The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02

basis Of these termsG That there are 4
few traitors in the state who would be will |
ing to betray their fellow-citizens to such
a degraded position in the hope OF being
rewarded for treachery by an escape from
the common doom, may be true. But
do not believe the vilest wretch would ac-
cept such terms for himself
cannot conceive how the people of
your state, ttan which none has sent
nobler or more gallant soldiers to the
field of battle, Zone of whom it is your
honor to be,) can have been deceived by
anything to which you refer in the recent
action of the federal house of representa-
tives. have seen no action of that house
that does not indicate by very decided
majority the purpose of the enemy to
refuse all terms TO the south except alb
solute, unconditional subjugation or ex
termination. But if it were otherwise,
how are we to treat with the house of
representatives? 1t is with Lincoln alone
that we could confer, and his own par
tisans at the north avow unequivocally
that his purpose, as his message and
proclamation show, was to shut out all
hope that he would treat with us on any
terms. If we will break up our govern
ment, dissolve the confederacy, disband
our armies, emancipate our slaves, and
take an oath of allegiance binding our
selves to him, and of disloyalty to our
own state, he proposes TO pardon US, and
not to plumber US of anything more than
the property already stolen from us and
such slaves as remain. In order to rem
der to his proposals so insulting as to
secure their rejection, he gives them
promise to support with his army
one tenth of the people of any
state who will attempt to set up
government over the other nine-tenths,
thus seeking to SOW discord and suspicion
among the people of the several states,
and to excite them to civil war in futher-
ance of his aid. l know we'll it would be
impossible to get your people, if they
possessed full knowledge of these facts,
to consent that proposals should now be
made by us to those who control the gov
eminent at Washington. Your own we'll
known devotion to the great cause of lib
erty and independence, to which we all
have committed whatever we have of
earthly possessions, would induce you to
take the lead in repelling the bare thought
of abiect submission to the enemy. Yet
peace on any other terms is now imposs-
ible. To obtain the sole terms to which
you or l could listen this struggle must
continue until the enemy is beaten out OF
his vain confidence in our subjugatlon
Then, and not till then, will it be possible
to treat for peace. Till then all tenders
of terms to the enemy will be received as
proof that we are ready for submission
and will encourage him in the atrociou'
warfare that he is waging.
| fear much from the tenor of the new
l receive from North Carolina that al
attempt will be made by some bad men tt
inaugurate movements which must be con
sidered as equivalent to said and comfor
to the enemy" and which all patriot
should combine to put down at any cost
You may count on my aid in every effor
to spare your state the scourge of civl
warfare, which will devastate her homes
the designs of these traitors be suffered t.
make head, know you will place yoursel
in your legitimate position in the lead
those who will not suffer the name of tn
old North State to be blackened by such
stain.
Will you pardon me for suggesting tha
my only source of disquietude on the sui
iect has arisen from the fear that you wi
delay too long the action which now al
, pears inevitable, and that by your ovel
;, earnest desire to reclaim by conciliatlo
: men whom you believe to be stout
E heart, but whose loyalty is MOI
than suspected elsewhere, you WI
permit them to gather sue
} strength as to require more violent mea
, ures than are now needed. With your II
fluence and position the promoters of VI
, founded discords, now prevalent IN yot
: state, would be put down without the vi
: of physical force if you would abando
the policy of Cancellation and set them
defiance. In this course, frankly al
s firmly pursued, you would rally arour
: Won all that is best and noblest in yo'
! state, and your triumph would be bloo
less. If the contrary policy be adopte
: 1 much fear you will be driven to the u
/ of force TO repress treason. In eltn
y event. however, be assured that you W
VI have my cordial concurrence and asslf
II ance in maintaining with you the hon
. and dignity and fair name of your stat
" and in your efforts to crush treaso
% whether incipient, as believe 1T now
Is mr. more matured, as / believe, II II
II firmly met, il will in our future inevitab
9 become. 1 have the honor 20 be- We
respectfully, JEFFERSON DA'i''