Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-09-10
For the Standard.

Mr. EDIroR:-I was Union man up to the pro.
clamation of Abe Lincoln, but from that time have
been an outright rebel against the old United States
government, and am in favor of the prosecution of
this war till Southern independence shall have been
secured. Though did not approve the rash acts
of the reeaters did approve of the action Of North
Carolina in Withdrawing from the Union after tho
commencement of hostllities; when, indeed, the
Union was already undone, and it became necessary
for every man either to identify his fortunes with
those of the slave States or to assist the abolition
lists in over-runnnk them.
think we, Is people, ought to forget old differ
ences and unite together to form an unSroken wall
against the tide of invasion. am, therefore, oppo-
sed to prescription on account O. old dferences.-
As the conservatives are in power, hope they will
show their magnanimity. am not in favor Of pro-
scrbing man simply because he was an carly Sc
cessionist; but tell you who think ought to be
prescribed, those purblind, narrow-minded party
leaders, and party followers, who, happening to bs
in power when the war broke out, have taken ad-
vantage Of that power to keep down, and as far as
they could. .disfranchse all who had happened to
differ with them before the proclamation Of Abe
Lincoln.
The issue in the late election was net matter of
national politics the conservatives were as true
friends to the South as the other party could be
but the question was-shaU the proscriptice policy
of the party in pouer at Raleigh 6s endorsed by the
people Of North Carolina? And the answer, NO,
has rolled like sevenold peals of thunder from the
mountains to the seaboardl
For one, l rejoice in the decision. I look upon it
as judgment Of heaven upon wickedness in high
places. The Raleigh partizan government has been
"weighed in the balances and found wanting
My feelings and notions the subject have not
been imbibed from political newspapers, or borrow
ed from others Facts came under my observation,
that at the time excited my indignation against the
I hof MT cnfSc %ko
party in power to prescribe old active political op
ponents; but even ministers of the gospel were ex-
cluded from army chaplaincies if they did not ex.
acty "frame to pronounce Alright" the original &C.
cession Shibboleth. The following cases came to
my knowledge and partly under my own obser-
vatien:
Several officers Of a certain regiment petitionsd
the Governor who was then exercising the appoint
ing power for q minister; other officers petitioned
for another, Neither were appointed, the Governor
having made the appointment before the regular or
ganization Of the regiment. The appointee had not
personally or through bis friends asked the appoint
ment He had only been . minister about twelve
months, and was very youthful; but bis politics
were right and thatwlR enough. But here is snoth-
er case: N# -"
A minister was unanimously recommended by the
officers of regiment for Chaplain of that regiment
and the recommendation was presented in due form,
to the Governor. That Recommendation was never
heard from afterwards. The Governor at that time
claimed the appointing power; for 1 know Of his
appointing Chaplain afterwards to another regiment
that was not acceptable to the regiment What was
the reason of the difference! Why the one had
been an old Union man, and the other was Of the
right stripe The regiment whose unanimous Pc
tition was disregarded, has never had Chaplain
yet, SO far IS have learned; and they have done
their own praying, as well as fighting. Another
minister was recommended in similar manner for
the Chaplaincy Of cavalry regiment; but the Gov
ernor instead Of yielding to the will Of the regiment
offered the Chapiaincy to another man, who declined
it; and the reg giment remained long while without
Chaplain, and has none now 80 far .as know.
do not know that party motives were involved in
this last case. only mention it to show the de-
mocracy-the respect for the will Of the people
manifested by the government.
These facts came partly under my own observs-
ton: but have reason to believe that they were
only few among thousand parallel cases going
to illustrate the mismanagement and despssated
party selshness, that have characterized the acts
of the Raleigh government rejoice in the merited
rebuke which Providence and the people have ad-
ministered to that spirit
August, 1862.