Year: 1863




meetings called for peace on any terms and some
of them proposed q reconstruction of the Union
1t is true few of them called for peace on the pest
terms that could be obtained, and few OF them
proposed reconstruction. published the proceed
ings, but my whole course both as q man and an
Editor was against reconstruction and against un-
conditional submission to the federal government.
L published the proceedings of these meetings De-
cause portion of the people had held them-not
because Iapproved them. At least sixty out Oh the
seventy meetings breathed spirit Of devotion to
the cause, and the proceedings of many OF these
meetings met my approval, especialB those OF the
people of Johnston County. Forty odd Counties
in Virginia go about to reconstruct the old Union,
and actually do reconStructit far as they can,
; and no denunciations are heaped on them; yet,
when the people in few precincts in North-Caro-
lina worn and wasted by war, express desire for
peace, and favor return to the old government not
as matter of choice, but as they think, OF stern
necessity, great outcry is raised-the State itself
Is charged with disoyalty and my Office is mo6oed
for publishing the proceedings though every intel
hgent person in the State who reads the Standard,
knows did not approve them.


But it is SAID that to talk for peace at home while
our troops are fighting for it in the field, operates
against the cause. do not believe it. What
sort of peace? A return to the old government?
No. Submission to Mr.. Lincoln? No. What
then A peace based on The sepGrGtion Of a por-
ti0n Of the Southern States from the other States,
and t'oO or three Independent g0UerRnaents. That
is what would call "an honorable peace" How
Is this to De effected? By invading Maryland and
Pennsylvahia, and by claiming Maryland, Missouri,
kentucky, and Western Virginia as Confederate
States! :! think not. Who knows but the North
ern Congress would consent to let us CO. if we would
give up those States, majority of whose people
against US? Why not say to the North take those
States--take the public lands-take the navy and
ALI the public property within your borders-only
let as go, and let uS alone? Why not say to the
North, we were once friends-we are now enemies
we may be friends again under different govern
ments; let US reason together, and make a treaty
offensive and defensive on the subject of the Chesa
peake and the Mississippi and against the encroach
ments of European powers? That is what call
talking for peace Is there any treason in it?
admire the zeal which says conquer peace-drive
the enemy out of Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland,
and Western Virginia demand, insist upon, and
have, at all hazards, fair of the public prop
erty, with indemnity for all that has been destroyed
but my judgment tells me this is hardly possible
As the French say, whose breath Is that of revolu
ton, L "accept the situation, and will make the
NEST can of it, IL it be treason to think thus and
reason thus then is free speech dead IN North Car
oIina, and we cOmtitted to a whirlwind of pas
sion which may destroy every interest But it may
be said that it would be submission on our part to
cter such terms to the North, and concession of
what justly belongs to u.s. What submission to
obtain independence? If they should let us go on
these terms, or on any terms could be iR6epea
dent That is the answer. We would start the
world anew, the young man of twenty -one leaves
bis fathers house to make name and fortune
We would not be poor long If we could only re-
main united with government of eight or ten States
we would soon be in condition to command the re-
spect of the world.


But suppose these terms, or some terms should
be offered to the North and rejected and the an
swer should be, lay down your arms, We rebels
submit to territorial condition, or return to the
old government deprived of your slave property,
with your slaves set loose in your midst with the
loss of all your currency and your bonds to be
saddled with the payment of the federal war debt,
and yourselves the interiors of the Northern States
in the federal government What would be the
effect of this 1t would reunite our people as one
man. and boy and grandsire would fight to the bit
ter end side by side with our veteran soldiers. Is
there any treason in that?


But am told if | talk for peace while our brave
soldiers are fighting for it i am aiding and comfort
ing the. enemy If this be so, when will the time
come to talk for 1t? Next year. or the next? We
shall see But what meant that mission of Vice
President Stephens to Fortress Monroe and Wash
ington City? Surely the second officer of this great
government was not deputed merely to make ar
rangements about the exchange Of prisoners. No,
that mission meant peace proposition of some sort
from President Davis to President Lincoln. Was
it rejectedH Mr.. Stephens was not heard, but who
can say his proposition would nothave been enter
tanned if he had announced the real character of his
mission? If he went to talk about peace those who
sent him did not adopt direct and manly course
in their instructions to him, for he told to pre-
sent himself IN one character and then act in an
other


Every battle is an argument for peace, and every
improvement by statesmen and people at home of
the results of battle, is an argument for peace
Negotiations to have an end must certainly have
a beginning. The battle of New Orleans was fought
after the treaty of peace had been signed by our
Commissioners at Ghent The statesmen of that
day did not think they were lowering the character
of their country, or nuring the cause giving aid
and comfort to the British, by sending Commission
ers to Europe to urge on their enemies honorable
peace: If those officers in the army, and those Of
ice-hOaers in OuIr midst some of whom making
fortunes out of the war, whose bitter and unjust
denuncations of me were partly instrumental in
causing the late mob, will only change places for
three months with the privateS in ,the ranks, and
with the great mass of our laborng people at home
who feeling the pinch Of war; and then say that
they are opposed to negotiations for peace, and that
any suggestion of the kind would be injurious to
the cause, then for will never utter the word
peace again as long as live


1t has been charged that the course of the STAN
dGrd has caused desertiOns from the army Soldiers
Will look In vain tor any tnlnG In the standard
which just6es desertion. / have called on our
soldiers frequently any Editor in the State to
remain true to their colors, and have sustained
every measure designed to improve the condition
of the soldier and render him satisfied with mis- con-
dton. voted in the Convention for the fifty dol
lar bounty to all our soldiers, conscripts included
l drew up and voted for the ordinance securing to
our soldiers the right to vote in camp. And have
written hundreds of articles appealing to the govern
ment and to the people at home to do justice to the
soldiers and their families. What for q? To make
the soldier satisfied with his condition. and to nerve
his arm in the day of battle. The soldiers know
this, and they like me for it-sand hence one of my
crimes is that am too popular with the soldiers
Some months since the Columbia Is. c. papers
contained an official notice of s1 huadred deserters
from Gen. Evans brigade; and have been inform
ed that while this brigade and the regiment of Col
Coguitt of Georgia, were on their way to reinforce
Gen. Johnston, some fifteen hundred of these South
Caroliaians and Georgans "stepped aside" =" Chat