Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-04
Is Col. Puryear Reliable 2

DISTRICT:
HON. THOMAS L. CLlNGMAN, of Buncombe.
Is Col. Puryear Reliable?
When man offers himself as candidate for
nublc station one of the first considerations with
the people is, as he reliable?-ca 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, as 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 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 prore 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-
tion in the history of Col. Puryear, is his course
what is termed the Mexican Preamble" Here he
voted for resolution declaring his own 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 unhoy cause. The Dem
ocratic party was at that time in minority in our
State Legislature and hence the foul disgrace the
damnable blot of little less than treason placed
upon our 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 an
unrighteous war; Can such a be trusted?
The Sentinel gives the following summary of the
proceedings on this preamble and resolution, CON-
piled from the Journals:
"Nr. Courts moved to strike out of the preamble
the words "by the action of the Executive, and the
subsequent sanction of Congress" The question
this motion decided in the negative-yeas
So, nays 5s-Mr. Puryear voting against it. See
House Journal 1s47 page 209.
Mr.. Ellis moved to strike out the whole of the
preamble The question thereon was decided in the
negative-yeas Sc, nays 5s-Mr. Puryear voting
against it. See House Journal, page 91O.
Mr.. Smith moved amendment containing the
following words: "And 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 "a, nays 81.
Against this Mr.. Puryear also voted. See Jour.
nal, pages 511 and 5l2.
Mr.. 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 decided in the negative
yeas 3D. nays 60-Mr. Puryear again coting in
the negatire
Mr.. Courts moved to insert after the preamble,
and before the resolution, the following:
Res0lUed, therefore, That it becomes the State of
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 nny.'
Who can read this record and not blush for the
characters Of such men as Col. Puryear and his CO.
adjutors, who, for the qualification of party spite,
could thus stain the fair fame of North Carolina
Who will not say:
"Wipe out the FOUL disgracefu blot
Restore the States fair fame;
For ten long years that tyrant spot
Has been he burning shame.
Let it no longer there remain
To 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 in
our State Legislature in 1852. In the House of
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 joint ballot-we say nominal
majority. because there were few impracticables
that held the balance of power and thwarted the
action of the Democratic party. As ballot for
United States Senator could not be had but by the
consent of both Houses, the House of Commons had
1t in its power to prevent an election. Those ia
miliar with the history of that session will recollect
that many balotings were had and that no Senator
was elected at last During the time, Col. Puryear
pledged himself that the Democrats should have
two ballots day, if they would ask for no more
1hls was agreed to. One ballot was had, and a
Wing gentleman, then prominent and very eager
candidate for the Senatorship, was seen in a whis
per'ng conversation with Col. Puryear, who retired
outside the bar, and when proposition was made
Tor second ballot he did not cote at ALL Doubt:
less ne had been appealed to to prevent another
ballot and for the sake of his party he forfeited his
pledge.
Again, near the close of the same session. Col.
furyear deliberately broke another pledge. To this
we were an eyewitness. just before adjourning for
aihner' proposition was made to appoint a COM
mittee OF two, one from each party, to arrange
plan for the senatorial districts and report to the
House on its reassembling in the afternoon The
proposition was concurred in, and Messrs. Avery,
OF Burke, and Phillips, of Orange, were appointed