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byproducts〃 of the old regime。 They were broken white men； or the
children of such； of the sort that under other circumstances have
congregated in the slums of great cities。 Though the South lacked
great cities； nevertheless it had its sluma widespread slum；
scattered among its swamps and forests。 In these fastnesses were
the lowest of the poor whites； in whom hatred of the dominant
whites and vengeful malice against the negro burned like slow
fires。 When almost everywhere the countryside was stripped of its
fighting men； these wretches emerged from their swamps and
forests； like the Paris rabble emerging from its dens at the
opening of the Revolution。 But unlike the Frenchmen； they were
too sodden to be capable of ideas。 Like predatory wild beasts
they revenged themselves upon the society that had cast them off；
and with utter heartlessness they smote the now defenseless
negro。 In the old days； with the country well policed； the slaves
had been protected against their fury； but war now changed all。
The negro villagesor 〃streets；〃 as the term waswere without
arms and without white police within call。 They were ravaged by
these marauders night after night； and negroes were not the only
victims； for in remote districts even murder of the whites became
a familiar horror。
The antiwar factions were not necessarily； however； users of
violence。 There were some men who cherished a dream which they
labeled 〃reconstruction〃； and there were certain others who
believed in separate state action； still clinging to the illusion
that any State had it in its power to escape from war by
concluding a separate peace with the United States。
Yet neither of these illusions made much headway in the States
…that had borne the strain of intellectual leadership。 Virginia
and South Carolina； though seldom seeing things eye to eye and
finally drifting in opposite directions； put but little faith in
either 〃reconstruction〃 or separate peace。 Their leaders had
learned the truth about men and nations； they knew that life is a
grim business； they knew that war had unloosed passions that had
to spend themselves and that could not be talked away。
But there was scattered over the Confederacy a population which
lacked experience of the world and which included in the main
those small farmers and semi…peasants who under the old regime
were released from the burden of taxation and at the same time
excluded from the benefits of education。 Among these people the
illusions of the higher classes were reflected without the
ballast of mentality。 Ready to fight on any provocation； yet
circumscribed by their own natures； not understanding life；
unable to picture to themselves different types and conditions；
these people were as prone as children to confuse the world of
their own desire with the world of fact。 When hardship came； when
taxation fell upon them with a great blow； when the war took a
turn that necessitated imagination for its understanding and
faith for its pursuit； these people with childlike simplicity
immediately became panic…stricken。 Like the similar class in the
North； they had measureless faith in talk。 Hence for them； as for
Horace Greeley and many another； sprang up the notion that if
only all their sort could be brought together for talk and talk
and yet more talk； the Union could be 〃reconstructed〃 just as it
used to be； and the cruel war would end。 Before their eyes； as
before Greeley in 1864； danced the fata morgana of a convention
of all the States； talking； talking； talking。
The peace illusion centered in North Carolina； where the people
were as enthusiastic for state sovereignty as were any
Southerners。 They had seceded mainly because they felt that this
principle had been attacked。 Having themselves little if any
intention to promote slavery； they nevertheless were prompt to
resent interference with the system or with any other Southern
institution。 Jonathan Worth said that they looked on both
abolition and secession as children of the devil； and he put the
responsibility for the secession of his State wholly upon Lincoln
and his attempt to coerce the lower South。 This attitude was
probably characteristic of all classes in North Carolina。 There
also an unusually large percentage of men lacked education and
knowledge of the world。 We have seen how the first experience
with taxation produced instant and violent reaction。 The peasant
farmers of the western counties and the general mass of the
people began to distrust the planter class。 They began asking if
their allies； the other States； were controlled by that same
class which seemed to be crushing them by the exaction of tithes。
And then the popular cry was raised： Was there after all anything
in the war for the masses in North Carolina？ Had they left the
frying…pan for the fire？ Could they better things by withdrawing
from association with their present allies and going back alone
into the Union？ The delusion that they could do so whenever they
pleased and on the old footing seems to have been widespread。 One
of their catch phrases was 〃the Constitution as it is and the
Union as it was。〃 Throughout 1863； when the agitation against
tithes was growing every day； the 〃conservatives〃 of North
Carolina； as their leaders named them； were drawing together in a
definite movement for peace。 This project came to a head during
the next year in those grim days when Sherman was before Atlanta。
Holden； that champion of the opposition to tithes； became a
candidate for Governor against Vance； who was standing for
reelection。 Holden stated his platform in the organ of his party
〃If the people of North Carolina are for perpetual conscriptions；
impressments and seizures to keep up a perpetual； devastating and
exhausting war； let them vote for Governor Vance； for he is
for‘fighting it out now； but if they believe； from the bitter
experience of the last three years； that the sword can never end
it； and are in favor of steps being taken by the State to urge
negotiations by the general government for an honorable and
speedy peace； they must vote for Mr。 Holden。〃
As Holden； however； was beaten by a vote that stood about three
to one； Governor Vance continued in power； but just what he stood
for and just what his supporters understood to be his policy
would be hard to say。 A year earlier he was for attempting to
negotiate peace； but though professing to have come over to the
war party he was never a cordial supporter of the Confederacy。 In
a hundred ways he played upon the strong local distrust of
Richmond； and upon the feeling that North Carolina was being
exploited in the interests of the remainder of the South。 To
cripple the efficiency of Confederate conscription was one of his
constant aims。 Whatever his views of the struggle in which he was
engaged； they did not include either an appreciation of Southern
nationalism or the strategist's conception of war。 Granted that
the other States were merely his allies； Vance pursued a course
that might justly have aroused their suspicion； for so far as he
was able he devoted the resources of the State wholly to the use
of its own citizens。 The food and the