Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-07-08
Is Col. Puryear Reliablee 2


public station one Of the first considerations with
the people is, "Is he relable?-can we depend upon
him."
We propose to show that COL Puryear cannot
be depended upon as politician, and that his
hatred of the Democratic party has frequently made
him untrue to his State untrue to the South, and
untrue to the dictates of patriotism.
The Western Sentinel, edited, Col. Puryear
saws, by "boys," has shown up the Honorable gen.
teman in no envious light, and the boys" have
proved their charges from the records. These
"boys" have shown an ability which would do
credit to men, and which has stirred the anger of
COL Puryear TO wonderful extent. He would not
regard their charges much but for the fact that
they proue them. If they be "boys" now, the
Colonel had better let them alone when they become
men.
The first thing to which we desire to call atten-
ton, in the history of Col Puryear, is his
what is termed the "Mexican Preamble" Here he
voted for resolution declaring his country in
the wrong and Mexico in the right, and refused to
vote dollar for our volunteers until he had placed
it upon the record that they had volunteered to
fight in an unjust and an unhoy cause. The Dem
ocratic party at that time in a minority in our
State Legislature and hence the foul disgrace the
damnabe blot of little less than treason placed
upon Journals and incorporated in our laws,
and Col. Puryear of the chief actors in the
dark proceedings In order to crafty his hatred of
the Democratic party, he voted to censure his own
country to give {" aid and comfort" to the enemy
and to declare our brave volunteers engaged in
unrghteous Can such be trusted
The Sentinel gives the following summary of the
proceedings this preamble and resolution, CON-
4 piled from the Journals:
a "Mr. Courts moved to strike out of the preamble
the words "by the action of the Executive, and the
subsequent sanction of Congress-" The question
on this motion decided in the negative-yeas
SO, nays 5s-Mr. Puryear voting against it. See
House Journal 1647, page 200.
Mr.. Ellis moved to strike out the whole of the
preamble. The question thereon was decided in the
negatve-yeas Sc, nays 5S-Mr Puryear voting
against it. See House Journal page 910.
Mr.. Smith moved an amendment containing the
following words: land whereas, the United States
is in the right and Mexico in the wrong" The
question on this motion was decided in the mega
tive yeas 81, nays 81.
Against this Mr.. Puryear also voted. See Jour.
nal, pages 511 and 5l2.
MIR. Flemming moved to amend the preamble by
inserting after the word Congress-" in the second
line, the words, our Government being right and
Mexico being wrong"
The question thereon was decided in the negative
yeas 81, nays 60-Mr. Puryear again roting in
the negatire.
Mr.. Courts moved to insert after the preamble,
and before the resolution, the following:
Resolred, therefore, That it becomes the State oil
North Carolina to contribute her aid for the support
of this War;
The question thereon was decided in the negative
yeas 55, nays 59-Mr. Puryear again voting nay.'
Il Who can read this record and not blush for the
characters Of such men as Col. Puryear and his CO
adjuors who, for the qualification of party spite
could thus stain the fair fame of North Carolina
Who will not say:
"Wipe out the foul, disgraceful blot,
Restore the States fair fame;
For ten long years that tyrant spot
Has been he burning shame.
Let 1T no longer there remain
10 stain native sod,
But brand it with the mark of Cain
1T has the curse Of God?'
We next come to the course of COL Puryear ir
our State Legislature in 1852. In the House o.
Commons of which he was member that year, the
Wings had clear majority, though the Democratic
majority in the Senate gave the Democrats nomi
nal majority on joint balot-we say nomaina
majority. because there we're few impracticable.
that held the balance of power and thwarted thu
action of the Democratic party. As ballot fo
United States Senator could not be had but by tbt
consent of both Houses, the House of Commons hat
1t in its power to prevent an election. Those ia
mlar with the history of that session will recolec
that many ballotngs were had, and that no Senator
was elected at last During the time, COL Puryea1
pledged himself that the Democrats should have
W Two ballots day, if they would ask for more
M Inns was agreed to. One ballot was had, and q
wing gentleman, then prominent and very eager
candidate for the Senatorship, was seen in whis
pe'ng conversation with Col. Puryear, who retired
Susas the bar, and when n nrenosfon vvo. r.ada