Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-07-11
A. D. TUMBRo, Secretary.

A. D. TUMBRo, Secretary.
Us There will be a Democratic meeting at
Stang's Depot, in Johnston County, on Thursday,
the 10Th instant Speeches will be delivered by L.
B. Sanders B. II. Tomlinson, Esqs. and Others
Mr.. Shepard--Hhternal ImprOVements--the Rev.
enue Law, &c.
We learn that Mr.. Shepard, the dark-lantern can
didate for Congress in this District is endeavorng
to make capital out of the revenue law passed by
the last Legislature, and By opposing and denoun-
chg Internal improvements! We do not sec what
candidate for Congress has to do with such SUBJ
iects; but Mr.. Shepard has brought them forward
his issues, and we therefore refer to them, as we
learn Mr.. Branch has DONE by way of protest and
explanation.
Mr.. Shepard, we learn charges that Mr.. Graves
Mr. Dobbn, the STANDARD" newspaper and Others
deserted Democratic doctrine in 1913 when they adj
vocated the Central Railroad and other schemes of
Internal Improvement that the Raleigh and CASTOR
Road has cost the State immense sum of money;
that the present high taxes the result of i'm
proper and extravagant system of improvements,
he maintaining that the State ought to have con-
necton with internal improvements that the reve-
nue. law Was passed by a Democratic Legislature;
and that he has been right all along with reference
to these matters, and those who differ with him,
wrong. If these declarations of opinion be true,
why has Mr.. Shepard been so long silent? Why
this sudden rousing from seven years nap? Does
he not know-do not all know that the revenue
law was not party measure?-that it was voted
for and passed by both Wings and Democrats?
Why, what would Mr. Shepard himself have done?
Would he hace repudiated the debts Of the State?
We suppose he would not. Wherefore, then this
outcry against the revenue law? We ask attention,
in connection with this matter, to the following
facts: In 1913 Democratic State Convention was
held in this place, CT which Mr.. Shepard
member; and, as Chairman Of the Committee
ResOzutious Mr. Shepard reported the JotI0a0ing
Resolution, among others:
"ResoIced That when the Wing party first OBJ
tanned power in North Carolina State was free
OF debt that by their unwise c.travagant, I'M
dicouS of the public monies she has become
involved in debt; and that this same party, with a
full knowledge of the fact in the last Legislature
shrunk from meeting the danger face to face, and
from providing system gradually to relieve the
Treasury from its present and prospective indrbt-
edness.''
Seven years ago. it appears, Mr.. Shepard COM
planned that the Wing party had failed to pass
tax-b gradually to relieve the Treasury from its
present and prospective Indebtedness he
charged that the responsibility for the State debt
on the Wings; now he denounces Democratic
Assembly for providing a system" to pay the State
debt, and declares that members of the party with
which he formerly acted responsible for this
indebtedness! Why, what consistency is this
Seven years ago it highly important that rev.
law should be passed, and the Wings
censured for not passing it, now, that it has been
passed. he blames the Democrats forit and declares
they did it.
This is one specimen of Mr.. Shepards TACTICS or
tricks, to obtain votes This is the course he pur-
in sections uAere Internal improvements and
the recenue lao supposed to be unpopular-just
as, in Granville and Warren, he attempted to ride
behind Mr.. Venable and to avail himself Of that
gentlemans popularity in those Counties. By the
way, Mr.. Shepard's professions of attachment and
respect for Mr. Venable worth nothing. IF that
gentleman had been the nominee of the Franklinton
Convention, he would have opposed him as he is
opposing Mr. Branch and he would have been beat
en-, JuSf as Mr.. Branch will beat him. And if he,
Mr. Shepard had been nominated at Frankinton he
would have taken the field the Democratic cand
date; and he would have been to-day in the SERVICE
not of the dead" Democratic party ofwhich he SO
contemptuously speaks but of that old party, alive
and full of energy and power, and dealing his blows
right and left the very dark lanterns who now
defending and supporting him. This may seem
s'@nge, but ii as nevertheless true. Hn0uo N0tings
ant Wings may c0te accordingIy.
The course of Mr.. Branch upon these, as upon all
public questions, is in proud contrast with that of
Mir. Shepard. He did not seek, but on the contra
~ endeavored to avoid his nomination. 1t to
MIN Hnsought the voluntary offering of the friends
OF ali the gentlemen whose names had been brought
forward; and he accepted it matter of duty to
the cause. No one can, with even the semblance of
truth, charge him with indirection, with evasions
with appeals based on prejudice mere passion, or
with demagoguesm before the people. Strong in
the soundness and justice of his cause, and full of
confidence in the good sense and discriminating judg
nents of the people, he relies alone upon facts and
reason as his weapons He never descends to the
tricks of advocating very moderately in one locality
and very strongly in another the view of
public question, or of denouncing certain men here
and certain measures there merely for effect. Nor
uoes he while he entertains all due respect for the
public men of the District deem it either proper or
In consonance with the position he occupies, to at
tach himself to their coat-tas in the hope thereby
o. being swung into place; but being the Democrat
IL candidate, freely and honorab!y' nominated nc