Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18

oeg your earnest cOnslnetdtlnn VI thls
suggestion"
President Davis's reply Is dated Janu-
iry 8. 1854, and is as follows: ~ have
received your letter containing sur
gestlons OF the measures TO be
adopted for the purpose OF removing TIC
sources OF discomfort Ia North Carolina.
Apart from insuperable objections TO tho
Inc of policy you propose | cannot see
now the more material obstacles are TO
30 surmounted. We have made three dis
met efforts 10 communicate with the
authorities at Washington. and have
be n invariably Unsuccessful Commis-
,iorers were sent before h0stllities were
begun. and the Washington Government
refused 10 see them or hear what they
nad TO say. A second time | sent
military officer with a communication
addressed by myself 10 President Lin
coin. The letter was received by General
Scott. who did not permit the officer 10
see Mr. Lincoln. but who promised that
an answer should be sent No answer has
ever been received. The third time
a few months ago, gentleman was sent
whose positiOn. character, ana rep"-
tatlon was such as TO ensure MS rccfp-
lion. n the enemy we're not determined
to receive no proposal whatever IRON
This government. Vice-President STE
,ervices in the hope Of being able 20
,romote the cause OF humanity, ana al
though little belief was entertained OF
his success. I cheerfuly yielded 10 ne
suggestion that the experiment shotlu
be tried The enemy refused 10 ~,
him pass through their lines or 20 nolu
any conference with them. lie was slop
ned before he even reached vi r.
Monroe on his way 20 Nashlns 80
attempt again. IN the race "a ,.h
nooted reflections Of all conferences VIZ"
,,s 20 send commissioners or agents 10
arooose neace Is 10 invite insult anu
,orture'v and TO subject ourselves 70
t.I,onitv without the slightest chahco
80 beinG listened TO. No true citizeh' no
man who has our cause at near "a
desire this. and the good people OF ~ ="
Corolina would be the last 10 apPi wv
of such an attempt. II aware o, an
facts II .he proposals cannot De iii""S
tn~oreh envoys. because the enemy
no+ rSceive them. how is it possloie 10
communicate our desire for peace o'ne'
wise than by the public amour
contained in almost every h'ea'oa1
ever sent TO CongressY canHo' ~
a. this time. one instance IN "hlcn "",o
failed to announce tina our onlS ,t.t
SO reace and the only terms Whlch
formed Il sine qua i."iA
nee Won overwhelmingly deHldn1
onIv 70 be let alone But suppose II
v.eTa practicable to obtain conference
,hroueh commissioners, with the govern
mt of President Lincoln, Is u ar tn'S
,,,o,,ont that we are to consldet IL "e-
strable or even at all admissible nave
v,e not lust been apprized py that uo9fVe
Mt we can only expect his gracious
nardon by emancipating al our saves
s.,earing allegiance and obedience 10
rim ard his proclamations, ana oeCo"n"s
I'm point OF fact the slaves OF our wv
negroes? Can there be IN Norm N"'o-
lima one citizen so fallen benealh tne
dignity Of his ancestors as 70 a,cepl VI
to enter into conference on inc O"7'9 %
thasa terms? That there are rev
traitors in the State who woulu ue WIZ
ir0 TO betrav their fellow-ciuzens 10
~ a degraded condition, ia fope q.
being rewarded by their treachery oy an
oeeoDe from the common doom may he
true But l do not believe the WEES
wretch would accept such terms Tor nm
self cannot conceive how the people
Of vour State. than which none has sent
nohler or more gallant soldiers 10 the
Geld Of battle Zone of whom Il Is your
honor 10 be-, could have been uecei'U
NV ANYTHING to which you refer IN To.
recent action OF tire Federal House OF |
Rapresentatives' / have seen 10 acton |
OF that House which does not indicate |
bv very decided majority, me purpose |
of the enemy to refuse all terms TO tne |
conth save absolute. unconditional SUBJ /
,ugation or determination. But II u |
yesre otherwise. how are We TO treat with /
The Hous. of Representatives? IL is /
with President Lincoln alone that we /
could over confer and his own partlsans
at the North avow unequivocdiiy mat
his purpose I'm his message and prOciama-
tion was to shut out all hope that ne
would ever treat with US on any terms
If we will break up our government dls-
hand our armies, dissolve me Oohleoo-
racv. emancipate our slaves take an
oatb OF allegiance binding ourselves TO
obedience to him and 70 disloyalty 10 our
own States, he proposes 10 pirHoh u'
and not to plumber Va OF anything more
than the property already stolen from
us. and such slaves as still remain III
order TO render his proposals so ln5ullins
as 10 secure their rejection ne JOINS 10
nom a promise TO support with his army
ono tentb Of the PEOPLE OF any State
who will attempt TO set up government
over the other nine tenths, thus seeking
n SOW discord and suspicion among the
neonIe of the several States. and 10 IN
Cite them 10 civil war in furtherance OF
his ends know fun well IL would be
impossible 10 get your people, II they
nossessed fun knowledge OF these facts
10 consent that proposals should now De
made by us TO those VINO control tho
government at Washington Peace on
nv other terms than AFFECT submission
70 the enemy is now impossible. To OBJ
tain the sole terms % which you or
,ould listen. this struggle must continue
until the enemy IS beaten out OF his VAIN
confidence I'm our subjugauon. Ihen'
and not until then, VII II D. poSsiolo
80 ,roat Of pcace. TIL then I'll tender
~ FERNS 10 the enemy viii be received
~ nroof that We are ready for submis-
sion and will encourage him IN the afro
,to,,s warfare ne IS WagiHg'