Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-22
For the Standard.
rOr tne ola
RALEIGH. n. c.. June Il

RALEIGH, N. c., June IA, 1861.
To the Editor Of tile Standard:
DEAR SIR: notice going the rounds of the news
papers an extract from the National Republican of
Washington City as follows:
"Our informant himself heard Kenneth Rayner
say IN speech that it was the intention of the abo
ltonlss in power at Washington to kill every body
IN the South, man, woman and child, white and
black, and then divide up.the lands among the poor
by whom the North is ovcrrun'
The informant" referred to (as is stated by the
papers here, and such doubt is the fact is c. II.
Foster, clerk in the PoSt-ofice Department at
Washington. The statement is entirely false |
made speech in Murfrees6oro' on the Sd of May,
Il think it was,) a candidate for the Convention
When L reached Murfreesboro' the previous even
ing, L found Foster who had arrived there from
Washington two or three days before, under du-
ress, at the house of his father-In-law Mr.. P Car
ter found the community there greatly excited
and there was strong disposition, as talked on the
streets, to take Foster and lynch him. tried my
best to calm this exctement-I appealed for forbear-
ance IN the pane of his father-in-law and his wife,
who were in great distress and alarm. | plead for
mercy towards this man, that we were Christian
and civilized people and that at all events they
should give him chance to defend himself and
wait till proof had been adduced of his being spy,
as was suspected. | am of opinion that my nterpo-
sitlon was not without its infuence-in fact think
1t probable he owes to his escape from personal
violence. The next morning at the instance of Mr..
Carter who stated to me that Foster wished to see
me, called at Mr.. Carriers house to see him.
talked to him and advised him as to the course he
should follow to ensure his personal safety l in
formed him of the evaporation of the community
against him, and advised him not to go outside of
Mr.. Carriers enclosure till the excitement had sub
sided. did my best to calm and soothe the feel
lngS OF his wife and her mother, by sending them
word that | had used and would still continue to
use my influence to allay the irritation of the CON-
munity. He and his father-in-law, mr. Carter
both expressed themselves as grateful for my kind
ness. Mr.. Carter was no doubt sincere. He is
worthy and estimable man, and has been greatly
annoyed and distressed at this affair. Isympathse
with and respect him.
In the evening, made my speech in the Method
list Church. Foster was not present. and did not
hear it. He would not have been allowed to be pre-
sent on that occasion-in fact he would not have
dared to show himself in the street But as to the
speech ITSELF used no such language as that attr-
buted to me; and | should be mortified to think
that any one who knows me would believe was
simpeton enough to assert that 1T was the inten-
ton OF tho abolItlonists in power at Washington to
Kill every body in the South man, woman and child
white and black" The only thing in the language
attributed to me- which has any semblance of TRUTH
Is that in reference to "dividng up the lands" &C.
did refer to the proposition put forth by some of
the violent abolition journals of the North, to di-
vide out the good lands of the South among their
followers and retainers in case We were subugated
spoke of it as evidence of the spirit of raDne and
plumber by which our Northern enemies were &C
tuated
shall send copy of your paper containing this
letter to the Editor of the Nat Republican, and shall
see if he will do the justice to copy it. All news
papers that have published the statement from the
National Republican will do an act of Justice by pub
fishing this Communication.
Yours respectfully,
K. RAYNER