Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-15
Sea Co8Sf nefences

OF those defences, have been construed into No.,
less alarm, chuckled at as a mere ruse. grorIod
as party trick and an attempt to disparage tbsFr
ecutive and Military Board.
Conscious of the rectitude of our purnosss
have been little disposed to stop to correct ,bs..
ISLANDERS. We have withheld facts from orr ,0,y
ers, partly on this account and partly to avoid gvr
laid and comfott" to our enemy; but as We ssr3
no paper now north of the Potomac, the comm
danger and the common interest of the State !.
mand that the people all over the State shall look
the facts.
In obedience to a call of the Convention fo, :.
formation on Monday last, Gov Ellis sent in tbss,
lowing reply:
To the Honorable, the President
and Members Of the Contention.
GENTLEMEN compliance with the annevl
resolution of your Honorable Body have To s+.,.
that the rumor referred to, is wholly without foU
dation in truth.
furthermore beg leave to assure the Conyentor
that am in a situation to obtain reliable inteIF'
gence from every part of the State, as soon as an
one else obtain it, and will not delay to adV;:.
them of the approach of danger.
L take this occasion to say further that if mr.
batteries are properly served fact of which IconJ
entertain no doubt the power of the United Stats
Navy is not sufficient to effect an entrance into anv
one of the harborS of the State.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. ELLIS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Raleigh, June 10, 1861.
We stop not to make a remark on this fipnant
episte so grave subject nor will we animadvert
upon the Wanting declaration of the Governor that
if our batteries properly served fact of which
| could entertain no doubt the power of the United
States Navy is not sufficient to effec: an entrance
into one of our harbors"
We simply ask, how does Gov Ellis knor7 Has
he personally inspected our sea coast defences and
if he has, what knowledge has he or his Military
Board of such matters, to authorize so confident an
assertion? Who says so, besides Gov Ellis? What
military man. competent TO express opinion, saws
SO? That's the point with US and the people on the
sea coast. We hope he is correct. We are anxious
to give him due credit if it be so but until some
more competent authority than Gov Ellis expresses
the same opinion we fear doubt and alarm will rest
upon our Eastern people. The people Of Charles.
ton did not feel assured that Fort Sumter could be
taken with all their batteries, until Gen. Beauregqrd
said so. Has Beauregard or Maj. Whiting or Gen.
Holmes expressed such an opinion about our de-
fences?
But we find that the people living in that region
entertain different belief Gov. Ellis or his special
friends will not consider the Newbern Progress an
enemy. That paper short time since said
Do We REALIZE OUR DANGER Men of Eastern
Carolina. do you realize the dangers which menace
you? While we advise you to keep cool and to
avoid every thing like unnecessary alarm, are in
l..3.- Ia.- Al l. I
you. The Confederate States have no Navy: We
not prepared to repe attack by water save at
those points where batteries have been hastily con-
srructed and hence we must prepare to meet an in
vading force should they land our SOIL and drive
them back or cut them to pieces. There is no harm
in looking dangers in the face in taking counsel
of each other and discussing calmly and deliberate
ly the condition of our coast offences We cannot
be subjugated or conquered but let be sure that
our preparations such that we can drive back
the invading horde without serious loss of life or
property. Let US deliberate freely with those who
have been appointed to superintend our coast de-
fences, and while cooperate with them endeavor
to satisfy Oursettes that all is being done that be
done for safety. Let US insist aye demand, that
sufficient force, thoroughly armed and equipped
for action, be placed our coast Listen to no one
however exalted, who would persuade you that there
is no danger to be apprehende6 of an attack in this
locality. There is danger and the danger increases
daily and an attack isnot only possible probable"
Now, what does that mean? Is it mere sensation
talk: We do not so understand it
Again, no one questions the extreme caution and
prudence of the Wilmington Journal, and we pre-
sumo Gov. Ellis does not doubt Mr. Futon's friend
ship. We will not copy 1.-THE of what the Jour
nal has said A short time ago, the Journal eau
tiously said:
'No approach to North Carolina is in immediate
danger, save her sea-coast approaches. United
States troops cannot reach her by land, either
through Virginia or Tennessee, for months, if
1t does seem, however, that the Seacoast approach
es of the State ought to be well guarded Without
saying what the state of defences are, we ask,
Are they sufficient to guard against all reasonable
chances of surprise ~
A week or two ago, the Journal published with
out comment, an advertisement of regular grocer
in that place. which contains the following:
NORTH CAROLINA IN A FIX.
NTIL steps taken put the coast and seaport
u towns of the State in condition Of defence, we shall
be at the mercy Of anatcal enemies who know not what
is for II is but the work of few hours to land
sufficient force within ten miles Of Wilmington, and H.
vest the town. Tin spite Of the opposing terors OF Inc
a. Home Guard when our railroad communication both
I North and South, would be cut Of.
1t was an imprudent article perhaps, coming froE
! a seHsdtL0n source perhaps, out the journal pun
| lished it, without comment and its patriotism or
prudence, or friendship must not be called in ques-
ton. Only the other day, the Journal said:
ave are requested to ask the proper military au-
thorites whether the force a. and in the vicinity Of
Confederate Point IS deemed sufficient for the protec
| ton of that very important position? The very
able gentleman now in charge of the coast defences
of this portion of the State has just entered upon
his duties Wou Id he be so kind as to ascertain the
number of men on duty at or near Confederate
Point, as an average thing? His doing so would
tend to reassure the public mind"
Again, on the 10th inst, the Journal says: -
1--WE say distinctly, knoring rhy we say 80, that
our coast South of Cape Lookout, ought to be pro-
tected efficiently within the next ten days. Hon.
we obtain the knowledge upon which we predicate
opinions is another matter. We think 1t correct
Certainly if it is not correct we will De on the sale