Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-23
Z" Watch and Wait ,,

the people to the real condition of things and to
lnJnre US because we are true to the people, 1t
libel to say that the Standard ever advocated do
nothing policy in public affairs. Our motto was,
" Prepare-get ready-and then oatch and aeait."
1t was sound policy at the time. Every intelligent
mind in the South row admits it, and events have
proved it. The sentinel, armed, watches and waits
for the foe. In 1860, Immediately after the John
Brown raid, we proposed that one million of dollars
should be at once appropriated to procure arms, to
manufacture powder, and thus prepare for war, as
the best means Of avoiding war but wseacres shook
their heads and talked about expenditures and said
it would injure the Democratic party Afterwards,
We supposed Of course there was some common
sense and some sagacity in the Montgomery Con-
gress and we took it for granted that that body was
getting ready. We supposed that agents had been
sent to Europe to purchase arms, ammunition iron.
clad steamers, and every thing necessary for pro-
longed and bloody war; We did not dream that
Southern men who. were determined to break up
the old Union, would make no ADEQUATE prepare.
tons for events that would follow: and so when
Lincoins proclamation was issued calling for troops
to coerce not North Carolina but the seeded States
we resisted it in the belief that the new
had already provided far as it could for the war
which was upon us. We were the first in this State
to denounce this proclamation, and we knew when
doing so that hundreds of thousands of men on both
sides must soon be in the field When, as men,
Der of the State Convention, we signed the act of
secession, we knew it might cost us our life but
we did not hesitate. The time for watching and
linz bod IL.
State has been more consistent and perseverng than
we have been in urging vigorous prosecution of
the war. Our columns show that we have opposed
all unnecessary delays, all runous retreats all neg
lects of the government to prepare ata points for
defence. and all party movements which tended to
divide and distract our people. When the govern
ment has oeen dilatory, we have chided it; when
inefficient officers have been placed in command,
and when Hatteras, and Roanoke Island and New.
bern were SO shamefully neglected and fell, the
Standard did not cease to utter its circumstances
and warnings; and verify believe that if the ad-
vice of the Standard had been taken, our ssacoast
would still have been under our own control, and
| our people would not have been called to depore
| the loss Of Hatteras, Roanoke, and Newbern In
the Convention We have voted for every measure
that promised in the slightest degree to encourage
soldiers, to provide for their wants. and to pro-
tect their rights. The soldiers know this, and the
people know it. We have also voted for every
measure designed to sustain the public credit; and
in addition to this our private means have been
| cheertully bestowed on the cause. Every honest
man in the State knows that before the war came
on our counsel was, "Prepare !-acatch and cait ''
but since the war began our motto has been "On-
uurd! onward!r'
And yet vagsbond press in this City. and other
presses in this State not of vagabond but party
character, would have the people believe that we
not true to the South. The more We forget par
ty and self the they assail and revilc us; and
the reason they do is, they fear course will
build up conservatism in the State and break them
down. They made the revolution, as they say, and
they, therefore, claim that they are entitled to con-
duct it. They have done so until the Southern
cause trembles in the balance. If that cause be ls
the loss soiN be attributable to them. Desructives
by nature and education, they have shown a capac
ity to pull down but they lack the discretion the
foresight and the wisdom to build up. They have
adopted only half of our former motto. They neg
lected to prepare and to satch for the stupendous
war; which, in secondary sense, they we're instru
mental in producing; and they have been acaitia!
for Europe to intervene and retreang. and calling
out but half the volunteers necessary and providing
no navy, until the enemy has we'll nigh envelopet
us in his mighty folds. Nothing but quick, hare
fighting will save US now. Whose fault is it No
ours We told them what they might expect in
the way of war, but they laughed at US, and, b.
aoaiting, by partysm by favoritism, by lnco,npe
tent commanders, and by want of preparation, the.
have brought the country to the verge of ruin
We tell them now that despotc acts will not saw
us. Liberty cannot be achieved by despotic means
The rights of the States must be respected and fait
must be kept The Constitution must not be broken
We must rely on the affections of our soldiers an
our people, not on their fears; and we must fgh
as the Spaniards fought against Bonaparte, as tn
Hungariars fought against Austria, as the Texan
fought against Santa Anna, as Beauregard tough
at Shiloh, if We expect to triumph. These az
"words of truth and soberness." And yet for nj
tering them, because they rebuke those who hav
been negligent and faithless, shall be denounce
as traitor. Let those who thus charge US vii:
being untrue to native land, ponder the follow
ing from the Dist chapter of Revelation: "All liar
shall have their part in the lake which burneth wit
fire and brimstone; which is the second DEATH"
Prof MeIchlor, who comes highly recommends
from the South is at present in the City, and prt
poses to appear before Committee of the CONVEX
ton, on the subject of system or modes Of HON
, industry by which our people may be able to SUI
plv themselves with useful manufactured article.
The subject is very important one, and inform.
t ton of the kind is much needed by our people.
SpRu1L's CAvALRY.-We learn that Gov. Clar
has appointed Maj. Matthew W. Davis, of Ruthe
ford, Colonel of Spruills regiment of Cavalry.
friend who knows, says this is an excellent appoin
ment He has been some thirteen years in the Fer
eral service, resigned in April last, and was in tn
battle of Manassas,