Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-04-24

he
Lincoln,s Interview with the Virginia Commits
no5s sd His e. stoAefss., ss.rr5gi4 yzA7qli1
I PutfCf Uf THE ADMINISTRATION: @ 2
Tj.aGts3 Ana Tpsis-a1a-stoif,ssl 9t4i 5af1 s3oil
b. We learn ffdhi Washington that the. Commissieas
ers appo;pted By the Virginia Convention had
"n,e.ssnt Interview" with President Lincoln last
SATURDAY morning, at nine o'clock. The Presidents
reply was given in Writing = follows: H5l SIT y
Hon Messrs Preston, StSart and Randolph; am
q GssuExEs:--As q committee of the Virginia
Convention, now in session, you present me pre-
amble and resolutions in these words. -
81 "WHEREAs, in the opinion of this Convention.
the uncertainty which prevails in the public in'no
as to the policy which the Federal Executive
to pursue toward the seeded States, is extremely
Injurious to the industrial and commercial interests
the country tends to keep up an wnlcn
ties and threatens disturbance Of the pnbfe peace
Therefore, '~'sls''i'33"Ti i4o ~ -. T.
Resolusd That committee of three delegates be
appointed to wait on the President of the United
States present to him this preamble and resolution.
and respectfully ask him to communicate 10 this
Convention the policy which the Federal Executive
intends to pursue in regard to the Confederate
States" ,-a-.. -. .. ..s I -...ss ss.as- fr5i q.
In answer, I have to say that having, at the be-
ginning of my official term expressed my intended
policy as plainly as was able it is with deep regret
| and some modification now learn that there IS
great and Injurious uncertainty in the public mind
as to what that policy is, and what course intend
Not having as yet seen occasion to change it is
now my purpose to pursue the course marked out
in the Inaugural Address. commend careful
consideration of the whole document as the best ex
| preston 1 can give of my purposes. As then and
,.- :, 81 aa-
1.-THE power conided to me will be used to hold,
occupy and possess the property and places belong
ing to the Government and to collect the duties and
imposts; but beyond what is necessary for these
objects there will be no invasion, no using of force
against or among the people anywhere.
By the words property and places belonging to
the Government" chiefly alude to the military
posts and property which were in the possession Of
the Government when it came to my hands.
But il, as now appears to be true in pursuit Of
purpose to drive the United States authority from
these places an unprovoked assault has been made
upon Fort Sumter, shall hold myself at liberty to
repossess if can, like places which had been seiz-
ed before the Government was devolved upon me-
And, in any event, SHALL to the best of my abi-
ity, repel force by force.
In caseit proves true that Fort Sumter has been
assaulted as is reported shall, perhaps, cause the
United States mails to be withdrawn from all the
States which claim to have seeded, believing that
the commencement of actual war against the Gov
eminent justifes and possibly demands it
| scarcely need to say that consider the militia
| ~ posts and property situated within the States
which claim to have seeded, as yet belonging to
| the Government Of the United States as much as
| they did before the supposed secession.
Whatever else ] may do for the purpose, I shall
not attempt to collect the duties and mposts by any
armed invasion Of any part of the country-not
meaning by this, however, that may not land a
force deemed necessary to relieve fort upon the
border of the country. .-
From the fact that have quoted part of the In
augura Address, it must not be inferred that re-
pudiate any other part, the whole of which reaf6rm
except so far as what now say of the mails may
| be regarded as q modification. s-.
| TIE RANDOLPH VorE-The respectable gentle
men" of Randolph Tor elsewhere) who have pub.
lshed to the world that there was "something
wrong" in the late vote of Randolph county OIL the
Convention question, but who have taken good care
not to examine at the only place where such
wrong if it existed could be discovered. may be
edited by the following from the Sheriff of that
| county,
AsHEBoRo', April 10, 1861.
| MEssRs. E. ]. HALE & SoNs:-Genh: In reply
to the insinuaton in Newbern newspaper, to which
you referred in just terms in late number Of your
paper that illegal votes had been cast in this coun.
ty against Convention on the 2sth February last
deem it my duty to say that do not know of any
illegal votes cast nor have any reason to believe
that any such were cast. There are on my tax list
1903 taxable white polls. The voters over As years
of age and those entitled to vote and not listed for
taxation, would probably swell the number of legal
voters above 27Oo
The people of Randolph believed that all the
warm advocates of Convention wanted it to with
draw this State from the Union, and voted accord
| ingly. Not quite all the As who voted "Conven-
ton " are disunionists. Every one Of the 2466 are
| Union men, .. -...
We regarded the question as of infinitely greater
moment than any on which we had ever before
been called upon to vote and large numbers went
to the polls who often neglect the privilege of voting
| The mputation that there was any thing unfair
ness in the election is SANDER on the flag Union
county of the State. -. -... ..... ....
Yours very respectfully,
j. W. STEED,
Sheriff of Randolph.
The Sheriff of Randolph having reported, above,
the number Of taxable white polls on his list, We
have obtained from Deputy Sheriff Hardie the num-
Der Of taxable wte polls in this county, as follows
White Polls in Fayetteville District 2sL
Rockish, T., -, 14s'
| Black River u 66
| Qpwhifie, 7s
, Seventy first 80
| Flea Hill, 50
| LOCKS Greek, 70
Cedar Creek, Go
| = Carver's Greek, 80 ~
| Et - S51
Whole No. white polls on tax book, July l, $780, 7
| R. W. HARDIE, Dep Sh'fG
Now let us make a comparison between the coun-
ties: Randolph, with 1903 taxable white polls on
the Sheri books gave 251l votes at the late cleo.
ton. Cumberland, with 1851 taxable white polls,
gave in August last 1862 votes If there BE- "some.
| thing wrong" in Randolph, in giving little over