Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-24

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apprehension, gloom, and hurrying to and fro OF
large population, seeking homes further vest
West of that line is greatly increased population
OF slaves and non-producers, consuming the small
surplus of provisions hand while the memorable
conscript law calls for men to meet the enemy
at distant points. 1t was under, or rather in view
Of these circumstances that Gov. Vance, who was
pledged to the measure during the campaign that
resulted in his election, recommended to the Legs
lature the raising Of ten thousand State troops
We quote as follows from his message on this SUBJ
ject:
subject of first importance the prosecution Of the
vasion Of the The Legislature BY several acts in
1851 provided that in the Confederate Government
should fail or neglect to provide for the defence Of North
tain number of troops that purpose and made
Priaons of money for their support Impressed with the
dstenceess condition of Eastern counties when
into Office had fully determined to avail myself Of this
authority and would have proceeded at to do but
for the Intervention of nsurmountabe difficulties The
principal of these the conscrt law passed by the Con-
edeate Congress subsequent the passage of the several
acts referred TO- By this law extended in its provis
ionsa short time before the adjournment Of Congress- all
five years. became Liable to enrolment soldiers of the
Confederate States To raise adequate force for State
o% the of and
practicable hoped too that by aiding and assisting in
the execution of the CONSUMPTION law, would be efecu
ally providing for State defence This reasonable hope
has, regret to say, been dsapponted and although North
Carolina has greater extent of than any other
slate she has bad fewer troops given her for its defence
II Is not necessary gentlemen that should call yonr
attention to the Astounding wealth of this threatened
ton of tate6led with everything necessary for the
inf IF A. G..:,c
and ruin of its loyal patriotic inhabitants You are su
dceny informed ID regard thereto 1t is for you there
fore to say whether you will suffer defences hereto
fore to remain exclusively in the hands Confederate
authorities or take steps to carry out the will Of the last
Legislature aud raise troops enough State authority to
strengthen the weak hand of the General Government on
our coast.
lunhesitatngy recommend the raising Of at least ten
OF reserves to be accepted for three or four
months and dismissed in time to pitch their crops in the
Spring.
This force auxiliary to the Confederate troops would
be able prevent advance Of the enemy into
the Interior and while subssng the abundant supplies
10 our Eastern counties could benefit the whole State by
aiding in withdrawing quantities Of provisions from
exposed points"
earliest moment at which he could do it. We know
he was anxious that theS State Convention should be
re-assembled in October in order that that body
might consider the measure, and adopt it, if it
should think proper to do so; but, failing in this
reasonable expectation, he looked to the Council Of
State to concur with him in converting the Legisla-
ture two weeks in advance Of the regular PERIOD so
that he might submit to that body this much-cher-
ished measure. But one Of the Council, who be-
longs to the Enquirsrs faction, and whose presence
was necessary to constitute quorum, failed to at
tend, (though he might have done so,) for reasons
best known to himself; and here again the Cover
nor was thwarted and disappointed in his efforts to
raise State troops.
We now call upon the Enquirer and the public
to read carefully the extracts we have made from
Gov. Vances message, ana then say if the views of
the Conservatives in the Legislature, and views
on this question, not in exact accordance with
his.
But the Enquirer not only lectures our Legisla
ture but it charges that plot exists in Raleigh to
"break the unity of the Confederacy, and point the
path to anarchy and su6jugation." 1t tells the
LEADERS of this plot that in such event the brand
Of Cain would be nothing to theirs" 1t very kind
y admits that most Of those members of the Legis-
lature who voted for the ten regiment bill, "are
governed by good motives'-but "there are 9th.
ers," it says, in the back ground plotting and
scheming, who if their hearts were known, would
not improbably be torn to pieces by the patriotic
masses of North. Carolina"
Such language, used by the organ Of the Presi-
dent, towards considerable portion of the Legisla-
ture Of sovereign State, is without example in the
history of this country. We hurl it back with the
utmost scorn and indignation. One Of the leaders
of this plot'-Capt Grssom-shed his blood near
Richmond, at the head of his gallant comrades,
keeping the battle from the door of the Enquirer
and thosewho voted with him in the Legislature are
true to the South as he is. They too ntelli-
gent to need the apology of the Enquirer that they
were misled by Others 1.-THE brand Of Cain!" That
man is truest to the Contederacy who contributes
his blood and substance to the cause, and who in.
ssts a strict observance of the Constitution
adopted by the sovereign States; and that man is q
traitor and deserves the brand of Cain, who prost
tutes the common government to party, and who
violates that Constitution, or excuses its violation
Tried by this test the Conservatives of this State
occupy higher and better position than the En-
quirer and those for whom it speaks. The Enquire,
charges the Editor of this paper and his friends with
being parties to ''plot' to 'subjugate" the South
and threatens them with mob, by whom they will
be ''torn to pieces" We should deprecate mob Law
as the very incarnation of anarchy; but if North
Carolina should ever be thus unspeakably disgraced
that law would not harm us. The "masses," t.
whom the Enquirer appeals, are our friends. Lei
those persons, in Raleigh, who are stimulating tn.
Enquirer to the use of such language, beware
Danton and Robespierre both met the doom which
they had so often pronounced on others.
We will continue our reply to the Enquirer.