Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-28
From tie Montgomery Advertiser. I
SECRET SESSIONS OF CONGRESS AND
IN ~ LDSIIID -ELIL, SAL-L n

SECRET SESSIONS OF CONGRESS AND
BLIND MANN URSHIP OF THE SOUTH
ERN PEOPLE
Since affairs have become so complicated by
the ineficiency Of those who were unfortunately
vested with authority to conduct the war; it is no
unfrequent thing to hear the lamentations Of the
country, for the want of great leader to upturn
the existing state Of things, and take safely
through the revolution. 1t may be well to consider
why the prerequisites for man for the times have
not been complied with. In the first place. it may
be asserted as humilIatng fact in orr history that
the whole tendency has been To reprcss leading
merit, and give commanding positions to mcdIocrity.
II exhibited those high traits Of ability,
age and energy which distinguished him as a repre-
sentative of grei; republican movement he at
once became a mark for the envy Of tiInii place
hunters and the cry went through the land that he
was fire brand and fdctonist, attempting to un.
dermine everything that was pure and good in So
cety, to crafty his own ambition. The people
honest cunlidIng and unsu>pecting as they always
are-hcarinS these representations from their neigh
borhoOd oracleS, took counsel Of their fears, and
to regard the foremost advocate of their cause
as a very dangerous man. Time rolled on, and
events vIndicated the principles Of much abused
statesman but trne 70 tho weakness Of human
ture the prejudice to The had iestered until it
would take years TO heal the wound
In this lamentable condition did the revolution
find US. The illustration above made is only spec
linen Of large class of men throughout the Con-
fedcracy, who cOmprehended the necessity for Sc
cesSion far ahead of their compeerS, and who were
therefore, the ittest persons to preside the des
TIMES of the new government, which their superior
sagacity and will had conceived but who, fOrsOOth,
were set aside as rash and impracticable SchemerS,
while others were installed into power who had re-
manned at Washington until actually driven away,
with tears in their eyes, by force ola virtuouS South
ern sentiment Thus it was, that, not satisfied with
farm n
government of those who have not yet rid them
selves of the stencil Of its corruptOnS. Our great
men, who had fought and won the battle OF Sc
cession against Northern aggression and Southern
SUBMISSION thus, in the hour OF our triumph,
crushed and Inundated as martyrs to the liberties
of their own countrymen. And now, when 1t Is
manifest that through the evil influences which our
people themselves have inaugurated, their strength
has been wasted and their patriotism misapplled,
they call aloud Tor leader to rescue them from their
misfortuncs
Would TO God that some one would rise up, pow
erful enough to unite the whole energies OF such
people for the defence of their country against all
0pposers; but who can be that man under the dill
culties which surround the position? Do you call
upon those whom you sacrificed at the formation oil
your government, because they had led you trl-
umphantly out Of the old Union? Is it likely that
they will voluntarily undergo another martyrdom
for your sake when those to whom you have COM
r
opinion? When your President sits with his ears
closed to the advice Of the wise men of his country
and summarily disposcs of every man as fool or
liar, who ventures to suggest doubt as to his pol
icy? When your Congress sits with closed doors,
and tells you that military necessity" requires
that you should know nothing of its proceedings,
and, therefore, have no right to pass Judgment on
what it should or should not do? When all this
and more has been done, denying you right to
voice in your government except through the WINS
pers of your representatives, you gong to sit
still and ask for leader to remedy things?
We tell YOU fellow citizens the time has come
when the people must prove their rights to a free
government, by demanding to have itrepresent their
will: Confidence has we'll nigh ruined you. A few
months ago a man was liable to the charge of trea
who dared to question the inlallibility of your
President and Congress. When it was said that
.he. doors Of the government should be opened, so
that the public might be heard in the decision Of
questions of general policy in which all were equal
ly interested you gave ear to the timid plea that