Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-07
difficulty, as it can be done easily with honor to
both. Yours respectfully,
"a K. b. WHITLEY.
q - SairnrIELD, May 80, 1867.
SMlrnrIELD, May 80, 1867.

C. B. Sanders, Esq - -
SIR: After the unfortunate controversy which is
so holly raging between Col. A. j. Heath and your
SELF concerning the proceedings of secret nesting
which was held in the town of Smithfield on the 3d
Of May, it is with very great reluctance that CON-
ply with your request, to furnish you with state
ment of all the facts which came under my obserya-
ton in regard to said meeting. was not men,
her OF the meeting, and since what learned about
it, was purely accidental it may have been very im-
proper in me to have spoken of in the frs: instances
but it is too late to keep silent-what is out is
out, and since you desire statement you shall
have it in all its simplicity.
The first knew of the meeting was on Saturday,
the Srd of May, when stepped into the room in
which the meeting was being held, official bust
ness. / there found the gentleman with whom
had busness-A G. Powell, ESQ, Col A. j. Heath,
and others. As the gentleman | wished to see APP
peared to be engaged, paused few moments,
when he commenced reading an instrument which
j learned from its wording to be petition to the
Commanding General for the appointment of a mil.
itary patrol, from the 4lst N. G. regt of militia
SAID patrol to consist of forty able bodied young
men between the ages of Is and 30 years, and l
think, though am not certain, that said patrol were
to he all slave owners. The petition stated the
reasons for the necessity Of the patrol to he the
strong Union sentiment which prevailed in this
section Of the county and the great number OF slaves.
The first OF which reasons was stricken out
ton or suggestion Of A. q. Powell Esq. l then
began to find out that | was an an unbidden mem
Der of private meeting, and | retired, at which
time heard Col. Heath remark "cal in all those
we want and shut the door," Either that evening
the next day, spoke Of the matter to or two
persons, who joined me in denouncing the meeting
as an unjust and mean resort 20 avoid the conscrp
ton law. Two days after that, Col A. j. Heath
took me aside, and in the presence of one Of the
gentlemen to whom had spoken about the meeting,
said to me that he understood had been speaking
Of the meeting which was held in town few days
ago. l told him had The Colonel then asked
me what had said about it. told him had said
it mean resort to avoid the operations of the
CONSUMPTION law, and that the forty young men to
be recommended were to he all slave owners. The
Colonel said | was mistaken in that and desired me
to correct the statement told the Colonel that it
my opinion that | was right-that | was hon.
est in my opinion, and that | am as much entitled
to my opinion as he was and should not correct 1t
until he furnished me with the unmstakeable evil
dence to the contrary-which he has failed to do
Col Heath then requested that should say no more
about the proceedings of the meeting. Here the
interview ended. have since tried TO the orig
inal proceedings or copy Of the petition, but can
not get it
The above is an unvarnshed statement of facts
as they came under my own observation
Respectfully, Yours,
VIM THAN