Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-19
The Richmond Enquirer and Col. Vance.


Carolina soldiers copies from a paper printed in
this City to show that the friends Of Col Vance
responsible for party strife in this State. The first
sentence in the extract thus made by the Enquirer
contains a wicked and deliberate falsehood, as fol-
lows:
"Col. Johnston was selected as a candidate, by
the spontaneous approval Of his fitness for the office
by the whole press of the State one paper only ex-
copied"
We repeat the foregoing statement is false, and
it was known to be so when made. COL Johnston
was nominated for Governor in little meeting held
in his own town. which he himself attended At
ter this a few papers in the State signifed their
willingness to support him for Governor; bat the
majority Of the press, with the Standard, either
took ground against him were silent AS soon
as the Standard raised the name of COL Vance, and
not b0re the Register of this City, and the paper
from which the Enquirer copies, raised that of Mr.
Johnston. This backwardness on the part of these
two journals shows that even they were not anxious
to support Mr.. Johnston; but, as the time was
short they could do no better and as the course
Of the Standard in raising the name of Col. Vance
required prompt action, they then raised Mr.. john
ston's name. We expected this; and one reason
why we were so prompt to raise Col. Vance's name
as soon we knew he would consent to be a can
didate, that these journals might be forced, as
they were, to go for Johnston. This was what we
wanted, for we knew how weak he was, and how
easily he could be beaten.
The Enquirer will perceive from this that both
the Register and the pap-r from which it copies,
instead Of going cheerfully for Mr.. Johnston,
driven by to his support. And yet the paper
from whicA the Enquirer copies, has the audacity
to say that Mr.. Johnston twas selected as a can
ddate by the spontaneous approval of his fitness for
the Office by the whole press of the State, one pa
per only excepted" A more glaring falsehood was
never uttered.
We now say to the Enquirer, as it seems to take
deep interest in North Carolina politics. that Mr..
Johnston is not at all qualified to manage the helm
of State in crisis like the present. He has been
at the bar for more than twenty five years. and has
made no reputation beyond that of County Court
lawyer. There at least twenty five thousand of
citizens who as well fitted for the office of
Governor as he is. Hewas selected as a candidate by
faction, who thought because he had been an old
line Wing, they could secure for him the support
tive and proscrptivc secessionst they could secure
for HIM the great bulk of the old Democratic party
But this calculation will fail. Col Vance will lead
him by at least 20 900 majority
We go further, and say to the Enquirer that
when Lincoln's proclamation. appeared, the old
Union men of this State, who numbered about 7O,-
600 of the 112 900 voters of the State and who had
belonged to both the old parties, went forward
one and offered to cooperate with the original
secessionists in prosecuting the war and establish
ing Southern independence. They did this prompt
ly and cheerfully, under impulse of duty and
patriotism But the State government was in the
hands of the original secessionists; and from that
day to this, general rule, these same old Union
men, though they have contributed without stint
their blood and treasure to the common cause have
been prescribed and hunted down, debarred from
all important Offices, and charged, in many in
stances, without the shadow of cause proof, with
being enemies to their native land. In vain have
they expressed their surprise, their notification
and their indignation at such treatment Colonies,
Lieutenant Colonels, Captains, Lieutenants, Sur
geons and even Chaplans of regiments, by scores,
have been appointed over them, solely because they
were secessionsts The offices and patronage of
the State, W tn its honors both civil and military,
have been bestowed upon favored few and that,
too, while the thunders of battle are in our ears,
and while old Union men by thousands have been
Drawing disease and death in defence of common
rights. 1t is not true, as intmated by the Enqui.
rer, that the old Union men are influenced by de-
sire for Office that any of them are aboring un
IL 49, Y.
not office they acant but tile admission at the hands
of their opponents that they are porthy of it
They are determined that no record shall be made
against them in history which will cause their de-
scendants to blush for them, which shall leave
the impression that they stood by in silence, when
under the ban, and permitted themselves to be
written down as disloyal suspected persons
Eight months ago, they told those who had power
in this State that unless they ceased this unnatural
prescription they would appeal to the people against
them. They have not ceased it, and the appeal is
nOW made 1t is not made for or to party, but
against party. 1t will succeed. The people Of the
State will take their own affairs into their own
hands, and will inaugurate and carry out that re-
form, which, in many respects, is so much needed.
The conservatives, far from constituting party,
are the most decided opponents of party. Their
great object is to destroy party, to prescribe pro-
scription and to reform the State government as
to render it not only economical and just in its
operations a: home, but more efficient ally, if pos
sible, than it has been of the common government
in prosecuting the war.
The Enquirer, and those for whom it speaks are
opposed to Col. Vance because he was an old Wing
and refused to 60 for secession until Lincolns proc
lamation. That paper is still laboring under the
delusion that there is Democratic party. We
know this to be So 1t is the secret talk in govern
ment circles both in Raleigh and Richmond Now,
the Democratic party was destroyed at Charleston
and Baltimore, and the Enquirer aided in destroying
it The faction that remains and with which the