Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-04
Eastern. North Carolina.

The following article is indicative of growing
appreciation of Eastern North Carolina. In the
name of our people, we thank the Richmond E5am-
ipsr for the manner in which it urges the matter
upon the attention of the government. We have
press of the country had come to our help at that
time, Roanoke Island, Newbern and Norfolk might
have been saved to the Confederacy.
The Examiner says:
There are many considerations which make it
necessary that the government should take prompt
and energetic measures to hold against the enemy
the Eastern portion Of North Carolina The people
of this section are already alarmed at the prospect
of being orerrun by the enemy are said to distrust
the intentions of the government to hold this coun
try, and to be making preparations to remove their
slave property TO safer quarters.
There need be no occasion for this alarm or dis
trust, if the government will only use vi; orously
the ample time it still has to obstruct and fortify
the Tar and Neuse rivers. These water avenues are
the points to be guarded. The Neuse is navigable
at high reshet for boats drawing four five feet
of water land some of the Yankee gun boats draw
no more) to Smithfield, which is within twenty-five
miles of Raleigh. 1t would be improper. to say
what has already been done to close these rivers.
1t is not improper to say that much remains to be
done; that the Confederate regiments scattered
through this portion of North Carolina might be
disposed to better advantage and, under any cir
cumstances, should be largely reinforced and that
North Carolina, having put sixty regiments in the
Confederate army, and having no longer any State
troops in service has reason to expect that the Con-
federate authority will make true and cordial en-
deavor to protect the most valuable portion Of her
territory against the threatened inroads of the
enemy.
There is scarcely an equal portion of country in
the South more valuable to US at this time than
the Eastern districts of North Carolina. The thir
ty Of the eighty-four counties of North Carolina
which lie East of the Weldon and Wilmington rail-
road constitute the most fertile portion Of the State
include within their limits about two-thirds OF its
entire slave property, and contain at this time, if
we are correctly informed enough corn to feed our
army in Virginia for six months. The people in
this quarter of the State have made cotton what
ever and the ehouses Of the farmers burst
ing with grain and bacon. In some of the counties
several crops Of corn have accumulated, and it is
selling freely within the reach of transportation at
one dollar per bushel Besides the immense sup
plies of grain in this country there are seven mil
lions of pounds of pork in excess Of the consump-
ton of the inhabitants, which it is important for
the government to secure.
The question of army supplies is scarcely less
important than that of victories and defeats in
the field. The defence of that portion of North
Carolina that is now the granary Of the South is
quite worth all the men and expenditure that will
be needed to secure it If it were necessary to
make any appeal on this point beyond that to the
selfish interest and policy of the government we
might remind the authority of claims which North
Carolina has upon its consideration in the amount of
patriotic service, and testimonies Of willing and
trave devotion to the cause OF the Confederacy.-
We may say, however, that the appeal for protec-
ton does not come from an idle and querulous peo-
Ple-that the inhabitants Of East North Carolina
who have remained to await the Yankees, are al
ready doing all that Is possible to assist in prepara-
tons against the enemy; as an instance of which,
the farmers in this region have given to the public
service in works of defence half Of their availa
BILE force Of slaves II these efforts are not seconded
by the government it may not only lose valuable
district but it will make hard return for the pa
triotism and spirit they display.