Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-30
lbe Standard.
For the Standard.
ro THE VOTERS OF WAKE COUNTY.

Ft-LO o Va. La,'nosn ,be candidates disseminating
the canvass hand bill has been issued ana c'rcu-
iated containing a number OF false and l'oeIouS
charges against me-. l proceed to answer '"'''
charles separately aud expressly. f..
The first is that | "was opposed 10 arm'"E
tho peope for the purpose of resisting the enort
the Lincoln government to deprive US VI 'ut So
&C." | pronounce this charge FALSE $3.50
whilst member of the House OF commons, 10 aP
nronri.te money without stint, for armlng our peo,
p,ie 70 rasist the Lincoln government and defend
our rights have been and am now Tor prosecu-
ting this war with all our power and resources 10
the full and permanent achievement OF our lndePeh-
dence. ,.L..L
Q. The second charge is, that l "voted that the
arms purchased by North Carolina should not oe
carried out of the State" did give this vote, but
for very different reason from the one attributed
to me, in this vile hand bill. My first duty was to
my own const.uents-to my own Peope-to my
own State and believing that we did not nave even
arms enough to defend our own hresldes, Votcd 10
keen them at home for the protection OF our own
mothers wives and children against our cruel lnva.
ders and subsequent events proved the wisdom OF
this vote for it IS well known that short OF arms
were we that many of our brave men were armed
and had to go into battle with muskets when were
utterly worthless. The condition OF the arms with
which they had to defend themselves in The Roanoke
Island conflict has not been forgotten. What man
having proper regard for the safety OF his own
people, and the lives of our soldiers, would have
voted differently?
8. The third charge is, that 1 "voted that the
soldiers should not be paid in North Carolina 1reas
ury notes"-and why did so vote? 10 lnJure the
credit of the Stateg No. The charge that was
actuated by any such motive is false. voted thus,
because wished the soldiers paid in that currency
which they preferred, and because believed an ar
rangement might be made by which they could be
paid in currency used by all our citizens IL was
understood they preferred it, especially Tor their OF
binary purposes. The insinuaton that gave this
vote not with view to do justice to the soldiers,
but to lnfct a wound on the Southern cause, Is
base and malicious.
4. The fourth charge is that l "advised my
neighbors not to volunteer, thus throwing oo-
stacies in the way of successful prosecution, anu
speedy termination of the war" This charge 1
brand as base cGLumny in each and erery particu
lar have contributed in every way possibility
speech, by exertlonS, by contributions from my Pc
cuniary means to the extent OF my aollty, TO ad-
vance the cause OF volunteering. My RelghoorS
know and will bear witness to tins fact. And re-
fer to the letter of the gallant Capt. GriSsOm now
in the army at Richmond, hereunto appended, to nix
the lie on those who concocted, have put forth and
are circulating this infamous hand bill against me.
5. The fifth charge is that used harsh language
towards some of the officials in Raleigh while en-
gagged in executing the draft; and this charge Is
couched in such language in the hand bill as to leave
the impression that denounced my own ncghbors
ana the soldiers at the same time, and not eXcu-
sively those who, clothed in little brief authority,
were lordng it the ghts of the people, and
luxuriang IN fat pay, and full supplies OF govern
ment stores of coffee, sugar, moasses, salt &c, at
0Orernment prices, when the soldiers and the peo-
pie had to pay the highest current prices OF the
merchants and SPECTATORS! Now | am not afraid
to submit the facts of this matter to your consider
alton. know in advance that you will approve my
conduct-that you will say well DONE" As Col
onel of the 18th regiment of the State militia, was
ordered to execute the draft. proceeded to do so.
Subsequently, received order from Gen. Mar
TIN and Governor Clark to exempt all persons in
charge or negroes from the draft regarded this
as an unjust and oppressive order-making an in
yidiouS and dangerous discrimination between the
STAKEHOLDER and the non-slaveholder. | therefore
protested against the order and insisted upon its
peal told the authorities at Raleigh that if they
attempted to enforce it. it would produce great dis
satisfaction amongst the people, and he severe blow
=. to slavery itself. told them that would resign
my office as Colonel before would execute any such
unjust oppressive and illegal order That ng ht the
order rescindcd and under the influence of my
feelings Of indignation for such oppressive proceed
ings on the part of those who the servants
of the people and not their masters, | used harsh
and strong epithets towards them. The occasion
and the cause demanded plain language, and if my
language too harsh there is not generous heart
that will not readily pardon something to the spirit
of justice and opposition to wrong by which | was
actuated. And not the order unjust and op-
pT6SSVe! DlQ IL not make q DISCRIMINATION De-
tween the slave owner and the n6n-SlaVe owner,
which wrong and against the spirit of our laws !?
Was it not giving Exclusive privileges to set
of men which were refused to another set Had
not the poor who owned no slaves as high
claim to be excused to tend his CROP and take care
of his family, the rich slave and his over
seer had to be excused, to take care Of his slaves
and cultivate his limitations? No Just and fair
minded man-no man who has any regard for the
peace of society, can justify such order l de-
nounced it then. | would denounce it again.
rebuked those who passed, and insisted upon en-
forcing it. and | would do it again, in defiance of
their frowns and threats. They may defeat me by
fraud and secret hand bills, but they shall never
drive me from the determined performance of nv
duty to that people who have heretofore conded in
and honored me. NOW let this charge pass for
aohdt IL IS corth.
e. The sixth charge is that I, together with the
gentlemen associated with me- and the ticket for the
Commons rejected the proposition give to ten men
the power to dictate members of the Legislature to
the free people of Wake. We did reject this prop.
oston, and for doing arc stated in the
answer herewith appended which we addressed the
candidates the other side. And 90 YOU not an
prove our decision fellow citizens 1t was prop
oSiton to establish practical oLIGARCHY-to give
to ten men the power to forestall your wishes and
defeat your will. Neither l nor my associates had
any fancy for this bare:taeed patent.riyht caucus-
ISM! To give to ten men the power to dictate men,
oers OF the Legislature to upwards of three thous-
and votersl The very idea deserves, and will no
doLh rcc2.=G PT0iII Ie5r1G vvuueIuIIau urI
have thus answered these foul charges against
me. The advantage which has been sought to be
taken OF me- IN the teeth of the written agreement
of the candidates, should receive the scorn and con-
tempt of every honorable man in the COUNTY and
doubt the brave soldiers who are enlisted in the
cause of the country, and who are far from their
homes will meet this attempt to deceive them, with
that condemnation which their sense of Justice and
generous galantry will instinctively prompt.
leave the issue to you, my fellow citizens regret
ting the necessity for taxing your patience even
thus far.
.tn your friend and fellow citizen,
JNO. P. H. RUSS.
Wake County, July 26th, 1862