Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-31
The Eastern Counties.

Mr.. EDITOR Having seen in several of your
late issues advice to the people in the Eastern Coun-
ties, threatened by the Yankees to break up their
farms and move their negroes West to a safer Ioca-
ton, / write to know how it is to be done? From
all the information can getfrom those who have
been West of the Weldon and Wilmington Rail-
road, there is a scarcity of corn, meat and flour
in fact of all the necessaries of life and what there
is, IS in the hands Of spectators, and held at an
enormous prIce-far beyond the abilities of our
wealthiest farmers to pay for any length of time.
Now, farmers with US have suficiency OF all Of
these, except flour, and We cannot the difference
between abandoning our homes of plenty, to spend
Dur all in tie West and remaining at home and
losing all. We are broken in either case. You
might tell that we hire out our own negroes.
True, our men, boys and girls we might, but what
is to become Of our women and children? They
would be at a great expense to us, more than the
value of the hire of the others. No, we had Just
as well let the Yankees take what we have, as to
give it to those who worse-our own flesh and
blood-those who would take our last dollar, ne
gro, even the bread out of our children's mouths
Spectators of our own State, and from whom
we should expect better things.
Our State, our government has left US to our
selves. We are like ship at sea without anchor
or ruddet exposed to all the dangers that can APP
pal the stoutest heart, men called to battle for
some more favored portion of the Confederacy, and
homes andOur all left to the tender mercies of
those whose mercy is to destroy.
AN EASTERN MAN.
The above contains much sobertruth. We have
seen the difficulties which environed our Eastern
brethren in any event. and we have desired to point
out and suggest what we conceived to be the least
of the evils. The duty of the government to pro.
tect them, if possible, is plain; but judging the fu-
ture from the past we have little prospect of
entire immunity for them from the dangers and ca
I
about the cormoran extortoners and spectators of
our own State is alas / too true; yet it might not
be quite so bad to fall into their hands after ALL as
into the hands Of the Yankees.
Our correspondent however, does not seem to
understand our suggestions Soon after Hatteras
fell we urged our Eastern people to remove their
negroes at once upon the advance Of the Yankees,
believing their FIST aim. would be to corrupt, decoy
and carry the slaves off Last winter as soon as
the crops were housed, we suggested to them to
moye the surplus crop up into the country and dis
pose of it. and then to remove their slaves, males
especially, to the upper Counties where lands were
idle and vacant to make the next crop, and thus
supply the deficit of labor created by the large
number Of la5oring white men who had gone into
the army.
Recently we have urged, not the removal OF the
negroes only, but all the movable property, with
as much Of the corn, &C., as possible. We have
not advised their removal witkout provisions to be
pounced upon by the spectators. We insisted that
it was the duty and the interest of the government
to assist the people to remove with their negroes
and provisions. We know that Governor Vance is
anxiously concerned that the negroes and large
products of the East shall not be liable to fall into
the enemys hands, and we sure, so far as his
efforts can accomplish it. every facility will be at.
forded our people, and every means will be used to
defend the East to the last extremity Without,
however, the active cooperation of the common
government the means in his power must be limited