Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-09-21
HYDE County.

3 Since the Hatteras disaster and the surrender Of
many Of the benighted and unfortunate people who
live on the banks, to the forces of Lincoln, Hyde
county is likely to become notorious for its trea-
SOD, if rumors to- be believed as it has been for
its abundant corn crops. Justice and q proper.
State pride, however, demand at the hands Of the
press and Of community, the suppression Of ilfound
ed rumors and uncharitabe implications rejecting
| upon the loyal citizens of Old Hyde.
We were sorry to see the following statement
without qualification in the Ne1bern Progress of
the 10th inst. That paper speaking of converse
ton with gentleman direct from Hyde says:
"He assured us that over 200 had already taken
it and that the rest will soon do it including 6 out
of every 10 of the citizens of Hyde county in self
Defence if assistance is not Immediately sent to their
relief This is shameful state of things.
The sea coast was the only portion of our State
upon which Federal hoofs could possibly intrude
and yet that portion is permitted to go unprotected
and after the enemy has got possession of the most
important inlet two weeks are permitted to pass
and still assistance to the people OF Hyde county
one of the most important counties of the State has
been sent. If the slow motioned inactive
course is to be pursued for two weeks to come, in
all probability it will be impossible for our troops
to enter the county at all. Immediate action alone
can save our State from an invasion that will cost
thousands of dollars and hundreds of lives to repel"
The latter paragraph is doubtless true to the let
ter, but the former contains a statement touching
the people of Hyde county proper, which we are
sure is over-stated The Informant of the Progress
no doubt making his escape from Hyde, and
spoke either as his fears or his preudces prompted
him.
1t is doubtless true, as this informant says that
! quite number perhaps, lover 200" Of the people
living the banks contiguous to Hatteras, have
taken the oath to support LincOln's government
But if the public knew all their surroundings and
what kind of people they are, it would surprise
them that all did not take it They are hardy,
| Ignorant poor people, who are cut off from their
! fellow citizens of Hyde by Sound 80 miles wide,
| and from the rest of mankind They obtain pre-
carious subsistence by fishing, plotting and wreck
ngthey almost entirely without schools or mail
facilities. Perhaps there are not more than 80 news
papers circulated among the thousand people living
/ on coast banks. Their intercourse with Yankee
seamen has been more intimate than with the 2eo-
pie Of their State, and most of their living they
! obtained from the Yankees They were opposed to
diSunion and the war, yet on the breaking out of
hostities they resolved 20 take sides with the South
They pettoned for arms and for force to help them
| whip the Yankees Arms were denied them Two
small forts erected and small force was sent
not so much to defend them as to keep the Yankees
| off from the main land. They felt neglected, but
nevertheless it is asserted, and have not heard it
contradcted that when lIatteras was attacked they
rushed to the defence of the forts When the forts
! were taken and our troops were surrendered they
were left defenceless. But few of them could leave
! the hanks for the want of means, and if they did
they must leave all they had, and knew not where
| to go for help. Thus these unfortunate people
left to choose between two evils either to sur
! render asaprisoners of and be forced to leave
their poor families starve or take the oath and
| secure the protection Of Lincoln. Those who were
able to leave doubtless did So and refused to take
! the oath.
| Lincoln gains nothing by the acqusition-the
South loses nothing by their submission yet their
| poverty or unprotitabeness should not shield our
State government and Military Board from the shame
and disgrace of failing to afford them ample proec
ton. Yet if Hatteras re-taken tomorrow, and
1T ought 10 be- everyone of these unfortunate
lures would rejoice at il, and would swear by earth
and Heaven eySI forwards to be loyal to the South
| But the obi this article was to protest against
| the declaration above that &c out of every 10 Of
the citizens of Hyde county" [properl will take the
same oath in selfdeence, if assistance is not speed
! ly sent there. Now, we do not intend to say any
thing prevent the authorities sending them speedy
| help. thought to be done quickly. But we do in
tend to say, that we believe the above is a SANDER
against the good people of Hyde. Many of them
are intelligent highly respectable and wealthy, and
most of them are comfortable vers. Six out of ten
would leave the county, if they had to choose be-
tween submission or leaving. But there men
there and the majority would resist to the death, if
they had any hope of beating the enemy back
There are some brave spirits there who will fight to
the last, and the masses only want arms and lead
er, to fight as bravely any people
! Yet as in every county, there are doubtless some
craven hearted, cowardly men there who would SUBJ
nit and cringe to their property if not their
lives Perhaps it is our duty to state which
we learn is being very generally circulated to the
damage of a hitherto respectable citizen of that
county, in order to afford him his friends an OPP
portunity to correct it, if it be false
1t is reported that after the surrender of Hatteras
meeting of the citizens of Hyde called to take
into consideration their imminent danger. At that
meeting rumor has it. that DR.. Milton Selby, FORM
erly a Commoner from Hyde, arose and proposed
that a proposition should be made to the Lincoln
commander at Hatteras, that the people of Hyde
would furnish him full supplies of corn, beef, &c,
at reasonable rates, provided that the Lincoln forces
should not attack them, &c. At this it is said, Ma
thaniel Beckwith, ESQ.,, and denounced him as
traitor. Dr. Selby repealed the charge rather me-
nacingly upon which Mr.. Beckwith knocked him
down and gave him sound thrasbing So far as
We can learn, no one sympathized with DR.. Selby's
views, and we give the rumor has it, to af-
ford the parties the opportunity of correcting if
true, so damaging story. The wonder has been