Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-10
Prenare for the Worst.

We cannot turn our minds eye to the approach
ing winter without adyerting to the exposed condi
ton of our Eastern Counties to the ravages of the
Yankees. The splendid grain-growing region be-
yond the Chowan river and Albemarle sound, al
though liable to immense damage from the moment
Roanoke Island fell, was hopeessly ruined upon the
evacuation of Norfolk. Almost all prospect of af-
fOrding help to suffering people in that region
was cut off by that unfortunate and as we still be-
leve, illjudged evacuation They are already near
y stripped of their negroes, while their grain and
bacon, with which the country abounds, entirely
at the mercy of the rapacious enemy. To our
deeply afflicted fellow citizens in that region there
is really left no alternative but an ignominious sub
mission or an escape at the hazard of their lives,
and the certain loss of their entire property They
will bear witness that we have labored faith
fully to prevent this dire calamity.
Besides those Northeastern Counties, Craven,
Carteret Hyde Beaufort Washington and TyrreIl
in the hands of the enemy but not helplessly
IN the case of the first named since the evacaa-
ton of Norfolk. They may be redeemed and dis
enthralled by strong and earnest effort
Added to these, there BERTHE, Hartford, Hall
fax, Northampton, Martin Pitt, Edgecombe, Lenoir,
Greene, Wayne, Jones and Onsow, which are liabeat
any moment to be under the fire of the enemys gun
boats, to such easy access by other means as to
render their condition deeply hazardous All this
region we have heretofore styled "the granary of
the South" an appellation which no similar area
in the Southern States so rightly merits. The corn
crop in this section, the present year, is immense,
and so is the stock of hogs and cattle.
Now, the simple question is and it is one of i'm
mense importance, not only to the people of that
section, but to the State and the Confederacy at
large, if not vital one to the very existence of
the government-shall these Counties be overruE
by the Yankees, their negroes stolen, their corn,
bacon and cattle made subservient to the of the
enemy, and our people hopelessly ruined? People
of the South-people Of North Carolina shall it be
permitted? We hope not. 1t must not be.
We are not ignorant of the claims of other States
and sections. We are in favor of North Carolina
doing her utmost as she has already done, for the
common cause. Our army under Gen. Lee must be
sustained amply, fully, as well as others having
claims upon the government But is it not q mat
ter of the first importance to our interests in Vir-
ginia that the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad be
preserved intact and that the rich crops of those
Counties be placed beyond the reach of danger p
Let President Davis, and Gov. Vance, and the peo-
pie ponder the question.
The President doubtless Is not unmindful Of
North Carolina He surely must feel the claim
which noble old State has upon him and the
Confederacy. Her blood has been freely spilled
her treasury has been open to the common cause
and shall our whole East be neglected? One-sev-
enth of her wealth is now in the hands of the ene-
my-delay may soon place onethird of it beyond
hope.
We are sure no one feels more deeply the rmpor-
lance of this matter than Gov. Vance. His efforts
have already been directed to the proper means and
ways for meeting this responsibility. The interests
involved certainly demand prompt action. call
of the Legislature at any early day, under the cir
cumstances, might possibly lead to action which
could not So easily be accomplished otherwise