war should con-
tinue - months longer with greater success to
arms there is great danger thdt the institution
of slavery will be hopelessy destroyed"
Gov. Vance, to support his views said: "Seces-
sion from the Confederacy will involve in n new
war-a bloodicr conflict than that which we now
deplore. So soon as you announce to the world
that you sovereign and independent nation,
a matter of course the Confederate Government
has "A right TO declare war against you and Presi-
dent Davis will make the whole State field of bat
tie and blood. Old Abe would send his troops here
also, because we would no longer be neutral and
SO. if you will pardon the expression we would
catch the dcvil on all sides"
The friends Of Holden proposed to carry out their
plan by means of a State convention. TO this il
was objected that the proposition for Stale Con-
vention closely upon The heels of Mr. Lincoln's
proposition to let one-tenth of the people form
State Government, had very strong odor Of dis
loyalty and treason. The pence-at-any- price" 4"
also aided by the great number of desert
ers from the army within the State In the noun
tain frontier on the western border bands of them
swarmed. Some of the interior counties were also
infested by them. They represented nearly every
State in the Confederacy, and lurked III the
swamps and mountains, stealing, pluudering, and,
in many instances, numbering the inhabitants.
They took possession OF the town of Iadfin AID
released all The prisoners III the JAIL who doubtless,
says the Richmond ErdHiaer, Il radical secession
print, Immediately joined them, and all became
peace men together.