Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-16
The Convention and the Military AuthorisIes.-



The PAPERS have been discussing for some time past,
the action of the State Convention with reference to the
disbursing agents of the State and also the action of
Judge French in sentencing to fine of $50 each three
citizens of Rutherford county, who time ago. act
ing as Vigilance Committee took the law in their
own bands in tue OF Scoggns accused of enter
tanning and expressing ant-Southern views.
We have said little about these matters as evidently
the discussion or con roVersy arising out OF them had
assumed rather partizan character-more certainly
than could be regarded quite compatible with CAIN
and candid consideration Of The merits Of either ease
In the first instance Committee of the Convention
in report preliminary to the introduction of bill pro-
longing the Existence and giving indefinite extension to
the powers Of the Committee of Claims, distinctly
charged peculaton and fraud upon the disbur Sing
agents of the State body for there no parties
specified aud meme exempted. 1t was broad and
sweeping charge, involving the honor and character of
many highminded gentlemen-one which imperativeIy
requires that every gentleman stgmatzed, and all
stgmatzed, should demand rigid investigation
and stamp the accusation with its proper character.
We do not say that in handling the money of the
State there may not have been wrong done. We are
peculiar partizans of the w;reworkers who were at
the head of affairs last summer, though heard
of anything wrong in regard to the accounts But all
liable to err ard where unusually large amounts
of money disburstd there are temptations offered
which may be yielded to- 1t is the broad, sweeping
venomous denuuciation to which we object-a denun-
citation sufficiently ndiscriminatve to have graced the
sheet in times of high party aud eeconeering excite
ment. So much for that
General Martini it appears addressed letter directly
to the president OF the Convention asking suspension
of the decree comforting virtual omnpotence upon toe
Court of Claims General Martin was denounced in
the most bitter terms for Going Now the letter of
General Martins perfectly respectful Its Ian
guage and tone we're unobjectionable. But General
Martin is not coordinate branch of the Government
and has not like the Governor any right to advise
communicate with tie Convention or Legislature. His
consisted in addressing official communication
to the President of the Convention. The facts which
General Martin might have desired to present, could
have been brought properly before the Convention by
any member to whom he might personally or by letter
have communicated them
person having the unpleasant name of Scoggins,
very probably sort of person, did early in the
sions denouncng JEFF Davis and the Southern Confede
racy, and furthermore wrote letter to Mrs Holton,
edtress of the Charlotte Whig expressing similar views
and c0ached in language which, addressed to lady,
showed that Scoggns was anything else than a gentle
man. But it would seem that these things took place
before North Carolina became member of the Con.
federacy Such at least is our impression about the
letter to Mrs Hoton. Now let ask how long before
the secession of the State it, when leading papers
and prominent politicians making use of equally
bitter and unbecompg language with that used by tie
uneuphonious Scoggins How long before that time
was it when Mr.. Ferebee the gentleman especially cho-
sen by the Convention to go to Richmond to confer
with MIR. Memminger about the Confederate war tax
introduced resolution into the Legislature declaring
any who favored secession debarred from holding
any Office of honor, trust profit in the State? Not
worry Scoggins was only initiating big men who now
aim to rule the secession roast being far more faith
full than those who set such example TO the sundry
Scoggnses scattered throughout the State. Scoggins
was wrong, however, and there ought to be law now
especially since North Carolina is State of the Cor
ederacy to reach such cases. but when such law was
brought before the Convention by Judge Biggs, it
it required all hands to take oath of allegiance to the
State and the Confederate States. Really this thing
was denounced bitterly If, instead of doing what
we should think no have any objection to- it re-
quired men to enter into league with hell and take
oath of allegiance to the devil But if the oath was