Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-06
For the Standard.
UNION MEETING IN ROCKINGHAM.

31''''''''''': \
For the Standard.
UNION MEETING IN ROCKINGHAM.
large number of the citizens of Rockingham
assembled in Wentworth, on Wednesday evening
the 18th February, for the purpose of nominating
candidates to represent Rockingham county, in the
approaching State Convention.
About - o'clock the people assembled in the
Court House. when on motion Of Jno. IT, BOYD,
ESQ.,, VIM. P. Watt Esq, was called to the Chair.
Dr. T. ". Keen being called upon to explain the
object of the meeting did so, in strong Southern
speech, regarded by the conservative men present.
as well calculated to increase sectional STRIFE
As soon as DR.. Keen had closed Hon. I. Settle
arose and said that he desired to make few remarks
and to explain his here He stated that soon
after he reached town this morning, he was taken
aside by Jno. H. Boyd, Esq, who drew out some
resolutions and proceeded to read them that know
ing Mr. Boyd's position in regard to existing diff
cultes, he did not listen to them particularly, but
told Mr.. Boyd, as soon as he had ceased reading.
that he intended no disreSpect but that he looked
upon him as dsunionist and had no sympathy
with him, and that he would not sit in a meeting
with dsunionists to 60 and show his resolutions to
his disunion friends and consult them that the con-
servative men would bring out candidates, and if
the dsunionists could beat them they would take it
for their share and if the conservatives could beat
them, they had to do the same. He said that he
knew the views of the Chairman well enough to
know that they could not agree; that he had had
an interview with his friend DR.. Keen that morn
ing, and on this question there was a wide dit
ference He said that he had no more sympathy
with the Black Republicans than DIR. Keen had
but he was for trying and exhausting every honor
able means to settle their unhappy differences
before he left this Union If his voice could be
heard at the North, he would appeal to them to
renounce this fanatcism and uphold the Union, but
it could not and his purpose now was to appeal to
extremists here to come forward patriots and
the country.
Hon. A. NJ Scales interrupted Hon. 7. Settle, to
say that he had understood that he Chr. Settle,)
had said, that he would not sit in meeting with
"us"
Mr. Settle replied: l do not know that I have
called your name to-day, but have said. what
now repeat-that l will not sit with disunionists.
had no alusion to the gentleman, unless he falls
under that "class" Mr.. S. was proceeding to make
some further remarks, when
Dr. Keen arose to point of order, and asked if
Mr. Settle thought it was fair to be speaking in that
convention if he did not intend to act with it.
Mr.. Settle said that he acknowledged the force of
the gentemans point, he had only rise for the pur
pose of explanation and would now retire and ad-
dress the Union men at some other point Mr.. s.
was frequently applauded during the course Of
his remarks Fully two-thirds of the large
crowd that filed the Court House, left with Mr..
Settle and organised in the street BY appointing
VIM Scott ESQ.,, Chairman, and Jno. W. Ellington
and David P. French Secretaries.
Mr.. Settle then spoke for some time. declaring
that conservative men would have to rise in their
might, at both ends of the Union and rescue the
country from the hands of those who trying to
destroy it. He said that the fate and fortune of
North Carolina was his fate and fortune if she said
solemnly 60 out he would ask no more questions,
but would obey her and defend her with fully as
much zeal as those who are foremost in pnnging
her into these difficulties. He did not belong to
that "No hope" party he had hope end would
work with hope to save the Union and keep North
Carolina from being dragooned, in the language of
Mr.. Yancey, into secession.
Hancock offert the following resolution, to wit
Resolred, That in the opinion of this meeting,
the State Convention, ifassembled should use every
effort to reconcile the present unhappy differences
existing between the two sections OF the Confcdera-
cy, and if possible rc-estabsh the Union of these
States and to this emo the said Convention should
exhaust every honorable means before entertaining
propositions for the withdrawal of North Carolina
from the Union.
The resolution was unanimously adopted
On motion, the Chairman appointed Col F. W.
Hancock, John W. Brodnax, Penlleton Ratlif
Thomas J. Robertson, James NJ. Gum, and Dr.
John w. Ellington committee to select and report
to the meetings suitable candidates for the Conven-
ton, who, after a short absence, returned and re-
ported the names of DR.. E. T. Brodnax and Hon.
Thomas Settle. The Chairman put the question on
the nominations, and they were carried by accla-
nation.
During the absence of the committee, c. Glenn,
Esq, addressed the meeting in bold able, and elo-
A. =, O..
ready and willing to breast this storm. He is doing
manly service in behalf of the Union.
After the nomination was made, Mr.. Settle again
stepped forward, and sad he would shrink from no
responsibility, and although it would cost him great
loss, he would accept the nomination. if he found,
upon investigation of the question: that he could do
so without resgning the Office of Solicitor to which
he had just been elected; that he would consider
the question, and let BE known in time, if he could
not now; that whether candidate or not, he was
willing to canvass the county. The Dsunionists
] be had learned, had put forward two gentlemen OF
high character. and although the canvass would
doubtless call forth much feeling, he had no idea
that it would be of personal nature. Gov Reid
was bound to him by every tie that binds one man
to another and Mr. Scales had been through life his
companion and friend. Mr.. Scales and he were ir
the same condition, both holding offices, and if one
was disqualified so was the other, and neither had
any iuea Vi IesiSiiihS ne was authorized to STATE
that DR.. Brodnax was willing to spend his last days
under the flag Of his country. He was in the Con
vention in 1885, and is ready to step forward now
and give the country the benefit of his valuable ser
vices. The meeting was large and enthusiastic
They adjourned with determination to elect tn,
ticket WILLIAM SCOTT [h'.
:: ? ?: F haasss,''' Secretaries.
Under this head, the Charleston Mercury of tn
10Th rnst.' contains the following communication
The time is approaching when Fort Sumter viii
probably be attacked. Let the assailants remembe
that the garrison are in the main, poor hirelings
bound to obey the orders Of their superiors, and
doubtless not disposed to avoid it. That they ar
responsible for the acts of the President or of tn
Omitted States and not one of than sho,,la ho mt