Year: 1864

OIL. AAA.-INO. IL.


Another Falsehood Exposed.


A friend writing us from Smith6eld, under date
May 23d, says:


SIN Gov vance's speech in this place to-day, he |
said be could prove, by two or three as respectable
members there are in the Legislature, that you
had made propositions to them to introduce resoiu.
tions calling for Convention for the purpose OF
seeding from the Confederacy; and that II yoa
had any friends present, which he knew you bad,
they were at liberty to communicate his statement !
to you. Please let me hear from you on this par.
ticular point-not that believe the statement but
to meet it when used against you."


The above is from . gentleman whose word may
be implicitly relied on.
This charge against US appeared in the Confed-
crate Of Tuesday last, which was printed Monday
night tho day on which the Governor spoke At
Smithfsld ..


We now say to our correspondent and to the
public that there is no shadow Of foundation for
Gov Vance's statement We have never supposed
nor stated that Convention would be called for
the purpose of seeding from the Confederate gov
ernment. We have made no propositions to mem
bers of the Legislature to introduce resolutions or
bills calling for Convention for any such purpose;
nor have we any recollection Of having suggested
to any member the propriety Of such bill or reso'
luton for any purpose. We have thought, and
still think, that it would be well for this State and
all the Confederate States to have Conventions in
being, if not in session during tho war-not to se
cede from or embarrsss the common government,
but to aid that government in obtaining an honors
BILE peace, as recommended by the Legislature o.
Georgia; and at the same time to see to it that the
administrators of that government do not subvert
O. change its character trench fatally on the reser
we'd rights of the States and the liberties of the
| people We arc not AFRAID to trust the people, a.
Coz. Hance H. No one supposes that the present
Legislature will submit the question Of Convention
to the people; but with our views Of the subject,
| and looking to the condition of the country, we
would support no man for the next Legislature
who would not pledge himself, if the emer-
gency required it. to consult the people at the bal
lot. box as to whether they would have Conven-
tion. II it be true that the people can be trusted
at all times with the management of their own af


fairs, then Convention could do no harm, and it


might do much good and even ifit should do harm,


which we do not believe, the pc ople themselves,


who would have to bear it. would be to blame


for it.


In the Standard of February "a, 1854, we publish.


cd letter from Robert P. Dick ESQ.,, in relation to


the Greensborough meeting, which letter met as it


still meets our warm approval Among other


things Mr.. Dick said:


81 am opposed to the secession of North. Carolina


from the government of the Confederate States
Secession will always bring war and war produces


oloodshed desolation and sorrow. Civil war always


engenders sectional strife and unreenting hate, and


it is the prolifcsource of want corruption and crime


A dire necessity made North Carolina secede from


the old Union, and she has reaped an abundant bar


vest of bitter fruits She could not remain neutral


She was compelled to assume her present position
and noby has she maintained her honor and hel
} fame Secession now would be utter folly and mad
ness, and such an act could only be justified in
life and death struggle" for her liberty. desire


convention to prevent any necessity for secession


The State in her full sovereignty might check any
} usurpations and abuses of the common governmen,
5 by firm and determined remonstranee.


. Conventions in all the States would greatly


strengthen the Confederate government by granting
it needful powers in every emergency, which if as
su.ned without their consent would be the usurpa
tlOn OF u0Warr3nCeQ autnOrlty.


I l further desire State Convention to inaugurat
negotiations for peace. l do not propose that tn.
State shall treat with the Lincoln government Al
honorable peace can never be obtained from tha
It source. l scorn any proposition which Lincoln ha
made and feel assured that the fanatical hatred


his friends will never allow US any honorable term


of adjustment


. desire that this Statein Convention shall invit
o . ac0nference, through commissioners, with her sis
ter States Of the South to if some plan canno
Q be devised to stop the war by negotiation. l an


opposed to any separate State action and if the 9th


States will not heed the voice of North Carolin
s for peace then she will have done her duty to Co
q and her people, and be free from any Of the re


sponsioties of the future.


> While our heroic soldiers are fighting and fallin
+ in the "deadly breach" and defending every inc
d of their native land, I want to see grand couuc
j.. Of sovereign States in spirit worthy of the civil
J.. zation and Christianity of the age receiving tso
!. posing and calmly considering propositions for a
u honorable peace


70 A strong peace party at the South, sustained b
a the action of sovereign States, would greatly in
crease the power of the peace men at the North an
!. enable them to overturn the hateful Black Reput
y lican dynasty at Washington. l feel sure that W


could successfully treat with the conservative me
It at the North, If they were in power, and 0btai
= such terms as would be honorable and acceptabl


to the whole country.


10 Negotiations for peace would greatly encourag
g, our people at home, and make them use every en-
r. ergy to sustain our cause; and they would chez
Il and strengthen our gallant army in the field; fo
:. then they might have some hope that the swor
10 would not devour forever. feel that it is biehe
evidence Of patriotism to tho life Of one citsse
E, than to destroy a thousand enemies"
II Time again have We announced similar views
It the Standard, from the moment the Conventio
Ia question was first discussed IN to the present TT
d charge Of Gov. Vance falls to the ground. The,
e Is no truth in it.
" Since the shove was written We have received tt


Conservative Of Wednesday, containing commun