Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-23
Ide S:;.taq.a!|.ato..
~ For the Standard
LETTER FROM COL. JOHN H. WHEELER

= ~ For the Standard
LETTER FROM COL. JOHN II. WHEELER
Raleigh, October d, 1851 ~
S.R:-Your paper of "Wednesday last conta'hs
the following editorial;
Of "A Bond. Holder in to-day's
n,ner Itdoes seem to us that some remedy should
he applied to the evil Of which thewrter
As to Wheeler's operations here there can be no
doubt His errand and presence IN this place were
talked of all over it. 1t was known how he came,
and what he came for. It was known that ne uao
stuck by Lincon's administration, under wnca NJ
holds an Office, and it was known that all ms p7oP
erty was in the City of Washington. anu w.
under these circumstances and when ,no's soon,
much reason to believe that his errana pe'' Iacted
plished he would return to Washington ~
the interest due on his bonds, was ps,' :, rho
v;s, and nav money to the Yankee prisoners IN tie
camp attbe Fair Grounds this C'ty' anu may
allowed to take his departure un'aoes'eu ANY ,'' ""
rcport to those under whose flag ne trasS.eo' :.
In thcse troubled times when the public mind rs
s,,od w;,b Questions involving national existence,
# ;s to he expected that it should be sensitive anu
w,tchfu. nor should this be repressed or fe,"Heo,
for ,ruth must eventually triumph. LUIS nope
will always be the case IN -Nortn-oarol'l.@
las # been recorded that 1.-THE greatest riend Oh
6iSoeSSS Ss"S>-Jf
and her constant companion is humility. -. !.
The a,rocious crime of trusting to the credit Oh
North Carolina q portion of the proceeds OF lie
of labor and to look to her bonded faith as SURE
support for old age and family, is one Shall not
attempt to excuse. .h,t .
1t is known to Mr.. Courts, the Treasurer una! d
few years ago, on leaving the country lot io.e's"
land. did bid for, at a premium ana seou'e ."
amount of her bonds, which were paid foI oy me
No IS
snm supposed by your correspondent is exassera-
rod The Treasurer can further inform you that no
bond or coupon was ever paid to me, that was not
Joua Fe my own property, and so registered IN my
own name on the books Of the Treasury Depart,
ment The amount thus received was deposlteu
(except such amounts as were necessary Tor my
personal expenses) in your city, where IL no"
remains. ,.,
These facts can be demonstrated to your satisiac-
ton in five minutes, if doubted.
Then. these facts being patent, appeal to your
own sense of Justice to characterize as it deserves
the assertion of your correspondent who confident
" states that COLLECTED and carried away large
amount from SIS, 900 to S50,000) for our enc
mies"-that brought with "some OF the cou-
pons from the State bonds which the Lincoln gov
ernment has stolen from our loyal citizens, and car
ried back the money from the Treasury of North
Carolina to reward their outrageous piracy that
I "drew the money the stolen bonds from our
treasury to be carried back to Washington, and re.
turned in thirty days in the form OF sabres ana
shot, for our slaughter and Subugatlon
Your editorial also states that | "Stuck by the
Lincoln Administration under which / mac hold
otice, and that it is well known that all my proper
ty is in the City of Washington.
Your correspondent also states this more decided
w. when he says that he was "reliably Informed
by gentleman who left Washington on the I'D
instant, that Col. Wheeler reached his home there
several days ago, where he holds office under the
Lincoln Seward party"
1t is not true that hold, or held any office
under the administration of Lincoln herewith
submi: the original official acceptance of my resig-
nation, by Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Inte-
ror of the office of Superintendent of Documents,
conferred OH me by Hon. Jacob Thompson, dated
| It'll March. 1861, Just few days after Lincoln'S
inauguration had desired TO resign it before this
date but the distribution of many valuable works
to the Southern portions of the country could not
lie earlier completed. With the appreciation of our
Southern friends in Congress, remained until this
accomplished.
As to my being in Washington, so positively
stated by your correspondent on The Sd instant |
was on that day. and every day since left Raleigh,
except on this trip at my native place in
Hartford County in this State enjoying the kind
The question so anxiously asked by your correspon-
dent, how | found my way TO Washington,
whether by Cape llatteras or by Fortress Monroe,
is now answered to his truth-loving temper. took
neither route; and the idea exists only in his in
ventive and distorted imagination.
Your editorial further states that "was per-
mitted to visit aud pay money to the Yankee pris-
oners il. the camp at the Fair Grounds near this
City" Now. this charge is alike unfounded but
there is truth in this than any other part of
the charges. simple statement will show the
innocence of the whole transaction. When in
Raleigh last, never saw Il prisoner or paid him
any money. General John B. Magruder now COM
handing division of the Confederate Army in the
Peninsula of Virginia, desired The to hand some
money with an open letter to the AGjutant General
Of NorthCarolna, at Raleigh. for some prisoners of
var confined there, which letter and money were
from their friends. These handed to Gen. Martin.
did not even desire any receipt, but he gave me
one, the original of which herewith is submitted to
you, and reads as follows:
Received, Raleigh, N. c., Sept 6, 1861, of Col
Wheeler, the sum ofoRe hundred dollars, for prison
ers of war in this city, coming from General Magru
der. j. G. MARTIN,
Adutant Gent N. G. State 7ipops"
From this little grain Of truth, bushels of mis-
representations have sprung up, for have heard o
this from various sources, detailed and distorted t
my prejudice. But have been SILENT content t.
live and look it dewn. From the high character g
Generals Magruder and Martin, l feel secure
The head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more"
If this be treason, as Patrick Henry exclaimed
make the most of it"
have thus met and considered every point mad
in your editorial article. You have been misle
and misinformed, and I feel that do not rely i
vain on your readiness to do me justice.
demand the name of the author of the articl
signed "a Bondholder," that the good citizens G
n. Carolina, among whom have spent the best wear
of my life in public service may know the characte
that breathes his calumnies upon the innocen
and the absent. By law in China, the houses q
slanderers are by the order of the government
painted black, that they may be marked and avoie
cd. Let this individuals house, wherever he ma
live, be painted the same dark color.
might here conclude. But it is we'll known
you personally, while doubtless your correspondent
as many others were doubling as to the prope
course for the South, that with the Hon. Jaco
thompson, the accredited Commissioner from tn
State OF Mississippi to the State of North Carolina
accompanied him in December 1860 to this Citv i
visit the Legislature and urged the necessity of meet
ing the storm that We felt and knew was abont
burst upon our heads. But at the time y &C.,.