Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-19
Ger. Hiil-Mdnias.o. journal.

Ashf1o6SV0 20Ut08ls
The Wilmington Journal Of tn. 10th. not being
able to answsr our obssrtstions In f..sion ID the
removal Of Gen. Hill from bis corruand ID thi.
State, charges us with being influenced BY malice
and personal luminosity towards, No suppose, Gov.
Clark and Judge Bggs The Journal was never
more mistaken. 1t is our habit to discharge our
duty to readers and to the public, without fear,
favor, or affection. We cherish malice towards no
one, and We have no personal luminosity against
Gov Clark or Judge Biggs.
We now say to the Journal that We take back
nothing that we have said on the subject. We
know that Gen. Hill was removed, and Gen. Branch
appointed in his place, representations from the
highest authority" il this State. Who this
highest authority" was or is, we do not know
But the Journal says Judge Biggs denies that he
had any agency in the business. No one has charg.
ed that he went wrote to President Davis on the
subject; but We have heard that when General Hill
called out the militia under the order of Governor
Clark, Judge Bggs before be knew that Gov. c.
had given the order, spoke in harsh terms Of Gen.
Hill, and that what he said was largely instrumental
In exciting feeling among the people and among the
militia even, against Gen. Hill As soon as Judge
Biggs got to Raleigh, and learned that Gov. Clark
was responsible for the order, he became very quiet
on the subject But, adds the Journal Gov Clark
has "authoritativey denied" that he had any thing
TO 90 with the removal of Gen. Hill. 1t is true
that newspaper in this City has made this denial,
but there no proof that it did SO by authority"
The newspaper referred to edited by corrupt men,
and is VIGOROUSLY under corrupt influences. Decent
ana respectable persons, who intelligent, believe
nothing that it says; and it cannot be possible that
Gov Clark, who is decent intelligent and respect
able person, and who is also the Chief Magistrate of
the State could have stopped to authorize that paper
to make any statement for him. Besides, we beg
leave to remind the Journal that zoe made some
time since, statement "by authority" from Gov.
Clark, to the effect that Gen. Hill had called out the
militia without authority from him and that Gen.
Hill promptly replied, and proved by official docu
ments that he had full authority for making the call
from Gov. Clark and Gen. Martin. After such ex-
perience this, the Journal We know will excuse
us for being a little dubious of "by authority
statements.
We again assure the Journal that we have no
wish to prolong this controversy but the course of
that paper has rendered it necessary that We should
give more fully 1.-THE truth of history" in relation
to the removal of Gen. Hill In October last Gen.
Hill visited Roanoke Island, and found the batteries
improperly located, the troops out of position, the
guns such as to be of little service against the long
range pieces of the eEemy, and the batteries open
in the rear and liable to be taken by troops landed
on the lower end of the island He gave directions
to move up the lower battery, gradually concentra-
ting the guns at one place, and that line of en-.
trencnmens should be run entirely across the island,
to resist a rear attack. A thousand men working
vigorously for month, could have finished the
work. On second visit to the island he found but
little had been DONE when he applied to have the
officer in command of the post relieved, and then
called out the militia. He made third visit to the
island, where the men from several Counties had
been ordered to rendezvous. About 500 of the
militia of Chowan were there, but the Governor
had arrested the call, and the militia of Camden
and other Albemarle Counties did not appear But
for this interference of the Governor, the island
could have been made Gibraltar of place in one
month.
Gen. Hill set forth the importance of this island
to the Governor, the Secretary of War, the Secre-
tary of the Navy, but not word of encouragement
did he receive from any of these dgnitaries. All
the Governor did so far We are informed was to
arrest the call for the militia and to interest him.
self to have Gen. Hill removed
We tell the Journal that we are thoroughly posi-
ed, and that we know what we state to be true If
Gen. Hill had remained at Roanoke Island, Burn
side would have been repulsed and the island sue
eessfully defended; or failing in that, our troops
cannon, arms, and munitions would have been saved
If he had remained in command at Newbern, that
place would have been saved; or failing in that, he
would have won for our troops reputation equal
to that which was achieved at Bethel and Fort
Donelson.
We very much fear that Wilmington will be at
tackled next Week by week for months past have
we warned the two governments of the probable
designs of the enemy, and appealed to them to make
such arrangements for defence as would protect our
coast. We have made the same appeals for Will
mington as for Hatteras, Roanoke Island, and New
beID We voted in the Convention to devote anu
amount from the State Treasury to defend Whining
ton, Newbern and Washington; and we also voted
to raise 90 900 volunteers for State defence. Our
skirts, at least are clear And yet when we appeal,
and warn, and charge home incompetency, and Ne
gect and soth upon those to whose hands have been
con6ded our lives and fortunes the Journal charges
that We are governed by "malice" and personal
animosity," and some Of the faction with which
that paper acts pronounce us untrue to our native
State. We repeat what we have heretofore said
that faction and partyism and favortism, and soth
and dwelling incompetency at Raleigh and Rich
mond are putting in jeopardy our very independ
ence; and that. unless change and very mate
rial change shall soon take place at both capitals
the enemy will overrun this State and Virginia
Would God it were otherwise! Would God thai
the record of Hatteras and Roanoke Island ant
Newbern had no place in the archives Of North
Carolina! But at Newbern our troops fought al
alone, while 25, 900 of our brave sons were guard