Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/551

Rh war must be sustained by all the resources of the State and until the independence and nationality of the Confederate States is established upon a permanent and enduring basis. These Georgia resolutions were in general accordance with a peace policy which had been constantly urged by Southern statesmen. They were designed to make an impression upon the Northern mind during the early stages of the presidential campaign which would affect the election so as to change the control of national affairs from the radical to the conservative element. The worthy object was held, however, throughout the South, to be doubtful of attainment. "The peace talk,&quot; said an influential paper, &quot;is designed to help the Northern Democrats, but it is a great mistake. It helps Lincoln, as we shall see to our sorrow.&quot; About the same time resolutions of like import were considered in the North Carolina legislature, declaring that "formal negotiations for peace on the basis of separation from the United States, should be instituted,&quot; and further recommending that proposals from the Confederate authorities be made to the Federal Congress looking to the holding of a peace convention for the adjustment of difficulties whose action shall be subject to ratification by the people. Mr. Wright, of Georgia, introduced resolutions in the Confederate Congress which seemed necessary on account of a public utterance by President Lincoln that no proposition for peace had yet been made by the Confederate government. The resolutions after referring to the statement declared that such propositions were prevented from being made by the President of the United States in that he refused to hear or to receive two commissioners appointed to treat expressly for the preservation of amicable relations between the two governments. Nevertheless, that the Confederate States may stand justified in the sight of the conservative men of the North of all parties, the resolutions proposed a meeting of representatives of all States to consider