Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-15
WAR PAPERS.
GOVERNOR VANCE AND THE CoNFED-
ERATE GOVERNMENT.
A Delicate Point Of Difference Question
of States Rights-Blockade-
Running.
lFor The plspatch.l


iFor The Dspatch.l
Tn q message Of Governor Y. B.
Vance to the Legislature, dated No
yember %, 1864, be referred to q mat
ter which opened very delicate point
Of difference between the State and
Confederate governments. IL should
be borne in mind that a number Of the
eastern counties were in Federal pos
session, and that the Federal au,hori-
ties had appointed Governor Of these
tStspley). In his message Governor
Vance says:
A QUESTION OF STATES RIGHTS.
"Your attention is also invited to so
much Of the legislation Of Congress a.
provides for the disposal by sequestra-
tion, &c., of real estate in North Caro-
Ira. Very serious doubts are widely en-
tertained ss to the power Of Congress to
dispose of lands lying within the limits
of this State. 1t need not be denied
that the power to declare war confers
upon the Confederate Government the
right Of declaring lands held by alien
enemies to be vacant. 1t is thought,
however, that upon such vacancy the
rishto Of the State as original grantor, or
representative Of such grantor, necessa-
rily interyenes--s breach Of the condi-
ton annexed to such grant having
occurred. Very high authorities
consider that it is not compe-
tent for Congress to control the
direction in which land lying within
North Carolina shall 60, in case racan-
GU occurred from any cause. The i'm
portance of this question cannot well DO
exaggerated. Considerations as to the
person in whom is vested the ultimate
right to the soil are of vital Importance
in every society. 1t is plain that grave
contests between the States and the
Confederate States will turn upon this
point, and that the whole theory Of the
relations Of the two governments is to
be greatly affected by its decision. /
suggest that it be settled early
vANCE's DEVOTION.
In this same message occurs very
remarkable and beautifully-written pas
sage, which shows in all its grandeur
Vance's devotion to his people. 1t
shows how dark were the prospects of
southern success, too; for, say what
people will, there WAS never, after the
early spring of 1852, any real hope Of
independence in the minds of thinking
people. But to the portion of the
message referred to:
81 have to thank you, gentlemen, for
the cordial and confding support which
| have heretofore received at your hands
and to earnestly ask its continuance.
Surely no Executive can boast of moro
Jealous and warmer cooperation than |
have experienced from your body. |
shall need your sustaining arm still
more in the future. The most danger
Gus crisis OF the war is upon us-that
cribs which is incident to all revolu.
tons. and which is most difficult for
public officers to surmount. The
novelty. confidence, and enthusi-
asm which filed our armies and ex-
hilarated our people having long since
passed away, the winnowing-fau of
want and privation and suffering be-
gins to separate the particles. The
noisy are silent, the faint of heart be-
gin to despair, and the disloyal-
though few-to grow bold in the pres
ence Of national ills. The restless
and the disconnected strive, Of course,
to Undue all others with their own
gloomy forebodiDgs. The great mass,
thank God, continue hopeful and ear
nest. Let us all labor with one accord
to sustain the nations hope, and to
show that we are worthy of independ
ence by being willing to pay for it the
price which every people hes had to
pay since liberty was known among
the sons of men-sufering and
sacrifice. The hope which animated
many Of our people-that our enemy
was coming to the sober second thought,
and that many Of them were favorable
to pacific overtures-h has been dashed to
the ground and the originators of that
hope at the North are trampled under
the feet of reckless and bloodthirsty
So far from treating with
us on the basis Of our independence, or
even Of reconstruction, the arrogant
people Of the North are tauntiDgly pro-
claiming on the hastings that no peace
can be made with us--no peace be
talked of until the last rebel has laid
down bis arms An insulted and out
ragged people will yet make them regret
this naughty language, which wrongs
and outrsges civilization. The
lion which has crouched in their path
to southern conquest for nearly three
years is still there, and though driven
back little, he has grown more watch
full, and will fight more fiercely as he
his lair. We know at las,
precisely what we would get by sub.
therein has our enemy
done US good service abolition OF
confscation of property, terri
torial vassalsge-these are the terms
TO win us back. Now, when our
brothers bleed and mothers and little
ones cry for bread. we can point them
back to the brick.kilns of Egypt
thanks to Mr. Seward, plainly in view
and show them the beautiful clus-
ters of Eschol which grow in the
land of independence, whittier we go
to possess it. And we can remind
them, too, how the pillar Of fire and the
cloud, the vouchsafed guides of Jeho-
yah, went ever before the hungering
leading away, with apparent
cruelty, from the fulness Of servitude.
With such prospect before them our
people will, as heretofore, come firmly
up 10 the full measure of their duty, If
heir trusted servants do not fail them.
They will not cruelty afresh their own
sons slain In their behalf. or nut their