Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-06-12
The Convention-Coast Defences.

The C0nventiOn-C0ast Defences.
We confess we have felt for some time an intense
anxiety about the condition of our Coast defences,
and have been convinced of the great importance Of
giving entire security to our fellowcitizens in that
portion of the State We have had in our posses
sion facts and intimations which have warranted the
fear and the belief that the State authorities were
not sufficiently alive to the imminent hazard to our
entire coast and the impending danger which hung
over the entire Eastern portion of the State. We
have orborne to represent its condition as we really
apprehended it. because we would not knowingly
give important information to ruthless foe, and
because "the powers that be" are ready to stig-
matise US as . prosecutor of tho government if in
compliance with our duty as public journalist we
animadverted upon its biunders its short comings
Hence we introduced our resolutions of inquiry
in Convention, as the least likely to do harm or Of
fend, and with the feelings hailed the intro
duction of the ordinance of Mr.. Smith of Halifax,
to raise regiments and place them in positions to
fly at to the assistance of the entire seaboard
at moments warning. We have cordially and
earnestly given our support to that measure as one
of dire necessity, and we hope the Convention will
not hesitate to assume all the responsibility of pas
sing it
How any man in the State with two eyes, not
wholly subordinated to the control of mere party
ism, could oppose necessary and patriotic meas
ure, fills US with astonlshl1ont. We have watched
the twitchings and blinkings Of its opponents in
Convention, and have been surprised at their ma
nuvres to defeat it; but wehardly expected tosee so
untruthful caricature of the ordinance, its author
and its supporters and gross and abusive an at
tack upon the Convention, IN the State Journal
as appears in that paper Of the 9TH inst.
The whole article is tissue of Misrepresentation.
Whether that Journal has followed its own innate
propensity spoken by authority or in its fawning,
whimpers to its masters, like obsequious ser we
do not undertake to say; but every member of the
Convention knows that from beginning to end it is
gross perversion. Time and space will not allow
US to notice at length the many unfounded state
ments and illusions in the article. We confine our
self to few of them.
And first the Journal charges that the ordinance
was designed for the erclusice defence of Eastern
North Carolina. This the ordinance itself shows to
uc NV ploSiSIou Sni w Aou''N 'H 50,
, and no such design entered into the mind of Mr..
d. Smith or its supporters But if that had been the
design the policy of the authorities towards the
Eastern people fully justified it. They, Of all 9TH
ers in North Carolina we're most exposed to the ene
my and least prepared for defence. Eastern gentle
men from time to time had implored the Governor
to furnish them with arms to defend themselves
l.xxlo slsnip
ton had appealed for help and the desired relief had
not been afforded Many had desired simply to be
allowed to defend it at their own COST and had been
told the State would do It. Bat its movements were
so tardy they kept in constant dread and they
appealed to the Convention for relief
The second paragraph Of that papers article con-
i tains unworthy and gross reflections upon the au-
thor and supporters of the measure. Their motives
: are assailed and an attempt made to excite unjust
suspicious The State does not possess more high
minded, honorable man than Mr.. Smith, and its
supporters are equally above the reach of such base
insinuations.
The Journal intimates that the design of the bill
was to place these regiments beyond the control Of
the commander r-inchief The ordinance so far from
~, uOeS uOt COHI1lu SuCu d uluI 1uC
are to include the troops, or portion of them al
ready raised in that secton and would not necessa-
rily increase the number. Those who command
the forces of that department would command these
regiments and it is base to intimate that any other
commanders were designed.
1t says too, that each Of those regiments is to be
stationed at particular point. The ordinance does
not say so. They of course will be assigned posi-
:, tons, but would be as subject to their commanders
as any other troops.
Its illusions to the powers of the Governor and
of the Convention, seem designed to mslead.--
The Governor does or ought to understand his pre-.
rogatives as we'll as his place. He is not supreme,
but the Convention is, yet not in the sense in which
the Journal aims to place it. No outrage has been
or will be attempted upon the Governor. He or his
friends must be brimtul of vanity, if they suppose
that Governor can be dsgraced by obeying the
behests of the people, speaking through the Con,
vention. A dozen Governors might well afford to
listen to and execute with promptness the orders Of
such body, as wise and able as the present State
Convention of North Carolina. Indeed, the wonder
is that little 'brief authority" could initiate any
man almost to bursting, as to suppose himself in.
jured by the deliberate and wisely conceived meas
ures of such body. But so far from the Conven.
tion being disposed to treat Gov. Ellis with disre.
spect, it has throughout treated him with marked
courtesy and forbearance. The remarks of that
paper about the financial aspects of the question
amusing The ordinance will doubtless be passed,
and these regiments being equally subject to the
authorities any other troops, for the defence Of
the State, will have the same claim upon the Treas
ury Of the Confederate States But the entire arti
Gle is so glaringly false, we need not say more.
Day of Fasting and Prayer.
Let not the people Of the State forget to assemble
at their Churches to observe the day of fasting and
prayer, appointed by President Davis. Bear in
mino the day is Thursday, the 18th Of June