Year: 1864

Oonfsderacy.


Consercatiue.-I am in favor of Convention, but
not for that purpose Ibelieye that in union there is
every other remedy had failed


DestruetiUe-What, then, do you want with a
Convention2 What good can it do2
C0nSerratiUe.-I want it mainly for the purpose
of taking steps to obtain peace. We have been
fighting nearly three years., We are growing weak
err especially as regards meat and bread, and cloth
ing; and though. hope We shall be able to hold
out and beat the enemy back at various points, yet
lam not sure Of this, judging BY the past; and if
we keep on fighting and losing, or keep on fighting
and gaining nothing, the time may come when we
shall have to lie down and take such terms as the
enemy may impose upon us. / am, therefore, for ne
gotating and lighting at the same time, and would
do so with the other Sates if they would hold Con-
Ventions as hope our State will, and would also
join the common government in negotiating


Decentralization would you do that2 The
common government alone has the right to nego,
tiate


CsnserVatiDe.-Ad Admit it but then the States in
Convention are sovereign, and could withdraw or
modify that power; and BESIDES under our Consti
tuition any three States can cah Convention of all
the States Such a Convention would certainly
have the power to treat or do any thing else; but
that should not be done, any enc State could de
mand terms for her co States and herself and insist
that the federal government should treat with her
through the Confederate government, she submit
ting the terms offered and received to the latter
Would there be any thing improper in that 2.


DestrUetire-I do not know that there would
But what sort of peace do you expectP


CoRserrdtiUe. Ue.-The very best we can get I want
separation and Independence We could have gol
better terms twelve months ago than we can now,
and am not sure that the end of the next twelve
months will not find US in worse condition than
at present fear it would be hard work now to
save slavery on ary terms. We went to war on &C
count of slavery in the Territories and we are now
in danger of losing it in the States.


Dsstruetsue.-Is that all you want Convention
for
ConrsrsatirG-No. The Confederate goYernmcnt
Which is the agent Of the States has recently shown
disposition 10 absorb and use the whole power OF
the country. The States, with their Legislatures
and Governors, are becoming mere blaDks in the
system This alarms me. ] want body clothed
with sovereign powers constantly in existence, to
protect the State against the encroachments of its
own agent well to aid that agent in all const
tutional ways against the common enemy lnde
PSANShSO "IhuOuS hOSIt1 "Ouid AOs Oc nOEIu uhN-
ing -'...


DestrUetiOS-But why net wait a little longerH
Why are you in such a hurry to have Conven-
tion?


COnssrvdtive.-I am not in hurry, and am not
unduly excIted-I would make haste slowly
Look at Arkansas, and Mississippi, and even Vir-
glnla,-could they, in their present condition,
pied as they by armies calmly and quietly elect
delegates that would represent the sovereign will
No. Their condition should De a warning to u.s.
The day may come when their condition may be
ours Lincons prescribed test oath swears away
our slaves, and his proposition to regard atenth of
population as a nucleus for O new State organiza-
ton, would subvert our State government and place
at his mercy. But ConventioH constantly in
existence. could act for the State as q sovereign
make terms IN the last resort and thus preserve
the State from extinction. L do not fear to trust
the people of the State as to any proposition in
any event. and do not fear to trnst a Convention.
Our best men would be in it and they would con-
sent to nothing dishonorabls or degrading
|. DeStrUcti0e-Are you afraid of Lincons test
oath and his proposition to recognize o tenth of
our population as the State?


CORseroatiUe.-No, but would provide against
them. We were not afraid of hts emancipation
procamatiOns. We laughed at them, yet we have
lost under them not less than five hundred thou
sand slaves 1t is not wise 60 laugh at so powerful
an enemy.
Destructi0e But what would you do with the
army while you were holding Conventions and ne
gotiating?


OnseTuatiOe--Keep it up, and fight on,-fght
and talk for peace at the same time. Whip the en-
'emy one day, and offer to treat with him the next
If he refused 10 treat fight him again. In this
w We would increase the clamor for peace at the
North, aud thus add moral strength to our cause.


Destructire-Als that sounds very well, but
believe in fighting 10 the last. l would scorn to
ask terms at the hands Of the Yankees. Only wait
until the Spring campaign opens, and we will Toll
back the tide OF invasion, and our flag will float in
Tennessee, in Kentucky, and beyond the Potomac.
l am tired of this peace talk and tired of submis-
sonists.


COnser patire-Yes, and that sounds very we'll
too; but if mistake not my friend yOu volunteer
ed and Acked out without firing gun, and ru-
NOR say that YOU have made snug fortune since
the war begun. You were going to whip fifteen
YankeeS yourself, but you have not yet seen one.
You are very willing for the war to go on to make
good your Confederate bonds, and to protect your
other roperty but you want your neighbors and
your r.eighbors childgen to fight the battles. You
and s1ch as you are getting rich out of your coun
trys ruin, and you are therefore retted when peace
is mentioned You talk about submisslonists-you
hsVe been n subnissionist from the first. If the
tide of invasion is never rolled back until yOW help
do it it will roll on and roll over US.


DestrlLctiUe. your way-I can never talk
to you without your beng personal.


C07.serudti tiOe.-You began it by :nsinuating that
was submissionist You called me submission
isl under tie old government because l was oppo
sell to secession; but have done my duty in this
war, which was forced upon me, and our neighbors
cal see and Judge for themselves who subus
sio lists. If my advice had been taken we shoult
have had no war.


I7estrUctire-Well neighbor, you are rather hare
upon me, but the truth is feel some concern abou
the state of the country, and should like to tslh
with you again on the subject. begin to fear tha
if sc mething is not done, and that soon our condi
ton will be dangerous one.


Go aseruatipe So Come over again to
morn ow, and we'll talk more about it,