Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-11
From the Wilmington Herald. !

Editors Herdtd:
GENTLEMEN Il notice in your issue of the Goth,
an article relative to the trip of the Wilmington
Light Infantry" TO Chapel HILL during the last conf
mencement, upon the occasion of the visit of the
President of the United States. Unpleasant as 1t
would be upon occasion TO make the action OF the
company to which have the honor to be attached,
and which is under my command, the subject of
communication to public journal, 1t is dOubiy so
from its reference to misunderstanding which
the only thing to shade in the least the bright men,
cries clustering around the distinguished occasion to
which | have referred occasion which was and
should be Of pride and qualification to every
North Carolinian. But justice to Gov. Ellis and to
the other military organizations in the State, TO the
Wilmington Light Infantry and to myself require
that after the publication of your article and the one
to which it was in response, should submit the
following statement of facts:
On the 10Th day of May last the Hon. W. S.
Ashe informed me that on the day before, whilst in
Raleigh the Governor had requested HIM to say TO
Capt Hall that he wished him. with his company,
to meet the President at Weldon, for that he, the
Governor wished to give the President military
reception. [ pom an immediate conference with as
many of the company as | could conveniently see,
and they approving, teegraphed the Governor that
the company was at his service. Aft an interval
of four or five days, the Governor replies that he
had abandoned the idea Of military reception and
display for that lie did not feel justified in subject
ing the military companies of the State to the heavy
expenses they would incur in the absence of any
law he could find authorizing payment of the same
by the State
In conjunction with Brigadier-Gcneral Jno. Cow
an, | telegraphed him the Wilmington Light Infan-
try would esteem it an honor to do escort duty to
the President of the United States while in the State
of North Carolina, that would defray our own
expenses not only to Weldon, but to and from the
University and that were fully equipped for the
OCCASION He replied stating that our services would
be thankfully received and upon the follOwingday
received an official order from the Governor as
COmmander-in Chief to report myself at the head
of my company, at Weldon, upon a certain day, to
await further orders. have never doubted but that
Gov Ellis would have met a similar tender from any
other military company in the same manner and
am satisfied that there was nothing in his motives
or acts in the premises, when understood, at which
any member of any military company in the State
should feel aggrieyed or to which exception ought
to be taken.
And now McssrS Editors, the seeming contradic-
tons involved in this matter resolves themSevc in
to pure misunderstanding and which is not to be
wondered at in view of hurried action upon rath
er indefinite information. In view Of the pride which
| am sure you cherished for our Company well as
from your kind relations to many Of its members,
am sure that all that written by You then and
since was dictated in a most friendly spirit But
confess having been much worried at your two first
articles as thought they were premature and more
over containing contradictory statements emanatng
from members of the same company. And then it
was that in the hasty interview sought with you
may by my energy and earnestness," and you
so assert doubtless did leave upon your mind the
impression that your first statement was correct
Such, however, not my intention. meant but
to re-affirm in substance the information had re-
ceived from Mr.. Ashe, for was not then, nor have
sinQa been informed that the Governor intended to
call upon our Company only, or that none other
to be called out If any difficulty has arisen it has
been owing to my failing to make myself understood
by you. And should be but poor soldier did l
to that extent fail to relieve others from unjust
| sure and myself shoulder the responsibility.
Irecret that these circumstances should have
dered this communication necessary, and still more
do regret that an effort should have been made to
drag them into the partizan arena for the creation
of political capital. With politics the Wilmington
Light Infantay as a military organization has moth
ing to do The development of martial spirit and
the organization of effective military force within
the "Old North State for the protection of civil
and political rights from the assaults of foreign
intestine foe, is cOnsummation which should be
most devoutly wished for by every son within her
borders To forward this end the members of the
Wilmington Light Infantry have not niggardly de-
voted their time money, and energies. And ap
prehend that to fully accomplish this end our Com
pany as well as the other Military Companies Of the
State for whom we cherish fraternal regard, and
of whose prosperity we proud, will have to sur
mount sufficency Of obstacles and difficulties with
out being annoyed upon the flank and rear by the
discharge of political squibs.
Trusting to your generosity, Messrs. Editors,
crave place in your columns for the insertion of
the above in justification of all paties interested.
E. d. HALL.