Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-09-24
Eastern Counties of North Carolina.


right-any regard for the public opinion of the
world-any expectation or desire to pay the public
debt it mas incurred by the prosecution of this wick
ed war, it would sue for peace with us before the
first of October. But if we are to judge the future
by the past, it viii take no warning from the past,
but maddened and desperate on account Of its re-
cent reverses on land it may still pursue the war
in the hope that by the agency Of its powerful navy
and the new levy of 100000 men it is raising, it
may at least crafty its hatred by damaging us Sc
verely during the approaching winter months.
We confess to the hope<hat it may sue for peace,
yet it would be more than unwise in US, after the
experience we have had with the Lincoln govern
ment not to be fully prepared for the worst
We are fearful that our own successes and the
intimations thrown out that the Yankee gunboats
and Yankee forces are leaving our Eastern waters
and soil, will lead the people and the government to
sink down into fancied security. In the posses
sion of the Albemarle waters and those of the Tar
and Neuse rivers it 10 in the power of the North to
do US still immense injury in our Eastern Counties.
What plans ask, in progress to prevent this2
What arrangements are being made to check at
once the slightest advance into the countryG What
amount of engineering SKILL if any, is employed at
this time in surveying the several points upon which
the enemy may move against US, and providing
against it? Alas we fear we shall begin to move
as heretofore when it is too late.
We hope to hear of no more ill-planned or i'll
provided attacks upon our towns in possession of
the enemy. If we cannot command the kind of
force needed the requisite apparatus and the proper
military skill a SuccecSfnl atrack both unop tho
armed forces and gunboats of the enemy, better at
tempt nothing of the kind. Mere raids, such as we
recently had upon Washington, do more harm than
good We not only lose valuable lives in every
such attempt and gain nothing but we demoralize
our men-render them less courageous and conf
dent-irritate and provoke the enemy to become
more tyranncal towards our unfortunate people with
in the enemys lines, and to destroy their property
Let us have no more of it. If we can do nothing
better than that better far draw our lines still
more closely around them, that they may do less
harm.
Sheer humanity, not to say patriotism, demands
this. Have our unfortunate fellow citizens within
and near the enemys lines no demand upon our
sympathy and consideration Certainly. We owe
it to them to protect not to destroy what little is
left TO them.
very foolish and injurious idea has taken hold
of some minds, that North Carolinians cannot fight
on their own soil Our reverses in this State, not
carefully investigated, are plead in proof of it
Nothing can be more untrue or unsound. What
greater incentive can there be to make men fight
and fight vigorously, than the defence of our own
rights and lives-our wives and our children-our
own firesides and the graves of our fathers? Moth
ing If our men have not fought we'll, in some in
stances on North Carolina soil, what is the cauSe2
Can there be any other good reason alleged, than
the want of confidence in the skill and ability of
their commanders, and the poor means of defence
afforded them by the government? We challenge
the proof that soldiers have not fought well on
their own soil, when led by proper commanders.
The wants of Eastern Carolina, the coming win
ter, demand q General and demand it now. We
mean no censure disrespect to those whom the
government has placed over US. We plead for our
own State-for our own people-for our injured and
neglected Eastern Counties. We cannot mince mat
tiers to please even our friends when the interests
of our State and our people are in jeopardy. We
say Eastern Carolina needs General, who has the
reach and depth of intellect the military knowledge
the skill and the courage, the indomtable energy,
and who has the heart and the confidence of the
people with him, to defend and protect us and beat
back the foe
Why may not North Carolina be added to the de-
partment of Gen. Bsauregard? Were he to make
apersOnal survey of our Eastern Counties even once
his keen eye would enable him to discover what was
needed If this cannot be done, our people have
entire confidence in the intelligence, skill and mill
tary knowledge of Gen. Pettigrew, not to speak of
others whose services perhaps more needed else
where Though not educated at West Point he is
nevertheless considered, by military men, to be
ry inch General. There are points on Neuse, Tar,
Roanoke and Chowan rivers, which ought, by all
means to be fortified to prevent the passage of Yam
kee gunboats up those rivers. 1t can be done, and
ought to be done at once
North Carolina has the right to demand such
General of the government We need him now as
all our coast.bound States need them to prepare for
the coming winter. Let our members Of Congress
look to this We trust Gov. Vance, whom we know
to be fully alive to the importance of protecting the
entire State, will look to this matter speedily. And
let it be remembered how much we have suffered
by not needing the warnings which have been given.