Weekly standard., 1862-03-19
Our Unhappy Neishbor.


Our unhappy neighbor of the Register has been
dischargng his popgun at US for several weeks past
but, having more important matters to attend to-
We have not noticed him. In his last issue be says
"When the call Of President Davis for 40, 900
more troops from Virginia shall have been obeyed,
Virginia will have in the field at least 100000 men,
And yet, the other day the Editor of the Raleigh
Standard threatened in his puissance to advocate
the withdrawal of all the troops of this State from
Virginia SOIL unless certain Virginia editors wrote
more to his satisfaction of the affair of Roanoke
Island. In other words, the Editor of the Standard
would leave the people of Virginia to the tender
mercies of the Yankees because of the writings of
three or four Editors over whom they have no con-
trol!r'
Now, We will not say that our neighbor has fib-
bed in the above article but we will prors that he
has.
The Richmond Enquirer of the 18th February,
in its accountof the battle of Roanoke Island said
"Indeed, the defeat of our handful of heroes is
attributed less to the superior prowess of the ene-
my's hosts, than to the alleged cowardy detection
OF North-Carolina regiment, whom not the
knowledge that they fought for the defence of their
onw firesides could, it appears inspire with cour-
age to dare the worst"
In reply to the above, we said:
1.-The Enquirer has made not only grave but
mortal charge against North Caronans Where
are its proofs to sustain this charge? we shall
6nd-as We believe We wi-that the Enquirer, af.
ter claiming all the credit for Virginia troops, has
beled our brave soldiers; and if we shall have good
reason to believe that the Enquirer is sustained in
making this charge by the common government at
Richmond, and by any considerable portion of the
people of Virginia, shall advocate the withdrawal
of our troops from the soil of that State, and the
adoption OF such measures as will protect our own
State against the enemy. We deeply regret to have
to use such language but we shall defend the char
acter of our own noble old State at all hazards. We
have nothing to say against Virginia or Virgnians.
We lament the untmely fall of Wise and Seldom,
and other glorious spirits from Virginia, who poured
out their blood in that unequal conflict; but while
we lay the cypress upon their tombs, We must be
permitted to claim for our own sons as much credit
for gallant bearing on the occasion referred to as
has been accorded to Others"
We now leave 1t with the reader to say whether
the Register has correctly represented our language
The Register itself had and has no word Of reply
10 this monstrous SANDER in the Enquirer IL said
nothing by way Of bringing home to the Enquirer,
and to the other papers III Virginia the fact that
they had libelled our brave troops on Roanoke
Island; but, the contrary careless its course
shows it to have been of tie fame of our troops,
and vexed because ,os had thought proper to ques-
ton any statement emanating from a Vi7yinia
source, it assais us and endeavors to produce the
impression that we would abandon portion Of the
Confederacy to the enemy, on account of the con-
duct of few newspapers. Our neighbor has no
State pride himself and he rebukes those who have,
especially if they show it towards Virginia. The
truth is the Register is to all intents and purposes
Virginia newspaper. Strike out its head and
date, and many of its issues would be taken for
Petersburg issues. The Editor twaddles about hall
his time over some Virginia Colonel, or Virginia
Major, whom he knew some twenty or thirty years
ago. 1t is we'll known that he bitterly and vehe
mently opposed the Richmond and Danve Road
because it WAS to run to Richmond, and not to Pc
tersburg for, like all small minds. his attachments
are confined to a narrow circle, and Peters6urg-
clever old town as it isis his especial idol. 1t Is
not that he loves Virginia less, but Petersburg
more Now, We do not blame our unhappy neigh
Dor for his attachment to his native State; but w
do think he ought now and then to bear in mint
that he is resident of this State, and that, as h
draws his support from our people, he owes it tt
himself and to common justice to defend the Stat
when she or her troops are unjusty assailed, ever
though the assailants should be Virginians.