Year: 1864




In the rebel House of Representatives on
tho 4th inst. Mr.. james M. Leach asked
leave to make personal explanation. lie
noticed in the Examiner, an article making
or tttack upon the people of North Caroli-
~, IN general, and those Of his district and
himself in particular. After reading the
article, he entered into a lengthy criticism
upon it, He said, the rumorsl and charges
against his people originated in the State;
that they came from clamor gotten up
by certain disappointed parties who had
vented their spleen by grossly misrepresent
ing those who had received the support and
countenance of the people. Ii originated
with men who once denounced the present
Governor az peace man and a traitor. Mr..
t. said he was peace luan--a peace man
npon the principle Of recognizing the indie
nendence of the Southern Confederacy.-'
SAID he was in favor Of the appointment OF
Commissioners to be ready to treat with
the United States whenever they were will
,ng To treat with us, as had been done in
tue Revolutionary war, IN the war OF 1872
and during the Mexican war. he said the
people of his district were as ioyat and de-
voted to the Southern cause as those OF any
other in the Confederacy. He said they
had sent to the army more men in proper
ton 20 their population than any district in
the South. That they had proved their de
votion to the cause upon almost every bat
rle6eld-had nobly fallen with ''their teet
TO the enemy aud their face to the sky
lie said he was prepared to prove that
there had been fewer desertions from the
rroops of North Carolina than from those
of anv other State IN the South.


n. said the viows he entertained upon
naace were the same that had been express
ed by the Vice President of the Southern
Confederacy and many other distinguished
men in the South. He said that it was true
that there was much opposition to the late
act passed for the suspension OF the wrlt OF
ha6eas corpus, and since the paoilcatioh OF
SIR. Stephens speech, it had much increas-
ed lie had intended himself. to Introduce
a bill TO repeal the late act. He had heard
that the act had been passed for the pur-
pose of suppre.sing pablic sentiment in N.
Carolina 1t so, its object had been and
would be defeated While the people of
North Carolina were willing to make any
and every sacrifice for the honorable pros
ecution of the war, they would not quiet
10 spbmit to the destruction OF their rights
aud liberties.


Mr.. j. f. Leach also rose tOa personal
..yplanation. The article IN the Examiner,
l.. had no doubt, alluded to bin. lie said
Le Endorsed every word that had been SAID
ny his colleague He said he was peace
nan-for an honorable peace-peace that
will do Justice to those that commenced
.h,>h a tiop hair
all upon the altar OF their country. lie
,aid be was southern man, and would
stand by the cause of the ''sunny South,
and was wilin, to make any proper sacrl-
Gc. flri its success But, he said is it any
discredit to a man to be in favor OF peacel
How are YOU to put an end { o the war with
out negotiation, and how were you to ne
g0tiate without being in favor OF peace?-
Commissioners have been appointed in all
vars we ever had, 20 bring about thu ces-
>ation of hostilities, and put a stop to the
shedding of blood He said We must lay
aside all this spirit OF villi6catlon and pref
udice which seemed to fill the minds OF so
many persons upon this subject The peo
ode Of North Carolina bad been abused and
vjlli6ed more than those Of all the States
the COutE, d1i WY was W. w no ~ "
cause she had furnished SD many thousand
noble and true men, who had sacrificed
their all Tor the cause!


He said it was true there was disloyalty
there-a disloyalty that he was proud ot-a
disloyalty that is opposed to bad laws and
worse administration He said that the re
cent act suspendlng the writ of ha6eas cor
Dus had created dsloyalty there.


Mr.. Staples desired to ask the gentleman
a question Are you for peace on any 9th
or terms than that OF the independence o!
the South?


Mr.. Leach am for peace on the basis
of the inderendence Of the South, if it can
be obtained; but if not, then am for peace
on the best terms We can get, short of sub
legation Is the gentlemen satished2


Mr.. Staples-'I am not" And was about
to proceed to address the House, when MIR
Atkins Of Tennessee objected, unanimous
consent being necessary, and further debate
prevented