Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-03
IS Prescription ''-.-The Raleigh Register and
the Richmond ENQUIRER.


The last Register is greatly exercised at the
course the Conservatives pursuing in the Legis
lature, and, taking its text from the Richmond En-
quirsr, it dscourses at length what it is pleased
to call prescription" Our reply to all this shall
be brief and to the point.
The people of this State prior to the proclamation
of Lincoln were divided into two parties-one pre-
ferring to break up the old government and the
other preferring to maintain that government
long as it was possible to do so consistently with
honor The Conservatives, or those who desired to
maintain the government, were largely in the ma
jority. The vote of the State was about 112, 900,
and of this they had majority of at least $4,000.
But the proclamation came, and at once to all ap-
pearances, party divisions ceased. The Conserva-
tives rallied to TIE defence cf Southern rights and
sent more men to the field than the Destructiyes
did, They honestly felt and thought that party
should be silenced 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 course of parties in this respect in the
past, that men would be punished in the midst of
war 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-
lzed by the Destructives and they were thrust out
or kept out. They at first complained of this, but
they still fought and paid on. AT length they were
told plainly that for the most part they were sus-
pected persons-Lincolnites in disguise-unft to
lead or to have voice in the revolution; ana that
in fact, "those who made the revolution were alone
entitled to conduct it." When they complained Of
and denounced such conduct they were next told
that they should not only not hold Office, but they
would be marked" in history, and their names de-
lvercd to posterity enemies to their native land
When they questioned the wisdom or the policy of
either of the governments insisted that Constitu
tions should be respected, and the military power
made subordinate to the civilythey 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 defay the expenses
of their Punishment. Still they fought on and paid
on. But from the very commencement of this treat
ment and during its progress, they warned the De-
structives that if they did not it, and consider
and treat them as fellow citizens and brethren
barked in common cause, they would appeal to
the people against Them These warnings had no
effect except to exasperae the Destructives still
more-and the appeal ,oas made. The result was
majority of 81, 900 for Governor, and Conservative
Legislature by at least 80 majority on Joint ballot
The people, at the last moment after their patience
had been thoroughly exhausted made the order at
the ballotbox that the Dcstructives should go out
of power, and the Conservatives 60 in. That order
the General Assembly of this State is executing,
and we trust it will continue to do so until the last
Destructive is deprived of office, or at least until the
government at Richmond ceases to set US the exam
| pie of prescription and party tyranny.
The above are Jtcts, which intelligent and fair
minded person in this State can dispute.
The Richmond Enquirer, itself the organ Of an
unmitigated party tyranny, is ot.qualied to sit in
| Judgment in this case Mr.. Davis has appointed
some four or five foreign Minister'S Every one of
them is rabid original secessionst. He has appoint
ed ten Cabinet officers. Every one of them is an
original sccessionst. He has appointed number
of officers of various kinds in this State. Every
one of them so far as know, is original seces-
sionist. No citizen of the Confederate States who
was for the Union up to the proclamation of Lin
coln holds any Office under Mr.. Davis which gives
tone to politics or character to the administration of
public affairs. His administration is emphatically
partizan in It's character. 1t is as much Lin
coins. As general rule, the black Republicans
hold the Offices and control the government in one
section; and as general rule, the orig gnal seces-
sionsts 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 fighting the battles on foot. This is the
truth of history. We know the fact-and we give
it only by way of illustration-that while the battle
was raging around Richmond, and at the very mo-
meEt 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 disrespectful to Mr.. Davis
and his government at Montgomery, at time when
that government was foreign one so far as North
Carolina was concerned; and ic the proof had been
clear. the Office holder would have been prescribed
for opinions sake, for words spoken before North
Carolina became memoer of the new government.
The Enquirer supports an administration thus pro-
scriptve and thus part1zan and apologies for it on
all occasions but when We demand simple justice
for the Conservatives Of this State and advise retail
iation strictly in self defence it considers course
"very 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 secessonists, and let him
cease and let him instruct his subordnates to cease
to ask the question of applicant for office if he
was an original sccessonist or Union man up te
Lincolns proclamation. Such course would moi