Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-20
One more Warning to our People Of the East.

One more Warning to our People Of the East
ern Counties.
Soon after the fall Of Hatteras an event which we
never think Of without modification and chsgrin,
we eounselled the people of tho Eastern Counties
Immediately to make arrangements to remove their
negroes and other movable property, beyond the
reach Of the enemy. This advice was repeated in
Still stronger terms after the fall Of Roanoke Island
and again after the fall of Newbern We did not
then suppose that the designs Of the enemy were as
diabollcal and barbarous as they have recently ex
holted them to be- in Virginia, Alabama and Ten
nessee especially hence did not advise the peo-
pie to remove en- masse. But we knew enough Of
the Yankee and of the African race to be that
they could not be allowed to enjoy proximity long,
without being serious injury to US and to the
blacks.
The neglect of many Of our Eastern people to
heed our advice, is working the most serious evils
In the Counties Immediately contiguous to the Yam
KEGS, not less than 10 or $4,000 slaves have been
lost to their owners if the statements we hear of
the large numbers at Washington and Newbern be
near the truth. Eastern Virginia has lost still
larger number: Every day that the Yankees re.
main in possession Of their present positions, in.
creases the number, and renders those left in the
possession Of our people in that region less valua-
ble, because they are becoming more untractable
and demoralized every day. The negroes who have
fled to the Yankees have no doubt made their con-
dition worse. General demoralization has no doubt
been the consequence, both to the blacks and the
Yankees. Hard work and scanty food have been
the lot of those who still remain among them. 1t
has been asserted that large numbers of them have
been sent off to Cuba and sold. If this be true,
these sooty adventures have no doubt wished
their owners 1t has also been lately asserted,
though We do not know the foundation for it, that
the Danish government has proposed to become
party with the Yankees in this stupendous thievery
by rendering the island Of St. Croix as proper
place for their transportation and settlement
1t is high time, therefore, for the people Of the
Eastern Counties to look this matter fully in the
face. The slaves Of many orphans and widows are
their sole dependence for living The supercilious
and hypocritcal pretences of Yankee Generals and
Yankee agents can no longer be relied upon. The
late confiscaton bill passed by the Lincoln Con-
gress, evnces most clearly purpose on the part of
the Yankees to make themselves masters of every
silver Of property which falls within their reach
Age innocence, or mbecility will avail nothing with
them, so long as they have the power to rob our
people. Even the oath of allegiance to Lincoln will
hot to the people in that section the peaceabe
possession of their negroes. Yankee fanaticism
and duplcity will find means to rob them of their
slaves.
What, then, should be done! II it be in the pow
er Of the government TO afford them any help, it
Should be extended at once. Our Northeast Coun.
ties beyond the Chowan literally overrun by
the Yankees. Every day they are becoming more
aggressive, tyrannical and oppressive. Citizens
Of those Counties are being carried off to Nor
folk and imprisoned, and the negroes, in large num-
bers, are being taken away. As necessity may de.
mand, they will draw upon the rich corn and bacon
supplies of that region for their own consumption,
and confscation will soon rob people Of all their
means. The same will be the fate of the Counties
which can be reached from Washington, Newbern,
Plymouth and Beaufort.
Let our people in that entire region move all their
property which can be removed at once. Especial
ly let all the negroes be removed Let the govern
ment send sufficient force speedily to render all
the assistance possible in efectng that object 1t is
hard lot to force the people from their homes, but
it is not bad as to be robbed by relentless cruel
foe and left penniless among those who would re-
duce them to the condition Of slaves. While they
can something from the wreck it had better be
done. But the day is approaching when it cannot
be done. If the enemy is not driven back from
Eastern Virginia and North Carolina before the win
ter sets in the fear is it cannot be DONE or if done
it will be too late to save their slaves if not much
else that is valuable. We counsel our Eastern
friends to heed our warning in time
Since writing the above, We find letter in the
Richmond Dispatch, of which the following is an
extract IN which the writer gives only inkling of
what our citizens suffering in that part of
the State At Suffolk 5000 Yankees and Hessians
have settled down to devastate the Counties of
Gates, Chowan Nansemond and Isle of Wight
Let the government do its duty, and drive out the
Hessans:-
GATES COUNTY, N. c., Aug. 8, 1862.
On the 4th instant the enemy proceeded up the
Chowan river as far as Mr.. Abm. Riddck's, where
they landed and took off about 5000 lbs. bacon
hams, charging Riddick to see that not a pound was
removed until theyeame again. They made an ap-
preparation Of the entire contents of his dairy, eat
ing and destroying all the milk and butter on the
premises: Thirty nine negro men vamosed of Mr.
Riddck's at the same time. Nine of John D. N.Y.
ricks, nine of W. T. Bynum's three of j. A. Britts
negroes, and a number Of other negroes have been
spirited away-all this in Hertford County.
On the 9th instant the vandas landed at Bethel,
Winton and Coleraine; took off large number of
negroes and made prisoner of young Sharp, wor-
thy, quiet young man, taking him board their
ships In this county, and in the counties of Cho-
wan and Nansemond, the Yankee squads, under
the direction of negro guides, have outraged hu.
manity most shockingly. They have carried off
many of our best citizens who were quietly attend
ing to their agricultural pursuits, insulted most
grossly delicate females, and destroyed millions Of
property.
TIE DEsPoTsN.-Lincoln has recently caused the
most stringent orders to be issued authorizing the
arrest and ;Ynnrieonment of all citixens who hv