February 18, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
WASHINGTON, February 14, 1861.
It is quite evident that the Peace Congress does not glide along as smoothly as the compromisers would desire. Evidently trouble and disagreement exist in their camp, and from my observation I do not think it would be predicting too much, to say that its deliberations will result in as great diversity of opinion as characterized the conclusions of the illustrious Committee of Thirty three. The elements composing this body are eminently hostile, and can never agree upon a middle ground, involving the territorial rights of the Cotton States. The position of Virginia and the Southern Border States is a false one: if it involved no greater mistake in policy than that of sueing for peace at the hands of her enemies and our enemies, rather than demanding her rights in conjunction with her friends. But she commits two other capital errors. First – In supposing that the separation of the Cotton States from the Union is not a deliberate act, based upon the determination that it shall be permanent and that a reconstruction is impossible. Second – That by remaining in the Union she can secure the return of the Cotton States. Now the sooner she and her Border sisters can be satisfied that they are laboring under great errors, and that they will certainly be misled by them, so much the earlier will they understand the responsibilities they have assumed. It is a well settled proposition, nowhere appreciated more clearly than in Virginia, that she is no longer the leader among the Southern States. Her greatest and best influences belonged to her whilst she stood in the van, defending Southern rights under the Constitution, enjoying the confidence of her natural allies, and striving with them to hold the Northern wolf at bay. But all of this is changed now. She is bending, and may fall before the storm.
The majority of the members of the Convention declare they are not Unionists per se – that, while loving the Union, they are determined to leave it if the Peace Conference does not propose a plan of settlement acceptable even to South Carolina. This is the idea upon which the immediate secessionists were defeated by them before the people. But when you come to examine the list of its members and find such names as that of Hon. A. H. H. STUART, and a host of the most rabid Whigs and Douglasites, who hate the Democrats so fiercely that to triumph over them they would almost be ready to see Virginia sink into the arms of Abolitionism, I must confess I am not hopeful that they will ever carry the State out of the Union unless under the fear of absolute expulsion by the North. Their Convention was not formed for the purpose of action, but for delay, under a doubt of the sincerity of the move in the Gulf States, and the implied threat of isolation if they should continue refractory. So that while they now predicate their action upon the results of the Peace Conference, yet if that should fail to report a satisfactory plan, you must look for propositions having in view new conferences, national conventions, etc., etc. In the meantime the course of the Confederate States of the South is clear. Their Government will speedily be recognized by foreign powers, and will go into operation with a quiet and success which will secure to its people the peace and prosperity so long disturbed by our quondam Puritan allies.
It is not doubted that JEFF. DAVIS will provide for the comfortable reception of such forces as may be sent against us by our enemies.
Between beggars and soldiers the streets here are quite lively.
Q.