Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-10-27
Shameful Negligence

We learn that Gov. Vance SUMMONED 'ne
Council of State to meet in this city On =
18th. The object of the call is stated 10 nave
been, to get the Council to autherise us
Excellency to convene the Legislature TWO
weeks in advance of the usual perico' anu
also to possess him of authority to procure
supplies greatly needed for our army, I'M 70
arrest the transportation out OF the state y
thousands of articles absolutely essential LOT
the support of our own people, and to check
the mischieyous operators Of spectators ana
extortioners.
These were certainly great and important
considerations, which admitted of no delay,
and it was reasonable to suppose would nave
met with a hearty concurrence on the part OF
a body of men appointed by the Legislature
especially to advise and cooperate with the
Governor in all matters of public exigency.
But strange to say, only three out OF the
seven appeared, viz: Messrs. l.. G.
of Lenoir, VIM. A. Ferguson of BERTHE, and
David Murphy of Cumberland. There being
liz QuO1u I'LL, t11CCC Ll1lNC LOLA IA
until the evening of the Goth, hoping some
other member of the Council would appear
and constitute a quorum, when they could
proceed to act upon the recommendations OF
Gov. Vance. But no one came, and the wise
objects of the Executive were thwarted, the
interests of the State and people disregarded,
and the bleeding feet and naked, shivering
bodies of our soldiers left uncared for.
No excuse short of utter lnpossl6ihty to
attend should be countenanced from those
%delinquents of the Council who have thus
shamcfully, fnot treacherously betrayed the
high trust committed to them. John w.
Cunningham of Person, is said to be out OF
the State, and did not receive the notification
of Gov. Vance. VIM. L. Hilliard of Bun
csmbe, is in the army, and is of course x
cusable. But where was John j. Long OF
Halifax, who lives within six or eight hours
ride of the Capital? What prevented Jesse
F. Graves of Surry, from being PRESENT.
i They may have good and sufficient reasons,
but it is due to the public that they should
explain their seeming remissness. Their
conduct, in the absence of q good excuse,
will be judged of NEST harshly by an injured
r and suffering people ct homo and in the
\ field.
Governor Vance has now discharged hi:
l duty to the government-that government
: having failed to second him in his c~onstitu-
e a time of pressing necessity-let him nov
s look to the People, to their pressing want
: and necessities-let him listen to the cries O
our freezing soldiers, and take such steps a
o will relieve them. Let him see to it tina
. the leather, shoes, clothes, &C., which are il
the State, be purchased at fair prices, o
d taken at fair prices if exorbitant ones are de
manded, instead of being sent out of the Stat
to enrich spectators and extortioners, an
let him pursue the same course with houl
bacon, &C., and the PEOPLE will sus
tain and help him, and our brave %sufferin
n soldiers call Gods benisons on his head.
: The State of North Carolina has solemn
IS contracted with heContederate Government
to clothe her own troops, and the Governo
will not only be justified but a%pplauded, for as
a Stunning even extraordinary powers, for fulfill
: ing this contract. And we feel confident Go,
Vance will not permit our soldiers to suft
= when he can relieve them, because he doc
d not meet with the cooperation of other de
partments of the State government provide
for such exigencies. He must assume re
sponsibility, if need be, leaving the delir
euents who forced it upon him, to answer
the indignant thunder of an ~ineensed and GU
IS ragged people.