Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-09
Is. H..

Tnp OLD UNION MEN-D0wn to the Proclamation
Of Lincoln large portion of the people of Virginia,
probably majority, in favor of, and had
hopes of preserving the old Union. When that
document appeared, most of these abandoned their
former opinions; they saw that the issue made
up between Liberty and Despotis,n, and like true
and loyal sons Of Virginia, as they are, uen raj
lied more promptly to the standard of the Old Com
monwealth. Whole brigades of the army which
have endured the harlships of the camp and met
the enemy in battle, composed Of these same
UnioniSts, whom people who have never been in a
hundred miles of the enemy, delight to stlglnatze
as Sn6mtssonists" The Stone Wall Brigade"
Of Gen. Jackson, which stood the brunt of the fight
at Stone Bridge for twelve hours, and covered them
selves and their country with glory, was made up
exclusively of S4bmissionists' from the strong
Union counties of the Valley. The same remark is
applicable to almost the whole of the gallant army
commanded by General Johnston and might be
extended to many other divisions These people
did not pause to get fat and safe places in the Quar-
termastcrs or COmmiSSariat Departments or the
Staff they went right off to the war; and there they
have been doing their duty like patriots and heroes
They haven't been thinking and schemng for organ.
izlns parties; their whole souls all they had and
their lives were freely offered for the safety and
independence of their country.
If their former Unionism, which they shared with
eternal stigma and reproach to them, they would
do we'll to surrender the posts of danger and suffer-
ing to the flaming patriots who delight in denounc-
ing them, and who would do the work so much bet
ter than they can. We understand that two of the
Secretaries have laid down the broad principle that
no man, vino held Union principles since the
sion OF Lincoln, and was willing to accept Office
under him, shall hold any Office under the Concd-
crate Government. In the carrying out of this
principle, poor man, who held cerkship in the
Treasury Department. whose father and grandfather
have fought for the county, and every of whose
kindred capable of bearing arms, is now in the
field, has been dismissed from the service unfit
to be trusted. We hear the same principle is recog-
nized at the War Department. With all our cn-
thusiasm for the cause, with all devotion to
secessi on, we cannot put away the conviction that
| this is a most unworthy dwarfing of a great and
glorious movement for freedom to miserable and
contemplate scramble for Office.
| We are gratified to know, and we take pleasure
in stating, that no such narrow, ungenerous and
unjust spirit animates the Chief of our new Confed
eracy. President Davis sees and recognizes a
brother in every who is true an loyal to this
| great cause. In his letter to Mr.. Nelson he thus
announced, in terms worthy Of the LIBERAL enlisht
ened and sagacous leader of the greatest movement
! of any age, the elevated and catholic principle o
his Administration
"The desire of this Government being to main
tain the independence it has asserted by the unite,
feeling and action Of all its citizens, it has been it
policy not to enter into questions of differences
political opinions heretofore existing"
This makes rand of brothers of all the tru
sons of the South Palsied be the tongue tina
would mar the happy harmony!
Richmond Whig.