Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-19
Sea COasr Defences.

regiments in the East ready to fly to the assistance
of those defences, have been construed into need
less alarm chuckled at as a mere ruse, growled at
as party trick and an attempt to disparage the Ex
ecutive and Military Board
Conscious Of the rectitude of our purposes, we
have been little disposed to stop to correct these
SANDERS. We have withheld facts from our read
ers partly this account and partly to avoid giving
" aid and comfort" to our enemy but as We send ).
no paper now north of the Potomac, the common
danger and the common interest Of the State de-
mand that the people all over the State shall look into
the facts.
In obedience to call of the Convention for in
formation Monday last Gov Ellis sent in the fol-
lowing reply:
To the Honorable, the President
and Members Of the Convention:
. GENTLEMEN In compliance with the annexed
resolution of your Honorable Body, have to state
that the rumor referred to, is wholly without foun
dation in truth.
Furthermore beg leave to assure the Convention,
that am in situation to obtain reliable intelli-
gence from every part of the State, soon as any
one else can obtain it. and will not delay to advise
them Of the approach of danger.
l take this OCCASION to say further, that if our
batteries properly served fact of which could
entertain no doubt, the power of the United States
Navy is not sufficient to effect entrance into any
one of the harbors of the State.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. ELLIS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Raleigh, June 10, 1861
We stop not to make a remark on this fippant
epistle on so grave subject, nor will we animadvert
upon the vaunting declaration of the Governor 'ha
if batteries properly served, fact of which
could entertain no doubt, the power Of the United
States Navy is not sufficient to effect entrance
into one of our harbors."
We simply ask, how does Gov Ellis knoU? Has
he personally inspected sea coast defences and
if he has, what knowledge has he or his Military
Board of such matters, to authorize so confident an
assertion? Who says so, besides Gov. Ellis? What
military man, competent TO express an opinion, says
so? That's the point with us and the people on the
sea coast. We hope he is correct We are anxious
to give him due credit if it be so; but until some
competent authority than Gov. Ellis expresses
the same opinion, we fear doubt and alarm will rest
upon our Eastern people The people of Charles
ton did not feel assured that Fort Sumter could be
taken with all their batteries until Gen. Beauregard
said So Has Beauregard or Maj. Whiting, or Gen.
| Holmes expressed such opinion about our de-
| fences?
But we find that the people living in that region
entertain different belief Gov Ellis or his special
friends will not consider the Newbern Progress an
enemy. That paper short time since said:
Do We REALIZE OUR DANGER Men of Eastern
Carolina do you realize the dangers which menace
you? While we advise you to keep cool and to
avoid every thing like unnecessary alarm, we are in
| duty bound to warn you that dangers do environ
you. The Confederate States have no Navy; we
not prepared to repel attack by water at
those points where batteries have been hastily
structed and hence we must prepare to meet an in
vading force, should they land SOIL and drive
them back or cut them to pieces. There is no harm
in looking dangers in the face in taking counsel
of each other and discussing calmly and deliberate
ly the condition of coast de(ences. We cannot
be subugated conquered, but let US be sure that
our preparations are such that we can drive back
the invading horde without serious loss of life OF
property. Let us deliberate freely with those who
have been appointed to superntend our coast de-
fences, and while cooperate with them endeavor
to satisfy ourselues that all is being done that can be
done for our safety Let US insist aye demand that
a sufficient force, thoroughly armed and equipped
sClOIl, Dc pidCcu Ou OuI COdSt llStcu W iO
however exalted who would persuade you that there
is danger to be apprehended of attack in this
locality. There is danger and the danger increases
daily and an attack isnot only possible probable
Now, what does tLat mean? Is it mere sensation
talk? We do not so understand it.
Again, no one questions the extreme caution and
prudence of the Wilmington Journal and we pre-
sumo Gov. Ellis does not doubt Mr.. Fulton's friend
ship. We will not copy 1.-THE of what the Jour
nal has said. A short time ago. the Journal eau
tiousy said:.
"No approach to North Carolina is in immediate
danger, save her sea-coast approaches. United
States troops cannot reach her by land, eithe
through Virginia or Tennessee for MONTHS if ever
1t does SEEM however, that the sea-coast approach
es of the State ought to be well guarded. Withon
saying what the state of our defences are, we ask
Are they sufficient to guard against all reasonable
, chances Of surprise! 7"
A week or two ago, the Journal published with
, out comment an advertisement of regular groce
in that place, which contains the following:
t NORTH CAROLINA IN A FIX.
UNTIL steps taken TO put the coast and seapor
u towns of the State in condition of defence, shal
be at the mercy of anatca enemies who know not wha
mercy is, for it is but the work of few hours to ant
sufficient force within ten miles of Wilmington, and in
Neol .o"h splte Vi opposuS tcTloio vi VI
, "Home Guard, when railroad communication bot
North and South, would be cut off"
1t was an imprudent article perhaps coming fror
a sensation source perhaps, but the Journal pub
: lished it, without comment and its patriotism o
prudence or friendship must not be called in ques
tion Only the other day, the Journal said:
"We are requested to ask the proper military au
thorities whether the force at and in the vicinity
Confederate Point is deemed sufficient for the protec
, ton of that very important position9 The yer.
able gentleman now in charge of the coast defence
of this portion of the State, has just entered upo
his duties. Would he be so kind as to ascertain tn
$ number of men on duty at or near Confederat
:, Point, as an average thing2 His doing SO woul
tend to reassure the public mind"
, Again, on the 10th inst, the Journal says:
ave say distinctly InoUing aohy zoe sag go tha
our coast South Of Cape Lookout, ought to be pre-