The War Between the States

In a memorial of Mr. George Davis, the beloved leader of the
Lower Cape Fear, the writer, whose affectionate admiration has
continued with increasing veneration, said for his committee,
on the occasion of a large assembly of representative citizens to
honor Mr. Davis’ memory by suitable resolutions of respect :

“In 1861 the shadow of a great national calamity appeared—
the whole country was convulsed with conflicting emotions. The
political leaders of North Carolina were divided upon the issue.
Mr. Davis loved the Union, and steadfastly counseled modera-
tion. His appointment by the Legislature as a member of the
Peace Commission, to which further reference is made, created
a feeling of absolute confidence in the minds of the conservative
citizens.

“The desire of the people of North Carolina was to see peace
maintained, whether the Union was preserved or not, and for
this purpose the Legislature on January 26, 1861, appointed
commissioners to conventions to be held at Montgomery, Ala-
bama, and Washington City. These commissioners were Hon.
Thomas Ruffin, Hon. D. M. Barringer, Hon. David 8. Reid,
Hon. John M. Morehead, Hon. D. L. Swain, J. R. Bridgers,
M. W. Ransom, and George Davis. Mr. Davis went to Washing-
ton City as a member of the Peace Congress, which assembled
on February 4, 1861. The moral weight of the position and the
character of the gentlemen then and there assembled gave to the
significance of the occasion portentous aspects. The Congress
sat with closed doors; ex-President Tyler was elected president,
and on taking the chair made one of the most eloquent and
patriotic speeches ever heard. This conference was in session
until February 27, 1861, when Mr. Davis telegraphed: ‘The
convention has just adjourned sine die, after passing seven
articles of the report of the committee, much weakened. The
territorial articles passed by a majority of one vote. North
Carolina and Virginia voted against every article but one.’

“Tt is difficult for those of us who remember only the intense
unanimity of the Southern people after the war was fairly in-
augurated to realize how in those previous troublous days the

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The War Between the States 269

minds of men were perplexed by doubts. Up to this time the
Union sentiment in North Carolina had been in the ascendant.
The people waited upon the result of the Peace Congress, and in
this section especially was the decision of many reserved until
Mr. Davis should declare his final convictions. His announce-
ment of them marked an epoch in his life, and in the lives of

countless others, for weal or woe.”
Immediately upon his return home, the following correspond-

ence took place:
. WILMINGTON, 2d March, 1861.

Drar Sir:—Your friends and fellow-citizens are exceedingly anxious
to hear from you with reference to the proceedings of the Peace Con-
gress, and to have your opinion as to their probable effect in settling

the distracting questions of the day.
Will you be kind enough to give them a public address at such time

as may suit your convenience?
Respectfully yours,

JAMES H. DICKSON.
RosBert H. Cowan,

D. A. LAMONT.
THOMAS MILLER.
DoNALD MACRAE.
RoBert G. RANKIN.
JAMES H, CHADBOURN.
A. H. VANBOKKELEN.

To Grorce Davis, Esq. O. G. PARSLEY.

WILMINGTON, 2d March, 1861.

GENTLEMEN :—Being under the necessity of leaving home tomorrow, I
will comply with the request of my fellow-citizens, as intimated in

your note, by addressing them at such hour and place this evening as

you may appoint. Respectfully yours,
Gro. DAVIS.

To Dr. James H. Dickson, and others.

The newspaper reports of the public meeting and of Mr.
Davis’ powerful speech which followed do not convey to our
minds the overwhelming sensations of those who listened to this
masterpiece of oratory. Mr. Davis was obliged to close before
he had finished his address. The people were profoundly moved,
and the hearts of all were deeply stirred. Many left the hall
while he was speaking, for they could not restrain their emotion.

The Daily Journal of March 4, 1861, said: “In accordance
with the general desire, George Davis, Esq., addressed his fel-
low-citizens on last Saturday, March 2, at the Thalian Hall in
reference to the proceedings of the late Peace Congress, of which