The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-15

1NASNS ~ O Wal OIL CooS = H. Il
consented to adopt the cause OF South
ern States, though with pain and re-
iuctance-nOt upon any pretext of
right, but as a measure of revolution,
and Of National interest and safety.
III e~ndeavOred in honor and good
faith to maintain the cause of the
Confederate States, but withoutn any
surrender of the rights or liberties of
free men on the part Of the people.
Hence my opposition to test oaths,
and sedition laws, to suspension OF
h privilege of habeas corpus. or any
~abridgement of constitutional rights
of the citizens either by the State
convention or Legislature or by Con
gfeSS. This resolution that the coun-
try should be free, not only in the
end, but in the means, with the moder-
alton of INDUCING in no gasconading
~harangues, pledging assurance Of
early success, invoked the free criti-
cism of the secession press, which
did not scruple to i~nsinuate infidelity
to the cause, Notwithstanding the as
surance of five sons in the military
service, some n Of whom was in
every important battle of the At
lantic slope except Bull Run and
his last field at Appomattox, and a
third then la~nguishing with a recent
wound in Petersburg. All this. with
out the favor or patronage Of the
Government, put IN SucN subordinate
offices as had been conferred by the
election OF their comrades, or in the
uSLhl course of promotion. It is but
a trivial execution to this statement
that two Of the five after two and
three years respectively Of rduou
and perilous service in the artillery
and cavalry were in the last year Of
the var transferred to staff appoint
ments in the State troops. The adop-
vironed the State, by no means i'm
piled he accession Of secessioniSts
to power; the step having been taken,
the Confederate Constitution ratified,
ton Of the ordinance Of secession,
n the necessities which then en-
and the honor n future destiny Of
our people being staked on the revolu-
ton, l did not hesitate to devote all
the energies of the State to give it
success; and the mass Of the popula-
ton not having forgiven the authors
Of the movement, demanded the cOun-
sells and services of the Union men,
who had embraced it is a necessity
Hence my election without opposition
to the Legislature, and by a majority
Of three-fourths to the Senate of the
Confederate States. Before the com
mencement Of my term, May, 1864,
by means of CONSUMPTION, and inn
preSsment laws, n the suspension
of habeas corpus. the whole popula-
ton and resources of the country had
been placed a. the command OF the
President for the prosecution Of the
war. The defeats at Gettysburg and
Vicksbur" had turned the tide Of sue
cess in favor Of the North; and al
though this vas partially relieved by
the minor victories of Plymouth and
elsewhere, the hope Of ultimate
triumph was much darkened. Never
having doubted that the North had
the physical ability to succeed, if her
people could be kept up to a ~persever-
ing effort, and that our chances de-
pended on their becoming Wearied OF
the combat; I deemed overtures Tor
with a powerful enemy in 'front.', with
war esta blished by law, with entire
uncertainty as to the terms to be ex-
| pected in the event of submission, the
necessity Of making no public demon
stration which should dampen the
| ardor Of our own troops, depress still
lower the spirits Of the people. and
excite the hopes and expectations Of
the enemy, peace could not be APP
preached by a public man. as would
by the enactment Of an ordinary
| statute. BY the adoption Of the Con-
stitution of the Confederate States
(Which I opposed without a SECOND in
convention to the extent of a post
ponement until further conference
among the States) all legal power to
| dered to the President. Any other
method was revolutionary and would
have provoked civil strife, and doubt
less sharp retribution. My plan OF
peace therefore was to operate upon
and through him. It was attempted
at the first session of Congress- Of
which I was q member by resolutions
introduced by Mr.. Orr %(secret 'of
course) but without a majority vote
of the Senate. Not being Of the con,
fdential friends of the President, I
endeavored to operate on him through
those who were. BY this means l
had an agency in setting on foot the
mission to Fortress Monroe Disap.
pointed and mortified at its result, ]
approached the President directly with
the related in my letters
| to Governor Swain. Great merit
is claimed by some persons for favor.
ing an irregular and revolutionary