Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-28


quirer, it discusses at length on what it ispeased
to call 9" prescription" Our reply TO an this shall
be brief and to the point ~ '.-s r ? - =
The people of this State prior to the proclamation
of Lincoln, were divided into two parties-one pre-
ferring to break up the cd government and the
other preferring to maintain that government as
long as it was possible to do consistently with
honor The Conservatives, those who desired to
maintain the government, were largely in the ma
jority The vote of the State was about 10000, |
and of this they had majority of at least 10000.
But the proclamation came and at once, to all ap-
pearances party divisions ceased The Conserya- !
tives rallied to the defence Of Southern rights and I
sent more men to the field than the Destructves |
did. They honestly felt and thought that party |
should be senced during the war; and they gave to
their opponents, who then had control Of the State
government most generous and hearty support
They could not think it possible, whatever might
have been the Of parties this respect in the
past that men would be punished in the midst of
for their previous opinions and prescribed from
office on account of those opinions. But they were
mistaken. To their surprise and modification, all
the offices under both the State and Confederate
governments of any Importance or that gave tone
| to government and public opinion, were monopo-
liked by the Destrucves, and they were thrust out
or kept out They at first complained Of this, but
they Still fought and paid on. At length they
told plainly that for the most part they were sus-
| pected Persons-I.incolnites in disguise-unfit to
lead or to-haVe VOICE in the revolution; anu that
IN iact, Those VINO made S-e revolution were alone
entitled to conduct it" When they complained of
and denounced such conduct they Ware next told
that they should not only no: hold Office, but they
would be marked" in history, and their Names de-
livered to postcrity enemies to their native hqd
When they questioned the wisdom or the policy q
either of the governments, or insisted that Constitu
tons should be respected, and the military power
made subordinate to the CIVIL they were threatened
with test oaths and gag laws-aye with test oaths
under which they might have been banished from the
State and their property sold to deray the expenses
of their Punishment. Still they fought and paid
on But from the very commencement Of this treat
ment, and during its progress they warned the De-
struc,ives that if they did not it and consider
and treat them as felow-citizens and brethren en-
barked in a common cause, they would appeal to
the people against them. These warnings had no
effect except to exasperate the Destructves still
more-and the appeal oaS made. The result was a
majority of 35 900 for Governor, and Conservative
Legislature by at least 30 majority on joint ballot
The people at the last moment after their patience
had been thoroughly exhausted made the order at
the ballot-box that the Dcstructives should go out
of power, and the Conservatives go in. That order
the General Assembly of this State is now executing
and we trust it will continue to do so until the last
Destructive is deprived of Office at least until the
government at Richmond ceases to set US thc-exam-
pie of prescription and party tyranny.
The above are T;scts, which no intelligent and fair
minded person in this S.ate can dispute.
The Richmond Enquirer, itself the organ Of an
unmitigated party tyranny, is notqualied to sit in
Judgment IN this case. Mr.. Davis has appointed
some our or five foreign Ministers. Every one Of
.nem is rahid original seceSsionist He has appoint
ed ten Cabinet officers. Every ono of them is an
original seccsSionist- He has appointed a number
of officers of various kinds in this State. Every
one Of them, far we know, is original seces
sionist. No citizen Of the Confederate States who
was for the Union up to the proclamation of Lin
coin, holds any Office under Mr.. Davis which gives
tone to politics character to the administration of
public affairs. His administration is emphaticafiy
partizan in Its character. 1t is as much SO as Lin
hold the offices and control the government in one
section; and as general rule, the original seces-
sonistS hold the Offices and control the government
in the other section while the national men, who
were opposed to the destruction of the old govern.
ment are lighting the battles on foot. This is the
truth of history. We know the fact-and we give
it only by way of ustration-that while the battle
was raging around Richmond, and at the very mo-
/ merit when the cannon of the enemy was sounding
in the ears of Mr. Davis and his subordinates that
one of these subordnates engaged in the effort
to prove that the occupant of petty Office in this
State had used language disrespectfu to Mr.. Davis
and his government at Montgomery, at time when
that government a foreign one so far as North
Carolina was concerned; and i: the proof had been
clear, the office holder would have been prescribed
for opinions sake, for words spoken before North
Carolina became member of the new government.
The Enquirer supports an administration thus pro-
scrptve and thus partIzan and apologies for it on
all occasions but when we demand simple justice
for the Conservatives of this State and advise retail
ation strictly in self defence, it considers
Every remarkable" and very much to be deplored.
Let Mr. Davis change his policy in this respect and
our word for it the Conservatives of this State will
meet him half way. Let him at once divide his Ca
binet and his foreign Ministers between the Conser-
vatives and the original secessionists and let him
cease and let him instruct his subordinaes to
to ask the question OF applicant for office if he
was an original secessionist or a Union man up TO
Lincolns proclamation. Such course would not
only go very far to repress party feeling among US,
but it would impart new life to the Confederate
cause. But as long as he sets MS the example Of
prescription, by refusing his confidence and por-
ton of the Offices and honors of the country to
those who are called Conservatives, and who have
} suffered and done much in the common cause as
he and his friends he must expect retaliation in self