Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-14
Wilminston Journal-Trai,or,, &c.

Wilmington Journal-Traitors, &c.
The Wilmington journal says "there is no doubt
in the mind of any human being of the treason of
Mr.. Respess," and that paper then proceeds to de-
nounce sympathizers with traitors those who have
insisted that Respess should have fair trial, and
not be condemned without hearing. The Journal
says:
"This fearful heartfelt sympathy for traitors, is
something that appears almost suspicious to the
simple and unsophsticated. But no doubt it is all
right. Old RespeSs will have martyrs monument
here, and young Respess will have Colonefs COM
mission elsewhere and grave delegates will de-
nounce our struggling and embarrassed government
and country, in the interests OF both the Responses"
Now, are no apoogist of Mr. Respess or his
son. The right which the former had to fair and
speedy trial, was common right If denied to one
it might be denied to ALL This is al! we have said
ABOUT the elder Respess. He has been tried, and
acquitted The trial searching and thorough.
Those who tried him have said he not guilty
Of treason the Journal says he is. Let the people
decide between the Journal and the government
at Richmond, which ordered and conducted the
trial
So far as young Respass is concerned, we will in
form the Journal that he original seceS-
sionist. If he has taken a commission from Burn
side, then the Journal may congratulate itself that
one of its own party has received Yankee honors
We learn from those who know that the elder
Respass has equipped and sent into the Confederate
| service nine of his nephews. He is said also to
have freely bestowed his means on the Confederate
cause But he acted imprudently in endeavoring to
save his property-took protection from the Yam
KEGS with that view. He did wrong, but, so far
we know, and so far as the Journal knows, he is
not guilty of treason His heart is known only to
the Great Searcher of all hearts. But he had been
Union man, and that sufficient to lead to his
| arrest. When the Yankees reached Washington,
several original seccSSionsts went on board one of
| their gun boats, and drank toaSts with, and were
| entertained by Llncoln's officers. Were they ar
! rested? Not at all They belong to the favored
party.
| The Journal is consistent in denouncing grave
delegates who belong to the conservative party as
sympathizers with traitors. That paper has no
confidence in the great body of the late Union men
of this State They do their full part in fighting
aud paying in this war. but what of that? They
did not prefer to break up the government and
! bring on the war, and the war having commenced,
| they did not and do not believe that one party
| should have all the offices and all the honOrS while
the other was put under the ban in every thing ex-
cept fighting and paying; and because they believe
thus and act thus, and because at the same time
they insist that the civil law shall be paramount to
military law, and that respect should be shown
to Constitutions and that liberty should not be sac
rifced in the effort are making to establish it
We say, on this account and FOR these reasons, the
Journal and those who act with it charge that the
conservatives or late Uhon-men not true to the
country. We say, in reply that if the Journal and
its party go in this way, and allowed to
age public affairs much longer, they will ruin the
! State and the Confederate cause